You’ve weeded your closet of the freeloaders, the ill-fitting, the orphans, and the ugly. Time to think about the remaining clothing, and the word is cluster. Organizing your clothing into compatible groups that work together maximizes wardrobe options and versatility, and helps you get the most mileage from each garment.
Guiding principle: store by cluster
Thrifty tips for an
A clothing “cluster” is a core group of five to eight clothing pieces that work together. A typical cluster might contain organized closet
a plaid wool blazer with tones of camel, red, and navy, a coordinating navy skirt, navy dress slacks, dark blue jeans, Cringing at clutter in the clothes closet? Commercial a red T-shirt, and an ivory blouse. Dress it up and you have closet systems may seem like the answer, but too often a suit look with blazer, skirt, and blouse. Dress it down with their cost isn’t sustainable on a real-world budget. Try the T-shirt and jeans, and toss the blazer over your shoulders these low-cost options for efficient clothing storage: for a casual outfit. Layer the blouse over the T-shirt and add the slacks for a committee meeting—you’ve mastered the
▪ Double up. Suspend a second hanging rod from art of the cluster!
a too-tall closet rod to increase hanging capacity for Look at your culled closet with an eye to forming several shirts, skirts, or slacks, and make good use of space clusters from your existing clothes. The main organizing principle in the closet.
is color, not season or style. Group similar-colored garments
▪ Cube creations. Modular wire grid cube units together, and think, “What could I add to this group to form are inexpensive—and have multiple applications in
a cluster?” A stay-at-home mom might cluster her pale denim the clothes closet. Build them horizontally to stack jeans and white T-shirts with a pieced jean jacket, a coordinating sweaters or shoes; assembled vertically, cubes create vest, and a long red tunic dress/sweater.
cubbyholes for handbags or boots, or subdivide too-
Thinking “cluster” simplifies the process of buying clothes.
large shelves. Use curtain rod brackets to suspend
No longer will you buy in terms of “outfit”—that’s how you a single grid panel on the wall to display jewelry,
get in the position of having a closet stuffed with clothes and belts, and scarves.
nothing to wear. Adding another piece to a cluster means you
▪ Hanging helpers. Low-cost organizers designed to can wear the garment several different ways, using the clothing fill unused hanging space offer cheap, easy storage for already in the closet.
sweaters, T-shirts, handbags, and shoes.
▪ Don’t forget the door. Over-the-door hooks, Guiding principle: simplify storage
hanger racks and shoe bags solve storage problems
Let’s face it. Many traditional methods of clothing storage by tapping unused space behind the closet door.
just don’t work. Drawers stick and squeak and are usually overloaded. Long hanging garments brush against shoes and
CLOTHING
131
wrinkle on the floor. Wire hangers grab one another with pointy Tips for organized closets
metal edges, snagging delicate garments in their eagerness to If you can see it, you can find it ... and wear it, too. Try these spring apart. Shoes tumble over the floor, tripping the unwary.
tips to get organized in the clothes closet:
Try these tips to simplify your clothes storage:
▪ Boost storage with specialty organizers. In the closet,
▪ Make it easier to put away. Liberate your thinking space is at a premium—yet many closets teem with unused about clothing storage. There’s a principle here, too: in storage, areas. Specialty organizers can tap that empty space. Double it should be easier to put something away than it is to get it the room for shirts and blouses by hanging a second rod for out. With this principle in mind, put underpants and brassieres twice the storage. Stackable shelves subdivide over-tall in an open-topped plastic basket on a shelf, rather than shelving and add a second layer of storage. Hanging sweater confining them in a too-small lingerie drawer. Hang long bags convert extra space into shelves for sweaters, handbags, nightgowns and robes from hooks and they’ll be easy to find or folded jeans.
each bleary-eyed morning. Invest in the marvelous modern
▪ Round up shoes with shoe racks. Shoe storage can multi-level closet systems, and your delicate blouses will never cause even the most organized among us to stumble, so get again catch on the hooks holding your skirts.
shoes up and off the floor. Use shoe racks or shoe bags to store shoes in small spaces.
“In storage, it should be
easier to put something away
than it is to get it out!”
▪ Think cluster. If possible, hang clothing in clusters, rather than segregating it by shirts and slacks and dresses. When the interesting multi-stripe shirt is hidden between two old jean shirts, it’s hard to remember how well it works with those stone chinos. Store clothes by cluster, and you simplify the process of getting dressed.
▪ Stay open. Stack jeans, shorts, and T-shirts on open shelves, and you’ll never again lose a favorite pair in the dark corners of an over-stuffed drawer. Socks deserve their own open basket; store pantyhose by color, with each color confined to a separate large zipper food-storage bag.
▪ Hang it right. Finally, invest in proper hangers for the life of your clothing ( see page 134), and recycle those wire hangers at your local dry-cleaners.
▶ Bring order to your closet Use suitable hangers to hang clothes, and fold T-shirts and sweaters. If you can see your clothes at a glance, you don’t need to search the whole closet.
CLOTHING
133
Tips for organizing dressers and drawers
Clothes storage tips for
Crammed bureau drawers can lead to snagged hosiery, rumpled clutter personalities
garments, and pinched fingers—so put the following tips to work to declutter and organize clothing stored in chest of Try these tips for clutter personalities. They’ll help sort drawers and dressers:
out the closet clutter that holds you back:
▪ Declutter, declutter, declutter. As storage devices, drawers function best when they have breathing room; when they are
▪ Perfectionist. The perfectionist has the world’s jammed and crowded, they damage clothing and make it hard most organized clothes closet ... in her head. Because to find garments. Keep drawer contents lean by decluttering her dream of color-coordinated storage systems is so them. Use the STOP clutter method ( see pages 20–23 and lofty, she won’t throw herself into the yawning void 128-129) to trash singleton socks and torn knickers. Don’t let between what she has and what she imagines. In the
clothing clutter bring drawer storage to a standstill!
meantime, she’s diving beneath winter’s fleece jackets
▪ Labels point the way. Keep the drawer contents tidy to try to find the bathing suits.
—and where they belong—with labels. Label drawers on The perfectionist needs to cut herself some slack!
dresser fronts or the upper edge of the drawer lip. Use labels A “good enough” job is truly good enough. Keep in
with pictures on to help small children put away clothing in mind the 20–80 rule: 20 percent of the effort to do
the proper drawer.
any job will reap 80 percent of the benefits.
▪ Divide and conquer. Drawer dividers keep knickers neat,
▪ Deferrer. The deferrer dreams of an organized clothes stockings folded, and T-shirts in their stack. Use narrow strips closet, too—but the job seems so overwhelming that
of cardboard to subdivide drawers, or stow lingerie and socks she spins her wheels at the thought. Break the thrall in shallow, flat-bottomed plastic baskets. Commercial drawer of procrastination by making one tiny start. Declutter organizers can make a n
eat drawer out of a jumbled mess.
half a hanger rod or half a drawer. Tomorrow, do it
▪ On a roll! For neat storage, roll garments instead of folding again ... and again ... and again. The remedy of action them. Mate socks, and then roll them together; they’ll be easy is usually enough to get the deferrer going; taking
to find, and you won’t stretch elastic edges. Rolled T-shirts are many little steps will build a bridge to the goal: a clean simple to sort and stow; no more flipping through folded piles and organized closet.
to find a favorite. Rolled garments take up less room in the
▪ Rebel. Mom was a tyrant, all right—she insisted drawer; rolling lessens creases and rumpling.
that clothing be hung up or put away neatly. Out on
▪ Turf it. To pare down excess clothing in the chest of drawers, her own, the rebel continues the war, tossing clothing find alternate storage locations in less crowded areas. Toss with abandon. After a while, rummaging through piles rolled socks and leggings into a flat-bottomed basket, and slide on the floor to get dressed in the morning loses any beneath the dresser or a nearby bed. Bulky jeans can claim more appeal—but the rebel’s behavior pattern is entrenched.
than their fair share of drawer space; consider hanging them To make peace with the internal rebel, remind
in the closet instead. Don’t hang sweaters, though; they yourself of the power of choice. “I choose to store my should be stored flat to retain their shape.
clothing in a way that protects it, and makes it easy for me to dress well,” will send the rebel back into the past, where she belongs.
◀ Divvy it up. Drawer dividers make it easy to find clothing you need quickly, and frustrate the tendency of small items to shift when dresser drawers are opened and closed.
134
CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Storing
seasonal
clothing
Unless your family lives in a balmy equatorial region, seasonal clothing must be rotated and stored between hot-weather and cold-weather seasons. Be alert for storage options that will keep out-of-season clothing safely and provide easy access for the next season’s closet changeover.
Before you store
Launder or dry-clean clothing before storing it for the season
—even if it looks clean. Hidden stains may not be evident now, but you’ll see them in six months, after the stain has set.
Body oils attract clothes moths and cause a deep-set odor if not removed from clothing before storage.
Remove dry-cleaned garments from plastic bags, as the bags trap moisture and encourage mildew. Cotton garment bags or old cotton sheets protect stored clothing from dust, while allowing air circulation.
Choose a storage location that is cool, dry, and well ventilated. Beware of the attic when storing winter clothing.
Hot summer attic temperatures can cause fiber damage, while the heat will set any hidden stains. Avoid storing clothing in an area receiving direct sunlight; it can fade clothing.
Choosing hangers Select the right hangers when storing clothes for the season. Avoid storing clothing on thin wire hangers ( see page 136). Store jackets and coats on padded hangers or wooden suit hangers. Hang trousers by the cuff or hem, hanging straight, to avoid creases. Hang skirts from waistbands using skirt hangers. Wooden or plastic hangers may be used for blouses or shirts. Dresses and skirts often include hanger loops designed to support the garment’s weight; place them around the head of the hanger or on hanger hooks.
◀ Bed ’em down. Space beneath the bed works well for seasonal clothing storage. Use under-bed storage organizers, and if necessary raise the bed with bed risers to make room for them.
CLOTHING
135
Boxing clothes When boxing clothes for storage avoid boxes made from cardboard. Cardboard is acidic, and the glue Saving strategy:
A growing child means outgrown clothes—
it contains is attractive to pests and insects. Lidded plastic and too often, an outgrown clothing budget.
storage containers will hold clothing safely, without attracting To keep costs under control, many families
pests or damaging fibers. Use labels or a permanent marker retain baby clothes and hand-me-down
to label containers to help you identify the contents later.
clothing for use by the next youngster. Frugal
parents “buy up”, purchasing sale clothing in
Clothes moths In areas where moths are prevalent, larger sizes for children’s use as they grow;
mothballs can help protect clothes made from natural fibers, garage sale shoppers can collect an entire
but treat them with extreme respect. Mothballs kill moth larvae wardrobe of quality children’s clothing as they
with chemical fumes, so they should be used only in sealed cruise the yard sales.
containers. Do not place mothballs directly on stored clothing.
Problem is, where do you store the
kids’ clothing ar
The fumes are hazardous to humans, so do not wear
bargains? Most children’s bedrooms have
clothing immediately if it has been stored with mothballs. Clean inadequate storage for clothing in active
clothing or air it in a well-ventilated location for at least a day use, much less an added cache of “grow-before wearing. Always keep mothballs away from children into” clothes. Solution: set up a simple
and pets.
clothing archive to sort, store, and organize
Cedar blocks, shavings, or cedar oil offers less toxic kids’ clothes.
protection against moths when storing clothing. Like mothballs, clothing must be stored in a closed container when using cedar, Ready to wear
so that the fumes will deter moths.
To create a kids’ clothing archive, collect or
purchase eight to ten lidded plastic storage
Where to store out-of-season clothes?
containers. Containers should be clean, dry,
chive
Try these tips to stash seasonal clothing out of the way when and stack easily.
not in use.
Sort clothing by gender—boy or girl
—and then by size. Assign each pile to
▪ Rack ’em up. Rolling garment racks are inexpensive, sturdy, a box, and label accordingly: Boy–Size 6;
and make seasonal closet changeovers easy. Roll the rack to the Girl–Size 8. Stack boxes in an accessible
closet, and load it up with winter jackets, suits, and trousers.
storage area in basement, garage or attic,
Add a sweater hanger to provide shelf space on the rack.
arranging them by gender and size.
When you are finished, roll the rack to an alternate storage Did you find a great bargain on toddler
location; cover it with a cotton bed sheet to protect the coveralls? Stash them away in the “Boy–3T”
clothing from dust.
box until the baby is ready to cruise the
▪ Suitcase solution. Suitcases are ideal containers for house. When daughter’s dresses are all too
transporting clothing—and for storing it, too. During the off-short, check the “Girl–Size 6” archive box
season, tuck seasonal clothing inside suitcases. A label or sticky before you shop for new clothes; add her
note affixed outside of the suitcase identifies clothing inside.
outgrown dresses in good condition to the
▪ Hang ’em high. If you’re blessed with a closet that has
“Girl–Size 4” archive for use next year by
a high ceiling, tap that empty space for seasonal storage.
her younger sister.
Add a hanging rod near the closet ceiling; store out-of-season clothes up in the nosebleed seats for safe, accessible storage.
136
CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Cut co
sts in the closet:
clothing
care
Whether you love your clothes—or simply hate to shop—it makes sense to maintain clothing properly. Clothing represents a substantial investment of money, time, and energy, and no one likes to see the premature demise of a favorite garment. Good care prolongs the life of your clothing and keeps it looking good longer.
Here are basic pointers to protect your clothing investment:
▪ Air out clothing before wearing it. Wait! Don’t tuck that expensive suit or pretty dress back into the closet right away. When you’ve worn a garment, hang it up to air outside the closet overnight before putting it away. An airing will smooth out wrinkles. By removing moisture and odors, it also reduces the need for costly dry-cleaning.
▪ Kiss wire hangers good-bye. Dry-cleaning freebies are hard on good clothes. Hanger ends poke into blouse sleeves, stressing the fabric, while rough wire edges snag a fabric’s delicate weave. Skinny wires cut into shoulder pads and don’t support heavier garments. For advice on which type of hanger to use for which type of garment, see page 136 and the caption below. Earth-friendly tip: many dry-cleaners will recycle wire hangers; check with your cleaners to see if they will accept surplus wire hangers for re-use.
▪ Dress dry. Deodorants, body lotions, and perfumes are a treat for your body but hard on your clothes. Chemicals used
“An airing will smooth out
wrinkles and reduce the
need for costly dry-cleaning.”
◀ Happy hang-ups. Use sturdy, shaped wooden hangers to support the weight of jackets and coats; slender wood or plastic hangers keep blouses wrinkle-free and ready to wear.
CLOTHING
137
in cosmetics can harm clothing fibers, so get dry before you Y
get dressed. After you apply them, allow deodorants, sprays, Professional dry-cleaning is a valuable tool
our money’
and cologne to dry thoroughly before donning clothing—and for preserving the life of your clothing, but it
never apply perfumes or lotions directly to your clothes.
helps to be in the know. Get the most for your
Cut the Clutter Page 17