Spring isn’t just a time for flowers to bloom and the sun to shine, it’s also a time for cleaning. Spring cleaning is not only satisfying but also very helpful. Now is a time to take an inventory of what you already have, clean your closet, and figure out what you need for summer. Here’s a few tips to help make your spring cleaning productive and fun:
1. Blast some tunes! Nothing makes time pass more quickly than some good music. Aim for a peppy playlist to keep your mood up while you’re hauling the clothes down from their hangers. For some musical inspiration, click here.
2. Take it out. The first step to properly cleaning your closet is to take everything out. Lay all your clothes out on your bed or your floor; it’s the only way to really see everything that you have. We all know that it’s easy to think you don’t have shorts anymore if they are stuffed behind your winter clothes (although picking up a new pair or two for the summer never hurts).
3. Wipe it down. Make sure you clean your closet and drawers, because built-up dust will not do any good for anyone. If there is dust, wipe it with a wet paper towel or Lysol and make sure you don’t have any miscellaneous items or wrappers anywhere in your closet.
4. Try it on. Next, try on or reassess what you’ve taken out to make sure you know what fits, what doesn’t, and what you’d actually use/wear again. Make piles, and remember what goes where.
5. Organize. Figure out what types of storage you want to use for everything that you’re Spring cleaning out of your life. Find items at stores like The Container Store to help organize your closet and the rest of your room neat. Look at pictures of nice closets for inspiration.
6. Give clothes that don’t fit away. Those sweaters or jeans that you know you can’t wear again will only take up space in your room, so they’re great items to give away. Whether it’s to a cousin or The Salvation Army, clothes are an easy thing to donate and can really make a difference in someone else’s life.
7. Alter. Learn how to hem (or ask a parent/mentor/talented friend) if you need skirts, shorts, or dresses to be tailored. If clothes need major alterations, visit a tailor and see what can be done; if the alterations are going to be too pricey or are not worth it, donate the piece of clothing because chances are, there is someone who will fit into it.
8. Sorting: Sort through what you will wear and figure out what you want to hang and what you want to fold. Figure out which drawers will be used for what. To help determine which items of clothing go together, think of the occasions when you might wear them. Keep your formal shirts away from your casual shirts and your shorts away from your jeans, as this will help tremendously when you know you need to find a specific type of clothing on the fly.
9. Placement: Once you’re ready to start re-filling your closet and other spaces, think about where everything is going. Keep what you wear most often in the middle of your drawers or at the most accessible spots. Winter clothes can be kept at the bottom or top of the closet during the summer, while summer clothes can be kept hidden during the winter. Note: you should probably keep your school uniform conveniently in plain sight…
10. Keep it organized. This might be the most important and most challenging part. Although it feels good once you finally finish cleaning out your closet, if you don’t keep it organized, the satisfaction disappears. Instead of having to clean out your closet for hours a few times a year, you will find yourself having to clean it out every other month. Keep it neat to minimize the time you need to spend organizing.
I hope this helps with your cleaning, and don’t underestimate the power of inspiration! Look at some beautiful closets, and I guarantee that you will be motivated to make your closet just as beautiful.
~ Jamie