Website Banner

www.organizedway.com


Spring Clean Your Closet! 
  
April 2011
 

Now that the weather is finally signaling that spring is here (well, almost!), it's time to take a look at that overstuffed closet. Spend time enjoying the beautiful weather and less time rummaging around in the dark recesses of your (or your kid's) closet, searching for that long-lost pair of capri's from last season! This is a great time to get rid of all the things you never wore this past winter and to get things in order for the coming spring and summer.

 

  • Schedule a day to pull everything (yes, I mean EVERYTHING) out of your closet. This may take more than one session, so it may be a good idea to do your sorting in an out-of-the-way place (like a spare room) so you can leave the project in progress and pick it up again the next scheduled session. Sometimes it helps to have an energetic (non-judgmental) friend to help through this process!
  • Sort clothes according to categories: like with like. All your jeans together, all t-shirts together, work-out clothes, etc.
  • As you sort, take time to try on anything you're not sure still fits or flatters you (this is where the "non-judgmental" friend can be helpful!). If it doesn't fit or flatter, out it goes. Don't keep anything that doesn't make you feel GREAT when you put it on! How long will you keep all those things that fit you 10, 20, 30 pounds ago that just make you feel rotten every time you look at them? Why give up precious space to stuff that just makes you feel badly about yourself? (Aren't there enough things that conspire to do that in your life on a daily basis? Why let your closet be one of them?) And if and when you finally do get back to that same size, that stuff won't be in style anymore, anyway. Won't you want to reward your hard work with something new?
  • If it's old, worn, faded, torn, stained or out-of-style - discard it or donate it. If it's still wearable, pay it forward and let someone else less fortunate enjoy it. Or - take it to one of the numerous consignment shops in your area and make a little cash to spend on something new!
  • If you haven't worn it in the past year, let it go. Chances are you won't wear it again, and you need to free up that precious closet space and let things breathe a little!
  • Once you've sorted everything into categories and purged all the excess, assign a home in your closet for each category of clothing. This makes it much easier to put things away quickly at the end of the day. Initially, it may take a few extra seconds to establish the habit of putting something away in the same place each time, but the time it will save you when you don't have to constantly search for items will come back to you in spades.
  • When you hang things back up in your closet, hang them with the hanger facing backwards (with the open part of the hook facing you.) Over the course of the next year, as you wear items and return them to the closet, put the hanger in the "right" way. At the end of the year, you will know for sure that anything that still has a "backwards-facing" hanger wasn't worn all year. Easy pickings for your purge next year!

 

While "cleaning out your closet" can be challenging, both literally and emotionally, you will rejoice in the freedom it gives you. Think of the time and money you will save when you know exactly what you have and where it is every time you get dressed in the morning. It's like a breath of fresh spring air!

 

Next month: Great closet organizing products!

 

 

Lisa S. Griffith
Lisa S. Griffith

Quick Links
 


View our profile on LinkedIn

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

"Organizing for Busy Families"

Lisa presents to Sowams School PTO

Tuesday, May 17th

7:00 - 8:30 pm

364 Sowams Rd.

Barrington, RI

 

"Ask the Organizer" Event

Workshops and general organizational consulting by Lisa and other members of NAPO-NE

(National Association of Professional Organizers - New England Chapter)

Saturday, May 21st

11 am - 2 pm

IKEA

1 IKEA Way

Stoughton, MA

 

 

 

 

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

 

Eco-Depot & E-Waste Collection

Saturday, April 9th

Johnston, Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike; 8-noon

Saturday, April 16th

Middletown, Second Beach; 8-1pm

Saturday, April 23rd

Foster, 181 Howard Hill Road; 8-1pm

Saturday, April 30th

Richmond, 51 Buttonwoods Road; 8-1pm

 

Get rid of all of those old computers and other electronic equipment. Safely dispose of that old paint, used motor oil, and anything else that clutters up your home and garage that you can't just toss in the trash. For details, go to: http://www.rirrc.org/questions/upcoming-events/.

 

Community Shredding Event 

Saturday, April 13th

EcoTope, Inc.; FREE. 150 Colfax Street, Providence; 8-11am  

 

Prescription Drug Collection

Saturday, April 30th

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

10 Police Stations:

Barrington, Coventry, Hopkinton, Middletown, North Providence, Smithfield, Wakefield, Warwick, West  Warwick, Westerly; 10am - 2pm

For details, go to: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

 

 

 

 

In order, in joy, 

 

Lisa 

Lisa S. Griffith
The Organized Way
401.529.1674