How to Spring Clean Your Closet

The air is getting warmer. The freesias have pushed up along the sidewalk. And you are just beginning to believe that spring is here to stay. 

With the warmer weather on the horizon, it's time to spring clean your closet. Pack away those winter clothes and bring out your summer favorites. Sound like a lot of work? It doesn't have to be! 

Keep it simple and follow these steps. You'll be surprised at how easy it can be.

Spring Clean Your Closet - Divide and Conquer

Most people (unless you live in Miami) have a summer and winter wardrobe - even if the word "wardrobe" sounds a bit upscale for the clothing in their closets.

clothes-discard-keep-tinypng

To maximize closet space - and your clothes' lifespan - now's the perfect time to tuck the winter duds in for a good summer's rest. Go through all of your clothes and divide them into distinct piles.

  • Clothes that are clean, in good condition and that you will definitely wear this summer.
  • Clothes that need cleaning.
  • Clothes that need repair.
  • Winter clothes.
  • Clothes you have outgrown and never wear.

You know the drill here: After you spring clean your closet, donate the outgrown or never-worn clothing, clean and repair the rest, and box up the winter clothes for a rest. 

While the closet is empty, vacuum it and wipe down all the shelves.

Spring Clean Your Closet: Care Tips for Clothing Keepers

Now you have the closet ready for clothes that you are actually going to wear. What a concept. Here's how to take the best care of what you have left.

closet-19
  • Use cedar balls or blocks to ward off moths. Today's newer variety smells better than you may remember, and it does plenty of good by keeping munching moths at bay.
  • Use proper hangers. Don't use the flimsy wire hangers you get from the dry cleaners. They don't provide enough support and can rust or snag clothing. Invest in curved wood or plastic hangers for suits and jackets, padded hangers for delicate dresses or silk robes, plastic hangers for blouses and jeans, and clamped hangers for pants (always hanging from the cuffs). To save space, buy multiple skirt or pants hangers that accommodate five to 10 garments.
  • Don't store clothing in plastic bags, which can promote mildew and light damage.
  • Use shoulder protectors to keep dust off rarely worn garments.
  • Space clothing out to promote airflow and minimize wrinkling.
  • Air clothing overnight before returning to the closet to remove any moisture or odors.

Finally, don't be like your kids and wear the same thing every day. Clothing needs a rest. (Shoes, too.) If you like it that much, buy two.


You Might Like These:

  • Summer laundry stain removal tips. Summer is when Murphy's Law invariably comes into play: If something can spill, drip, ooze or run, it will do so. These 8 tips for summer laundry stains can help.

    Summer Laundry Stain Removal Tips

    Summer laundry stain removal tips. Summer is when Murphy's Law invariably comes into play: If something can spill, drip, ooze or run, it will do so. These 8 tips for summer laundry stains can help.

  • Got kids? These laundry stains cleaning tips can help, while protecting your clothing investment.

    Laundry Stains Cleaning Tips

    Got kids? These laundry stains cleaning tips can help, while protecting your clothing investment.

  • How to unshrink wool? It really is possible to unshrink that sweater someone (not you, of course) popped into the dryer and is now small enough for the dog.

    How to Unshrink Wool

    How to unshrink wool? It really is possible to unshrink that sweater someone (not you, of course) popped into the dryer and is now small enough for the dog.

  • Removing powdery clothing stains. If you regularly find powdery clothing stains on freshly washed loads of laundry, the cause can usually be traced to one of two things. These tips can help.

    Removing Powdery Clothing Stains

    Removing powdery clothing stains. If you regularly find powdery clothing stains on freshly washed loads of laundry, the cause can usually be traced to one of two things. These tips can help.

  • How to machine wash sweaters. Just because dry cleaning is expensive does not mean that it's the best care for all sweaters. You can machine wash sweaters safely with these guidelines.

    How to Machine Wash Sweaters

    How to machine wash sweaters. Just because dry cleaning is expensive does not mean that it's the best care for all sweaters. You can machine wash sweaters safely with these guidelines.

  • How to wash sweaters. Santa was good this year and brought you a bunch of new, fuzzy, warm sweaters. By now, they've been worn a few times and need a sweater wash. Here's how!

    How to Wash Sweaters

    How to wash sweaters. Santa was good this year and brought you a bunch of new, fuzzy, warm sweaters. By now, they've been worn a few times and need a sweater wash. Here's how!

  • Laundry Temperature hot warm or cold? This laundry refresher course will have you setting the wash water temperature like a pro.

    Laundry Temperature Hot Warm or Cold

    Laundry Temperature hot warm or cold? This laundry refresher course will have you setting the wash water temperature like a pro.

  • These laundry tips for jeans can help keep your kid's jacket and jeans from looking like they're your grandmother's relics from the flower power days.

    Laundry Tips for Jeans

    These laundry tips for jeans can help keep your kid's jacket and jeans from looking like they're your grandmother's relics from the flower power days.