The linen closet AKA the hall closet.
This closet in my house seems to be a catch all for things we are not sure what else to do with. It has a purpose…sort of, but it’s been getting a little out of control.
Being that it is National Clutter Awareness Week and Clean Your Closet Week I am working my way through all the closets in the home that may need a little attention. It also goes along with my Operation Spring Cleaning and Decluttering mission. The linen closet for me seemed the next logical place to go.
First, I would recommend thinking about what your linen closet will be used for. In our house it seems to have a few uses. The only real linens that I keep in this closet are extra sheets. Extra towels are kept in their respective bathrooms, and table linens are kept in the dining room. Ergo why the closet has become a catch all. Here are some of the things you will find in our closet:
- Medications
- First aid and medical/wellness supplies
- Health and beauty items that are not used often
- Halloween makeup and hair products
- Back-stock of travel/guest toiletries
- Sheets (obviously!)
Empty Out the Closet to Get Started
This is a good place to start. While you are taking stuff out try not to get caught up in going through items just yet, but it’s not a bad time to throw out obvious trash. Once empty you can wipe out the shelves and vacuum/sweep the floor.
Sort and Categorize
By sorting and categorizing what is in the closet you will be able to make a plan for how and where you will put it all back. While I am sorting I am going through medications and vitamins and checking expiration dates.
When getting rid of expired medications you need to practice caution. While a drug take back program is preferred, the FDA offers options for when such a program is not easy to find. You can check out that info here.
During this step I am also going through my sheets to see what could use replacement, or ones we no longer need.
Put Everything Back
Now that you have decluttered, it’s time to put it all back. It’s helpful to use containers or bins to help keep things organized and together. One thing that I have found handy is a clear shoe bin on the door to house all the little things.
If you don’t have the time to do a full cleanout, a little decluttering will go a long way. Remember, we are trying to get some decluttering done. Pick one thing to focus your attention on, be it removing expired meds, grabbing any obvious items that can be trashed/recycled or donated, or just straighten the linens you may have in there.
My theme for this week is to give you a new closet decluttering challenge each day. Don’t let that overwhelm you, do what you can with the time and energy you have. If you would like some support and encouragement, I created the Organized Priorities Collective. This is a private Facebook group where you can get accountability, share your progress, and even ask questions. If this sounds like something you need, I would love to see you there. And, don’t forget to follow along on this blog, or social media for lots of tips to help you along the way.
You can check out the past spring cleaning and decluttering posts by clicking the links below:
Declutter and Spring Clean Kids’ Closets
National Clutter Awareness Week and National Clean Your Closet Week