It’s well into winter and your coat closet is probably in need of some organization. Is your coat closet packed with heavy coats, hanging sloppily from flimsy hangers? Are the shoes, boots, gloves, hats and scarves all mixed up? A messy coat closet will not only cost you time when you’re trying to get out the door, but it can also cause your coats to get musty, wrinkled, and lose their shape.
Tailored coats, wool coats, suit coats, and other winter wear is generally shaped at the shoulder. This helps them to look nice when worn over other clothes. It covers bulk and gives you clean lines that make you look sharp. However, ordinary hangers are not meant to hold the shape of these garments. Hangers that are too slim will make shoulders pucker and hang flat. Once that shoulder shape is lost, you could never get it back.
Choosing a coat hanger that helps your coats keep their intended shape and structure can make your coats look nice for many years. A high quality coat hanger is generally curved to fit the shape of the back of your fine coats. The shoulders should be wide, but slope down so that the corners do not push out on the sleeves. There are coat hangers made for bigger coats and plus size coats. There are also ones made in petite sizes and even children’s sizes.
You can stock the rest of your coat closet with clothes hangers that save space. These are great for lighter jackets and sweaters. Your hangers should be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the garments that you put on them. They should also have good enough grips to hold onto slippery fabrics when you pull your other coats out.
Putting wet boots and shoes in the bottom of your coat closet may keep them out of site, but it can cause your coats to smell musty. That musty smell is actually mold and mildew developing in the fabrics. You should come up with a place for your boots and shoes to dry, outside of the closet. If you’re worried about moisture, mildew, mold and musty odors, you might consider wood hangers made from cedar. Cedar clothes hangers not only deodorize, but it actually absorb moisture, keeping your coats safe.
You may need bins or baskets labeled for gloves, scarves and hats in the winter. You can get separate ones for each family member to keep things separated and easy to find. Clear bins can make it easier to see what is in each container. Mesh baskets that hang inside the door are also nice. Check out some pantry organizers that attach to the door and consider them for your coat closet organization.
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.
