How to Prepare Your Reach-In Closet for Summer & Winter

Declutter and Sort

Importance of Decluttering

If you want to tidy up your reach-in closet, decluttering is an essential first step. Before each season, remove items you no longer need or want. This will help you create a more organized and functional space to work in, and it will give you more space for storing your clothing.

In addition to the space-saving benefits, decluttering can also help your mental health: You’ll feel less stressed and overwhelmed when you look into your closet, and it will be much easier to put your clothes away after laundering. You’ll feel calmer and will start your days off on the right foot without having to worry about dealing with clutter and chaos before you even get dressed.

Tips for Sorting Clothes

Setting up a sorting station will help you go through items quickly and efficiently. As you take each item out of your closet, put them in one of four piles:

• Keep: These will be the clothes you will be wearing during the upcoming season. Some will be items you have stored away, and others will be things you tend to wear all year. For example, even though you may switch from heavier to lighter clothing in the summer, you’ll still want to have a few cardigans and a couple pairs of jeans for cooler summer days.
• Store: These items will be stored away for the season. In the summer, you will be packing away your heavier sweaters, jackets, corduroy pants, and boots. In the winter, you’ll want to put up your sundresses and sleeveless tops (except for a few you might use for layering!).
• Donate: Items in good condition that you haven’t worn in a long time can be passed on to someone else. If you have a family member or friend who is around the same size as you who could use them, see if they’d like to pick them up. Otherwise, drop them off at your favorite charity thrift store.
• Discard: These are the items that are past the point of repair. If something has been stained, torn, or heavily worn and you wouldn’t feel good about passing it along to someone else to use, it can go into the trash. Alternatively, your local charity might have a clothing recycling program to avoid putting these items into a landfill, so be sure to ask.

Clean and Refresh

Cleaning the Closet Space

Cleaning your closet will give you a nice, sanitary place to put your clothes for the upcoming season. In addition, it’s healthier for both you and your clothing not to have dust and grime on the clothes themselves. Here are a few of the things you can do to make sure your closet is sparkling clean:

• Wipe down the shelves and surfaces: Use a damp cloth to wipe down the shelves, clothing rods, and shoe organizers to remove dust and dirt. Pay special attention to the corners and edges.
• Vacuum the floor: Vacuum the closet floor well, including along the baseboards and in the corners. If you have carpet, you might consider shampooing the rug. If not, you could mop a tile or linoleum floor, or use wood-floor cleaner on a wood or laminate floor.
• Air out the space: Leave your closet door open for a few hours to let fresh air circulate. This is more effective if you can open a window in your bedroom. This will help flush out any stale odors and keep it feeling fresh.
• Check for pests: Look for signs of moths or other insects. According to Official Pest Prevention, those signs might include seeing live bugs, noticing droppings, smelling unpleasant odors, or finding damage to the walls or clothing. Address any issues that you find.

Refreshing Clothes

Once your closet itself is clean, it’s time to refresh the clothing. This will help them be in their best condition for the upcoming season. Here are a few tips:

• Launder most items: Many of your items will be perfectly safe to put in the washing machine and dryer. Read the care labels if you’re unsure. Wash and dry clothes that have been stored away, so you know they’re fresh and clean.
• Dry clean some things: If you have items that need to be dry cleaned, such as suits and coats, before and after storing them away for the season are great times to take them in for some TLC. 
• Repair damaged items: If you have clothing that has loose buttons, broken zippers, small tears, or untreated stains, take care of these issues now, so everything is in tip-top shape when it comes time to wear the clothes.

Organize by Season

Storing Out-of-Season Clothes

Correctly storing the clothing that you’ll be putting away for the next six months or so is the key to keeping them in great condition, so they’ll be ready for you when the seasons change again. There are several ways you might consider packing away your clothes:

• Storage bins: Use clear plastic storage bins with tight-fitting lids to protect your clothes from dust, humidity, and pests. If it isn’t clear what’s in each bin, be sure to label them; otherwise, you may waste a lot of time rummaging through bins later if you need something specific.
• Vacuum-sealed bags: These are perfect for items, like coats and sweaters, because they pull all of the air out of the bags – making bulky clothing take up far less space.
• Garment bags: If you have delicate or special-occasion clothing, use garment bags. They should be breathable to allow for air circulation while also keeping dust and insects off of your items.

Arranging Seasonal Clothes

When it comes to the clothing you’ll be keeping in your reach-in closet for the current season, I have some tips to help you keep your storage space more functional: 

• Group similar items together: Keep all of your tops together, all of your pants together, and so on. This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. Within each category, you can organize by type (such as sleeveless tops, short-sleeved tops, and long-sleeved tops) and also by color to make things even more functional.
• Use storage solutions: Bins, baskets, and dividers all go a long way to helping you store your clothing and accessories. Bins and baskets are great to put on shelves, dividers can keep stacks of folded clothing from toppling, and drawer organizers are perfect for inside drawers.
• Think about accessibility: Place the clothes you use more often at eye level or in the center, while the items you don’t wear much can go on the edges of the closet or higher up. Make it easier to grab what you normally wear.

Utilize Storage Solutions

Various storage solutions can help you maximize every inch of your reach-in closet. Here are some of my team’s favorites.

Space-Saving Hangers

These are great for making the most of your hanging space and keeping everything organized. They take up less room than traditional hangers, and many have non-slip features to help prevent items from sliding to the floor. If you choose the same type of hanger throughout the closet, it helps you maintain a cohesive look. 

Some examples of space-saving hangers are:

• Slim velvet hangers: These are narrow and are perfect for delicate fabrics. The velvet coating helps prevent slippage.
• Tiered hangers: These are designed to allow you to hang multiple items vertically, which saves horizontal space.
• Multi-clip hangers: These hangers are the type with two or more clips to help you keep pants and skirts in place without having to stretch or fold them over a hanger.

Bins and Baskets

Bins and baskets are great for smaller items. They will keep them accessible without the need for any fuss; just toss the items in the bin and go. These are perfect for things, like belts, scarves, and even undergarments. 

You might consider labeling bins, so you know where items go. This will also help if you and a partner are sharing the space, or if you’re organizing a child’s closet. Everyone will be on the same page as far as what goes where. 

Shoe Storage

Shoe organizers are vital for keeping the floor of your closet clear. They can also prevent injuries from tripping as well as damage to the shoes from being stepped on. We recommend three different types:

• Shoe racks: Horizontal racks are great for closets with lots of floor space, as they can hold multiple pairs of shoes. Many reach-in closets don’t have a ton of floor space, though, and for these closets, there are vertical racks available.
• Over-the-door organizers: These are hanging organizers that go over the closet door. They have either pockets or suspended shelves for each pair of shoes. They’re easy to install and can also be used for other items, like accessories or even toiletries.
• Clear shoe boxes: These protect footwear from dust and damage, and they also allow you to see clearly what’s inside. They’re stackable, which can help you save space.

Add Seasonal Touches

Seasonal Accessories

Adding seasonal accessories can make your closet more appealing and fun to use all year long. Here are some ideas:

• Seasonal scents: Adding sachets or air fresheners that match the season can give you the boost you need each morning when you open your closet door. Your clothes will also smell great. In the winter, you might choose warm scents like vanilla, cinnamon, or pine trees. In the summer, consider citrus or floral scents.
• Cedar blocks: This is another way to add a pleasant, woodsy aroma to your closet. In addition, cedar naturally repels moths and other pests. You can put the cedar blocks in drawers or on shelves, but don’t let them touch your clothes.
• Seasonal decor: If you really want a pop of welcoming decor, make it seasonal! Consider bright, cheerful colors in the summer and cozier, warm tones in the winter. Or you might try hanging a small wreath or festive ornament in your closet around the holiday seasons, and maybe a bowl of dried lemon or lime slices in the summer.

Lighting and Mirrors

Good lighting and mirrors are functional, and they also make your reach-in closet look more spacious. 

Lighting choices might include overhead lighting, strip lights, or motion sensor lights. All of these will improve the visibility of the space and help you see into darker corners. It will also be easier to make outfit choices when you can easily see the difference between black and navy or different shades of red.

Mirrors make the closet feel larger and more open. They also reflect light, which brightens the space. You might hang a full-length mirror on the inside of the closet door or on a wall. Another option is to use a pull-out mirror that only emerges from the closet when you need it. Smaller decorative mirrors are also options to consider.

Maintenance Tips

Organizing your closet isn’t a once-and-never-again chore. You need to keep up with it regularly in order to keep it maintained and organized. Here are a few tips:

• Check in regularly: Assess your closet for tidiness to ensure that everything remains in the right place. This will help you avoid big overhauls later, since your items will stay neat.
• Look for issues: Keep your eyes open for clutter, damaged items, misplaced clothing, and pest infestations. As soon as you see an issue, deal with it right then and there.
• Adjust seasonally: If the weather is warming up or cooling down before you’ve had the chance to switch over your clothes, just get a few things from storage to tide you over. Similarly, if you’re having a particularly rainy season, you may need to tweak which shoes you’re wearing, pull out your rain jacket, and so on. Be ready to adjust your wardrobe as needed.
• Have a weekly tidy: Spend a few minutes each week tidying up your closet and pulling out items that need to be mended or replaced. 

Adjusting for weather changes and upcoming events

The weather can be unpredictable, so it’s helpful to stay flexible. Here are a few ways you can keep your closet and wardrobe ready for anything:

• Plan to dress in layers: Keep a few versatile pieces in your closet to help you cope with days that are warmer or cooler than you expected. Cardigans and light jackets might be needed in summer, and a few short-sleeved or sleeveless options can be helpful if you’re having a particularly warm winter.
• Keep seasonal accessories handy: Your accessories will change depending on whether it’s cool or warm. For example, you may need gloves and scarves in the winter and sunglasses or sun hats in the summer. Make space for these in your closet.
• Have interim storage available: Some items are used year-round or well into the coming season. These might be raincoats, umbrellas, windbreakers, and hoods. Keep these in a special place in your closet, so you know where to find them when the weather necessitates.
• Get a valet rod for special event outfits: We recommend using a valet rod or even a clothing rack, so you can keep your outfit for an upcoming special event handy. This can cut down on last-minute stress.
  

Conclusion

My team is always teeming with ideas to help you keep your reach-in closet organized all year long. By preparing your space each year for both summer and winter, you’ll be able to keep most of your clutter at bay. We’re happy to help! Give us a call to schedule a free in-home consultation, and we’ll help you make the most of the space available in your small closet.

Source

• https://www.officialpestprevention.com/bug-infestation-signs/