A clean, organized closet saves time and energy. It doesn’t matter if it is your broom closet, linen closet, pantry, or the clothing closet in your bedroom. Searching for what you need amidst clutter, dust bunnies, and disorganization can waste precious minutes before work or a night out. This guide to performing a full closet clean-out includes how to organize your items and how to make the surfaces inside sparkle.

Preparation

Proper preparation is an essential part of any closet clean-out. The first step is to schedule a day to clean out a particular closet. Mark this date on your calendar and stick to it.

It’s easy to get distracted while cleaning and state that you will finish the project another day. That can leave your closet in even greater disarray. Experts suggest hiring a babysitter for the kids, resisting the urge to look at your phone, and working until the job is done.

What You’ll Need

Have all the necessary supplies ready before you begin. Necessary items:

Multisurface cleaning product
Broom or vacuum
Rags
Trash bags
Laundry baskets or boxes for organizing (for clothing closets)

Get to Work

Achieving a sparkling clean and organized closet is a process. Following are the steps required to achieve your goal.

Empty It All

The first step in the closet clean-out process is to remove everything. That means everything, including hangers and items in hard-to-reach places. Clear out any drawers or boxes. Place everything in one easy-to-access place, such as on the bed or on a table nearby. For clothing closets, bring the clothing you have stored in other parts of the home to this common area. It’s time to sort through it all.

Deep Clean

A critical part of any closet clean-out is deep cleaning the surfaces inside. Dust the shelves and wipe them down with the multisurface cleaner. Sweep, vacuum, and clean any fixtures. Sanitize the doorknobs and leave the door open for the closet to air out while sorting through the items you took out.

Now is the time to add any new organizing drawers, shelves, rods, or hooks. Broom closets and other storage closets can benefit from clear organizing bins for rags and wall clips for brooms, mops, and more. These items can help you create a more functional space where you can easily locate items.

Sort Your Items

Sorting is one of the trickiest parts of the closet clean-out process. It means getting rid of items you spent money on and don't use (or maybe never used).

It’s important not to spend too much time on each item in a clothing closet. Go with your gut feeling about whether you’ll wear it again. Spending too much time on each item will lead you into a rabbit hole of remembering when and where you bought it and making an excuse to keep it. If you don’t wear it now, you probably won’t in the future. That includes if it comes back into style or if you gain or lose weight.

Separate each item into one of three piles — items to keep, items to give away, and damaged items that go in the trash. Don’t second guess why you put an item in a certain pile. Keep moving.

For other types of closets, discard any items you don’t use or are beyond the expiration date. Maybe you’ve been hanging onto a cleaner because the bottle is full, but you really dislike the smell. Give this cleaner to a friend or toss it in the trash. Organizing experts like Donna Smallin Kuper suggest keeping the items you use most at eye level and lesser-used items higher or lower. This works for broom closets, linen closets, storage closest, and even pantries.

Return to the “Keep” Pile

The “keep” pile is the most important one. It includes the clothes or items you will put back in the closet. This is the only pile that deserves a second look.

Deciding which clothing or other items to keep involves asking yourself several questions:

When was the last time I wore (or used) it? Get rid of any clothes you haven’t worn in the past year unless they have extreme sentimental value.
Is it my style? Only keep clothing that fits your current style.
Does it fit? Only keep items in your closet that fit right now. If you’re currently working toward a weight-loss goal, pack items away until you reach the goal.
Would I buy it now? If it's not something you would buy today, don’t keep it.

Be picky when choosing items to keep. Remove any items from the “keep” pile that don’t fit, you do not wear, or are out of style.

Store Out-of-Season Items

Putting your clothes or other items back in the closet is one of the most essential steps in the closet cleaning process. It needs to be done systematically and in a way that works for you.

Personal stylist and wardrobe consultant Megan Kristel of The Well Dressed Life suggests organizing clothing by category, such as short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, pants, etc. Next, color coordinate the items within each category. This helps you locate the type and color of the top or bottom you need almost immediately.

Others suggest putting work and workout clothes at the front of the closet, as they’re used many times per week. More casual weekend clothes don’t need to be as accessible because you’re not in a rush when looking for them.

The organizational system that works for one person may not work for the next. Find the system that works for you and stick to it by always putting the clothing back in the same spot in the closet after worn and washed.

Drop Your Donations

The final step in the closet-cleaning process is to drop your donations as soon as possible. It's easy to forget them in the back of your car for days, weeks, or months.

Take the trash out and reward yourself for a job well done.

Enjoy Your Newly Organized Space

You’re bound to feel good every time you pop your head into your freshly organized closet. You will also thank yourself when rushed to find your work clothes or another necessary item. The expert tips and tricks above will help you get the job done as efficiently as possible.

Author bio: Tom Happ is President of Closet Works — based in Elmhurst, Illinois — which for 32 years has served Chicagoland with customized closet and storage solutions. With more than 100 employees, each solution is designed, fabricated and Installed to optimize the storage for every room within the home.

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How To Do A Full Closet Clean-Out