Tackling the closet can be a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. Here are some tips on getting organized and staying organized. Once you figure out how easy a neat closet is to maintain, you will wonder why you did not do it long ago.

First, get everything out of the closet. Figure out what you can live without and get rid of it. Throw away stained or torn items. Give out-of-date shoes and clothes to a local charity. Anything that you have not worn in two years needs to go. If you have some items that you never wear but you still do not want to part with, consider taking pictures and keeping a scrap of the material before you give it away. The bottom line is that you need to get rid of unused items to relieve the hinges on your closet door.

Once you have only your best clothes left, take an inventory. Count how many pairs of shoes you have. Separate work clothes from casual ones. Store any out-of-season clothes in a large plastic container or collapsible bag. You may have other items that you keep in your closet that you will also need to account for. Luggage, blankets, jewelry and sports equipment are just a few things that most people store in their bedroom closet. If you can, get some of these things out and into a spare bedroom, basement or garage.

Come up with a plan to store the things that you have left in your closet. The important thing here is that you make sure that everything has a specific place to go. This is what is going to help you maintain the organization after you are done. You need to keep in mind that you will accumulate more clothing, shoes and other items as time goes on. Make sure you keep the opposite season’s wardrobe in mind, too. If you create a perfect space for your summer clothes, it could get cramped when you bring out your bulkier winter items.

Build shelves, use baskets, add drawers and attach hooks. Purses, belts, ties and other small items need to be hung where you can easily see them and get what you need without having to dig or dump out bins. You can use specialty hangers for ties and belts if you do not have a good place to put them.

Use other types of hangers that instantly make space. Cascading pants hangers, skirt hangers, dress hangers and drop hangers can keep your clothes from slipping, getting wrinkled or damaged. You can hang many items on one hanger by using cascading hooks or clips. Using this cascade technique will allow you to pair together shirts and tops with pants, skirts and suits. Not only will this save you a lot of space, but it will keep your clothing ready to grab and go. Maintaining your closet organization will be a snap when you are done!

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

Getting out the door in the morning can be a real hassle. Disorganization and a lack of planning can make the task all that much more difficult. The problems can quickly multiply if you have to rummage through your closet trying to find something to wear each day. You can greatly reduce your morning stress by organizing your home in a way that makes getting to work a breeze.

First, come up with a plan that fits your schedule. Of course, one option is to get up earlier, but most working people need as much sleep as they can get and do not want to sacrifice sleep for a more pleasant morning. So, start by organizing your bathroom and closets so that everything you could possibly need is always close at hand.

Most people start out their morning with a shower. This is a good idea because it wakes you up, improves your mood and really can keep you going on a hectic morning. Have your towel, razor, make-up and other essentials laid out the night before. This will save you precious time in the morning. When you get out of the shower, go ahead and complete all of the tasks that you will perform in the bathroom. Put on your make-up, fix your hair, brush your teeth and get on your way. Avoid the need to go back into a room that you have already left. This will help you save precious minutes every morning.

When you are putting away your laundry, hang your work clothes together by outfit. Put shirts, skirts and pants on cascading hangers so that your work clothes are ready to grab and go. This technique also keeps your closet from getting cluttered, making it very easy to pick out what you are going to wear. You will not waste a single minute rummaging through your closet, trying on and hanging them up again. Another small step that makes things easier is to also put coordinating shoes, socks and hose directly under each outfit.

Arrange the clothing in order according to the weather. If you listen to the radio while you are showering and getting ready, you will already know how hot or cold it will be that day. For example, when you step out of the bathroom, you will know that the outfit you are going to wear is either hanging on the warm weather left side, or the cold weather right side. Make sure that you keep light jackets or cardigans together so that you can easily grab a matching one for layering when needed.

Using the right kinds of hangers can make articles even easier to find and eliminate the need to iron in the morning. Pants hangers can be open ended so that you can easily reach in and pull the pants straight out without taking the hanger off of the bar. Dress hangers will ensure that your dresses do not slip off and end up on the floor in a wrinkled pile. Skirt hangers keep skirts from becoming wrinkled or creased and can easily be added to shirt hangers with a cascading hook to complete your outfit.

You can save so much time in the morning just by being prepared. Use skirt hangers, pants hangers, dress hangers, and cascading hooks to create space, clarity and organization in your closet. Eliminating the need to “find” your clothes in the morning can save you valuable time. When you lower your stress level in the morning, you will see that it keeps you in a happier, calmer mood for the entire day.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

You’ve invested a lot in your wardrobe and it pays to protect it. Your clothes can lose their shape over time if you are not storing them properly. Give your clothing the care that it needs to extend the life of the garments that you’ve spent your hard earned money on. Using these tips, you can make your clothes last until they are out of style. Then, if you want to sell them, they’ll be in great shape and bring you top dollar that you can reinvest in your new clothes.

1) Sweaters almost always are the first to go. Hanging them on regular hangers can cause them to stretch under their own weight. Shoulders can get puckered and stitching can start to deform. It can be tough to get your sweater back into shape after it has been disfigured. If you have a sweater with puckered shoulders or exposed stitching, you may be able to get it back into shape by using steam. Check tags for how you should care for each garment. Then, store your sweaters folded flat on a shelf. You can also use an inexpensive hanging organizer. These usually come in canvas and Velcro to the hanging bar. Your sweaters will stack neatly inside and take up less room than if you hung them individually.

2) Pants can also get damaged by hanging them on conventional hangers. Use specialty pants hangers that are designed not to crease pants. Some clips can rust, snag, or crimp your pants and leave permanent damage. Look for hangers with a locking or padded pants bar, or clips that have pads in them to protect your slacks and pants from damage.

3) Conventional wire hangers can bend under the weight of your clothing and that metal twist can snag the fabric. Using higher quality clothes hangers can solve a lot of problems. Not only do they keep their shape, protecting your clothes from slipping off or sagging at the shoulders, but they should also be smooth and conform to the shape of your garments. Look for coat hangers that match the size and shape of your coats. Wood hangers are generally designed to fit coats and suits, supporting molded shoulders and the heavy weight that they present. Your clothes hangers have a heavy bearing on how long your clothes will last. Choose the right ones, and your wardrobe will be protected from now on.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.