Monthly Archives: May 2011

Linen and Coat Closets

You are probably in the same boat with the rest of us. People’s closets seem to be a constant battle in many households. It’s not just the bedroom closets, either. The coat closets and linen closets become so cram packed that you can’t seem to use them for what you need to use them for. When your storage areas become so crowded that your home becomes overrun with shoes, coats, jackets, backpacks, blankets, pillows and towels, it is time to take action.

1) Laundry can become a big chore if you don’t have easy places to put things away. Towels, blankets, sheets and other linens can pile up on dressers and in our bedroom closets when the linen closet gets too full. The problem is that most homes are lacking in storage, so we end up putting things in places that are convenient. Therefore, that forty-pack of toilet paper is probably taking up a whole shelf in the linen closet. Things like humidifiers, heating pads, fans and other household items do need a place to go. Getting them out of the linen closet can help you to reclaim the space that you need to store your actual linens. Think about adding additional shelves to make better use of the space.

2) If you have more than one coat closet in your home, or a spare bedroom closet, then you are pretty lucky. One can be used for everyday items, such as purses, backpacks, shoes, and jackets. The other can be used for storage of sports equipment, winter boots, dress coats, and suits. If you don’t have an extra closet, then consider how you can make more space in the one that you have.

3) Look around the coat closet and see what you can do. If it’s a standard reach-in closet, you may be able to add little shelves to the front corners. This makes a lot of extra space for containers that can hold either everyday items or storage items. You can keep your camera equipment, school supplies, board games, and other household items that need a place to go on these simple shelves.

4) Use the right hangers in your closets to keep your clothing safe, even if it does get crowded. Cascading hangers are great for hanging multiple jackets and other light items. Use wood hangers or coat hangers for coats and suits so that they don’t get crushed. Clothes hangers are designed to save space, support shoulders, prevent slippage and more. Choosing the right hangers can make a big difference in all of your household closets.

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.

Saving Time with Organization

Many of us get frustrated with trying to keep up with everything in our busy lives. Many things become disorganized around the home and they can rob us of our precious time. Do you ever look around, running through lists in your head, thinking that there is no way that you will ever get it all done? You’re not alone. It can be, not only frustrating, but overwhelming to take care of a house, children, a job, meals, appointments, bills, a car, and more. It is a lot to handle, even for highly organized families. Learning to get certain areas of your home in running order can make a lot of other jobs run more smoothly. Saving time by having the most crucial elements of your life in order can help you to make time for some of those other things that have gone along the wayside for far too long.

1) There are a few things that just must be done on a daily basis. One of these things is dishes. We must plan and prepare meals to save money and eat healthy. Plus, we want to spend that quality family time sitting around the table just talking to each other and enjoying each other’s company. However, these meals inevitably create a lot of dishes. Pots and pans, plates, endless cups and glasses; they can quickly turn into a mountain of dishes that nobody wants to touch.

Get a handle on dishes and make them easier to get done by changing your habits just a little bit. Reward family members for rinsing their dishes before they go into the sink or dishwasher. This will eliminate the need to scrub and make washing them a lot faster. Institute a restaurant rule for yourself that helps to keep dishes under control. That rule is to wash as you go. Every time you are done with a measuring cup, frying pan, spatula, or bowl used in preparation, go ahead and quickly wash it by hand. This will reduce the nightly dishes to simply plates, silverware and glasses.

2) Laundry is the other big problem in most households. Many people can get the laundry into the washer and dryer, but hesitate when it comes time to put the clothes away. It’s not that we don’t really want to do it, it’s just that we know it will be a hassle. Using hangers, like specialty clothes hangers, in your closets will make the job easier because you’ll save space and everything will have a place. Plus, the closet looks neater and inviting. Your clothes are easily found and put away, saving you more time than you would think.

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.

Four Steps Away from Organized

1) Getting rid of the clutter is always job number one when it comes to organizing. There’s no need to organized things that you don’t use or have no need for anymore. Give as much as possible to charity, sell things at a garage sale or online, and get rid of all the things that are cluttering up your life. Most people can get rid of around 25% of their wardrobe and make life much easier on themselves with very little effort. Instead of trying to save things that you “might use one day”, look at them as things that are robbing you of valuable space. Shirts with sleeves that are too short, jeans that are out of style, and that bridesmaid’s dress that “you could wear again” have all got to go. Once you get rid of as much as possible, you’ll have a much easier time organizing what you need and use on a regular basis.

2) Learn to categorize your usable items so that you can quickly and easily put things away and then find them again the next time you need them. Avoid making big, general categories, such as “shirts”. Divide them, at least, into casual, dressy, work, active wear, and sleeveless. Don’t, however, create so many categories that it’s too overwhelming to keep up with. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have at least five similar items in a category. Avoid keeping a “junk drawer” or box of miscellaneous things around because you can’t think of a category for them. Work on it until you get everything in a specific location.

3) When you categorize things, you can then see how much you have and decide which types of containers will fit into the storage areas that you have available. Use spaces that are normally neglected. Wooden chests will fit underneath windows and save closet space that would be occupied if you used plastic bins. Under your bed is a great space for storing things that aren’t used very often. Add shelving inside your closet to hold containers of other items. Add risers inside of cabinets that are too tall to double the space.

4) You can make extra space in your closets and storage areas by using plenty of specialty clothes hangersScarves, belts and ties can all be organized on specialty hangers leaving drawers empty for smaller items. Coat hangers, wood hangers, and other sturdy combination hangers protect your coats and suits from damage, while cascading hangers make space in your closet that you never knew you had before.

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.