A Fresh Start in the Linen Closet

Black Friday, Cyber Monday…One might think, after the holidays are over so are the sales but not so my friends!  Thanks to Mr. John Wanamaker, a savvy Philadelphia entrepreneur who created the “White Sale” as a way to increase sales and pass along special offers to his customers after the holidays.  Mr. Wanamaker’s idea was to promote a “fresh start” for the New Year by having a clean house. Since bed linens and towels were white during this time period, the “White Sale” it was named!  

As professional organizers, we love his idea and it must have been a good one since the White Sale has been a tradition since 1878!

So, do you take advantage of the annual sales to tackle the various areas of your home?  I try not to become victim to consumerism, but I do like to partake in a good sale when I am in need of new items.  For this reason, I always start my yearly cleaning and organizing with the linen closet.

Questions:

Do you rotate the linens on your bed or do you wash and replace the same set of sheets each time?  

How many sets of sheets do you keep for each bed in your home?  

How many should you keep?  

As a general rule, one should have a minimum of two and a maximum of three sets of sheets per bed; one set that is on the bed and one set to change in case of sickness or while washing the other set.  I have two queen size beds and two king size beds in my house. I keep two additional sets of sheets for each size bed not each bed, which has been more than adequate for my family’s needs. Most days I simply wash and replace the same set.  While I am not a minimalist, I do value the art of minimalism and when it comes to sheets, I can certainly get on board.

Soapbox time…I have seen so many linen closets overrun with sets of sheets, blankets, and quilts for beds in sizes that are not even in their homes!  Yet people overwhelmingly wash and replace the same set of sheets that are on their bed because it is the set that matches their duvet, etc. So my question is, why are you keeping the rest??  Keep one or two sets of sheets for the size bed you have and donate the rest. Use this as your motivator: January is cold, and there are people in need of the warmth of your blankets. DONATE THEM NOW!

Once you have sorted through your linens, organize them by size or by room.  I find it convenient to place my linens in a basket labeled by size. That way I don’t have to perfectly fold them since they are inside the basket.  My closet has the appearance of neatness even though my sheet corners are not impeccably folded. I can be sneaky like that! If you don’t have a separate linen closet, you can store extra sets of linens in your bedroom closet or even in a bathroom closet.  Keeping them in a basket makes it easy to retrieve them.

What about pillows you say?

Oh, pillows!  Nothing becomes more personal during sleep time than the perfect pillow.  According to leading experts, we should replace our pillows every 12-24 months and you should wash your pillows at least every 6 months.  

So take advantage of the White Sales! Wash your pillows and donate your excess linens!  Ready, set, geaux!!

XOXO

Lisa

Cleaning Out The Closet on National Gaudy Day

Is your closet a study in wardrobe history? Are you holding on to that sweater you were wearing when you met your partner? Or are you holding on to that skirt you regretfully bought, the one with the price tag still attached?

So many of the items we have in our homes are only there because we feel too guilty to get rid of them. However, by letting go of these items you are letting go of the negative emotions hanging around your space. There is actually a therapy element to cleaning out your closet.

Statistically speaking...

“The average American woman owns 30 outfits—one for every day of the month. In 1930, that figure was nine (Forbes).”

The average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually (Forbes).

While the average American throws away 65 pounds of clothing per year (Huffington Post).

...and we regularly hear that only 20 percent of the clothes in the average person’s closet are worn on a regular basis.

4 Easy Tips To Clean Out Your Closet

ASK WHY

So the real question to ask yourself is WHY? Why haven’t you worn the item? Most of the time it is because there is a similar item we like better. So why own both if you only wear one? Other times it’s because we plan to lose weight so it will fit again. While this can be an arguable point, we find most people actually enjoy shopping for new clothes when they reach their goal weight. Here’s a big one. You really don’t want to see the pile of clothes that still have a price tag attached.

REMOVE THE UNWORN

Today is “Wear Something Gaudy Day” - and it is the perfect day to pillage through your closet and remove the gaudy stuff. Start by removing the items you haven’t worn in the last year. Feeling really frisky? Remove items you haven’t worn in the last six months.

DONATE

Make a donation bag, fill it, and immediately put it in your vehicle to drop off.

SORT WHAT REMAINS

Once you have removed the clutter from your closet, sort your clothes by type (dresses, long, short and sleeveless tops, pants, etc.). Store them together by type. Then sort each type by color using the ROYGBIV guide. Simple steps will make your house both functional and beautiful.

Pro tip: Turn your hangers around for the items you simply cannot make a decision about. If you haven’t worn it in the next 6 months then its out!

It is important to understand that this is a difficult process to do on your own. That’s why our teams are here to help. We understand how emotional and physical clutter work hand in hand, and the sooner you remove the things that no longer serve you the quicker you can get to what does.

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How To Organize the Handbags, Totes, & Clutches

Did you know there was a National Handbag Day?  Seriously, an entire day dedicated to handbags! I’ve never loved clothing like some women… but a pretty handbag? Why yes, thank you!

Because I’m not one to hang onto things, it’s a one-in, one-out rule for most things in my closet.  But handbags are different. They can make (or break) an outfit. (Ok, so maybe not my Chaos t-shirt and leggings look but ANY other outfit!) I tend to hang onto them probably longer than I should because I like classic styles. The few trendier, less expensive styles stay through a season or two.  I have a patent leather clutch that was my Grandmothers. It’s definitely one of my favorite items in my closet that will never leave.

To start organizing your handbags, be sure to have an honest talk with yourself.  Let’s be real, no matter how much you paid for that handbag, if you keep skipping over it, you know it needs to go. Stop obsessing about what you paid for it and keep moving forward.

Pro Tip: Donating handbags is great for your local community, but there are plenty of thrift stores that would love to buy your gently used designer bags.  Be sure to look into both options. The extra money could come in handy for that next bag you love.

How does one keep the handbags organized?  Well, let’s take a look at some options!

If you have a large closet with ampules of closet hanging space, and frequently change handbags, hanging them could be a great option.  It’s tidy, easy to use and keeps the handbags from having that nasty crease mark when they flop over. These hooks are from The Container Store and you can find them here.

If you have less closet space, an acrylic organizer might be a good fit like this one from The Container Store.  Here is a great example. The clutches and small purses can fit below while the larger satchels can live next to or on top of the organizer.  It would help keep the dust off the clutches as well. The openings could be labeled so that each clutch has its own space.

The way I store my handbags is with a shelf divider like this one from Target.

I stuff the larger, more flimsy handbags with tissue so they stand up and contain them between the shelf dividers.  My clutches are lined up in a small basket.

There is also the @Bed, Bath and Beyond “Park a Purse” Clutch and Purse divider that looks interesting.   Being able to stack the bags would be helpful in a small closet. I haven’t used one yet, but it has great reviews! You can find it here.

And lastly, if you are still struggling with storage, you can always look for ideas at your local boutiques.

This idea came from Edit by LBP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

So you see, there are as many handbag organizing options as there are handbags themselves. I hope one of these ideas gets you inspired to evaluate and organize your handbag collection.  If you get stuck or need assistance, give us a call!

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