Week 9 – Welcome back! You are on your way to a more organized and enjoyable 2010! This week we’re going to continue our “bed” theme by organizing our linen closets. If you just said, “Argh…” then this post is definitely for you! Day after day and week after week we put things in and take things out of our linen closets. It is a high traffic/low priority space in any home. Let’s give it the attention it deserves and enjoy the results!
1. Open the doors and catch everything that falls out! Continue to remove all items and place them on the nearest clean surface: a couch, bed, table…
2. Take a moment to plan where the items should ideally go. You may want to get your label maker or even sketch a quick plan on paper. Once you have planned the space (towels, sheets, pads, etc) address the items you have removed.
3. Sort the items into our regular “Keep” “Donate” “Trash” piles and begin by taking the items which are unusable to the trash. In this time of awareness, however, make sure the items couldn’t be recycled for a second purpose. Some of our best dusting cloths started out in life as something else! But be sure you will use the item for the new purpose before you decide to clutter your linen closet by keeping it. If it needs to be cut or torn to a new size for the new purpose remember our mantra “Do it NOW!”
4. After the trash is removed, put the items you will donate in separate plastic kitchen bags (white) with drawstrings. Mark each clearly with a Sharpie. “Salvation Army”, “Habitat”, “Uncle Joe” and place them in the vehicle you will use to deliver them. At Phone A Clone, we discourage keeping items at home for someone else to pick up. This puts you at the mercy of someone else who may not share your desire to purge! If the charity you choose will pick up at your house, make the call now to have that done. With family members and friends – take it to them!!
5. You should now only have those items you wish to keep. Refold them and make sure they are in good repair. Make a label and place it on the facing of the shelf where you have determined they will be stored. “Towels” “Guest Room Sheets” “Facecloths”, etc. Label all the space before you continue. Place the folded items on the shelves where designated and make sure everyone who puts laundry away has the new information!
6. Step back and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment! Now repeat these steps if necessary in the other linen closets of your home.
Organization is a gift you give yourself. We are here to help! Please remember Phone A Clone when you need a little extra help! 405.574.5474
