Like a drug intervention, a closet reorganization can force a pack rat to confront long-term bad habits, such as hanging on to jeans that haven’t fid in years or clothes that went out of style with the powder-blue tuxedo.

 

If you suffer from packratitus, it’s time for a cold turkey closet cleanup. And by cleanup, I mean clean it out.

 

First step:  Empty it. No kidding. Take everything out of your closet: clothes, shoes, belts, ties, Christmas gifts that have been hiding there since 1982. Remove shelves, shoe racks and furniture.  Take a look at your empty closet, perhaps for the first time since you moved into you home. 

Now the work really starts. Here is the rest of my 12-step program for letting go of your closet clutter.

 

v     Divide your closet contents into three piles: haven’t worn in two years or never liked, seriously out of style and love more than chocolate.

 

v     Root through the first two piles for items that are in good shape and might be useful to someone else.  It’s true that one person’s trash is another treasure.

 

v     Throw away anything that is worn out. One person’s trash also can be another’s person’s trash.

 

v     Find local charities that accept gently used clothing and household items, and pack up your usable items. Take the time for this step; more people than ever need help through this recession.

 

v     That leave you with one pile of clothes, shoes and accessories you want to keep.  Look at each item.  Once you reacquaint yourself with what’s in your closet, you may find that you need to buy fewer new clothes thanks to the good things you’d forgotten. I have to admit that I bought a handsome new jacket only to get it home and find a long-forgotten, almost identical coat hiding in the back of my closet.

 

v     Scrub the closet from baseboards to ceiling with TSP-trisodium phosphate, a powdery cleaner that removes grime, stains and mildew.  Don’t use TSP on your wood floor, as it can stain.  Clean your floor with a cleaner designed for your wood, carpet or tile.

 

v     Paint an area you’ve ignored because you didn’t want to empty your closet. Use a semi-gloss enamel that’s easy to clean and can hold it own against scuffs from shoes and scrapes from hangers.  If you prefer a paneled look, install a cedar closet liner.  It’s a simple job because of its tongue-and-groove design.  Line the walls and the ceiling.

 

v     Once the liner is in, install new shelves.  Use a solid material such as a three-quarter-inch MDF (medium-density fiberboard) which is more durable than wire racks and less abrasive than plywood.  Support your shelves with a sturdy wall cleat anchored to the studs every 3 or 4 feet, and finish it with a bull-nose edge so it won’t have corners to catch on your clothes.

 

v     Replace your wooden closet pole with a sturdy chrome rod that won’t bend or damage as easily.

 

v     Return your ”must keep” clothes and accessories to their rightful place. Group similar pieces: jeans, slacks, skirts, shirts, jackets, suits. That will make everything easier to locate next time you’re getting dressed.

 

v     Make you way through the house and do the same for every closet.  Don’t forget the kitchen pantry, linen closet, vanity cabinet and under-the-sink cupboards that we all use as catch-alls.

Rosie Romero – The Arizona Republic 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributed by Mario Romero, CRS, CDPE, CLHMS
602-252-4191 office, 602-254-9810 fax
The Romero Team - Melcher Agency
www.TheRomeroTeam.com
www.ShortSaleTeamAz.com
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