How to have an organized linen closet…
“Instead of thinking of the closet as one large, overwhelming space, work shelf by shelf and establish what items will best fit in which shelves.” – Kathy Jenkins
How do you use your linen closet? Is it overflowing with blankets and pillows that you don’t really use? Are there sheets and towels from 20 years ago? When you open the door do toiletries fall with a dead thud on the floor in front of you? You are not alone, but we have some great advice to help you get that small, yet important space organized!
A linen closet is supposed to be a place to store commonly used items for bathrooms like washcloths, towels and bath robes. Many people also use it to store extra toiletries such as toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes and medicines. And it goes without saying that it is the place to store bed linens like blankets, comforters, pillowcases and bed sheets. For this space to function it is important that it be organized so you can find the items you need… and keep everything else neat while you are searching for it. Here are a few simple steps to create a linen closet:
- Empty it! That’s right… pull everything out. Take the time to sort bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, sheet sets by size, blankets, pillows, and toiletries, etc. Plan to donate unused linens and toss outdated toiletries. Giving up unused items makes it possible to easily store items you frequently use.
- Plan where things should live! Things you use often should be front and center if possible. Those things used less often can go on high upper and bottom lower shelves.
- Contain the small stuff. Toiletries and medicines are best stored in a container. Measure how much space you have and need so that you get the appropriate sized bin. Try to get one that is open so that adding and removing things is easy making it more likely that everyone will continue to use it.
- Label, label, label! No more will you have to take apart a sheet set to determine what size it is. Putting away clean linens is a no brainer when all you have to do is follow labels on a shelf.
OK, now you know what to do. Put a couple of hours on the calendar and just get it done! Then stop back by and let us know how it went. We love pictures, before and after, so if you feel like sharing…
Happy Organizing!
For more information about storing bed sheets and how to properly fold them, CLICK HERE for our next blog post.
photo credit: theqspeaks via photopin cc
Nationally recognized certified organizer, speaker and author, Kathy Jenkins is dedicated to helping her clients simplify their lives by reducing clutter, organizing their homes and offices, and managing their time. She is the President of Come To Order, a professional residential organizing company based in Richmond, Virginia. For more tips, click here to follow Kathy on Facebook.
