Closet Archives | De-clutter Me!

Closet Clean-up

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

In many families, closets can become dumping grounds. In this family, Elizabeth and her two teenaged sons lead busy lives. Those two “conditions” meant that the closet closest to the garage and the kitchen could use some attention.

Suggesting my tried-and-true professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, Elizabeth and I pulled everything off the closet shelf. We “assigned” a bin for each family member so that, when winter returns, gloves and hats will be easy to find. A couple of other bins were for extra items.

The right side of the closet shelf before we cleared its clutter — Before

"A place for everything, and everything in its place." — After

Extra bins for extra stuff = no clutter! — After

After we thought through, and organized some of the family’s winter warmth needs, we turned our attention to those hanging below them. Elizabeth and I carefully looked at all of the items, deciding that some were too “past their prime” to donate, and set them aside for the trash. Others were collected for donation. Others, both hers and some still likely to fit her very tall sons, were re-arranged, so they will be easy to pull and wear.

Closet clutter before we cleared it — Before

But wait, there’s more! Like all above, we went through the shoe bins below. We matched some sandals, shoes, and boots that were without their “mates,” kept some pairs, and set aside others for the trash or donation.

Success!

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.

Closet, Success Stories

Clearing Linen Closet Clutter!

Posted on April 9, 2021June 18, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Often seen – a linen closet, crammed full, so much so that it’s hard to see what it holds.

Everything was pulled out and refolded. A couple of college alumni association stadium blankets went up top, with other blankets. A number of pillow cases went together. Three big down comforters were put back in, with their folds facing out, to minimize “visual noise.”

Now, the family could see everything in the closet and pull out whatever might be needed for a comfortable and cozy night’s sleep!

"A cluttered linen closet before we cleared it — Before

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.

Closet, Office, Success Stories

Touching Everything in the Office Closet

Posted on April 7, 2021April 5, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Nancy wrote, asking for some help. Would I be available to clear clutter in her office closet? Of course!

As always, I suggested that we start in one corner, and work our way around, top-to-bottom. One goal of hers – to make office supply items like rubber bands and post-it notes easily accessible, so that it would be easy to replenish those supplies in her desk. She also wanted to “touch every item,” to be sure if it was a “keeper” or not.

We did exactly that, also discussing “what to put where.” Nancy is relatively short, and I wanted to avoid her having to use a step stool too much. (I’m also short, though taller than she is, and I don’t like having to “streeetch” to reach top shelves.)

Office closet shelves before we cleared them — Before

Shelves organized with items easier to reach — After

When we finished, Nancy was relieved. Success!

Bathroom, Closet, Success Stories

A Bathroom Closet That Could Use Some Attention

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

A bathroom closet in Ann’s house could use some attention. Crammed onto the two top shelves were sheets and towels used on a sailboat she no longer owned, plus a variety of beach towels. Lower shelves held smaller towels and wash cloths, a collection of hotel and other toiletries, a hair dryer, neck braces, a heating pad, and other supplies for a disabled daughter, plus rubber workout bands, facial tissues, and toilet paper.

As ever, working top to bottom, the first task was to re-fold all of the sheets and towels. They were returned to the top two shelves, with their folds showing. It’s a subtle, though powerful, thing to do. It eliminates (what another client called) “visual noise.” More simply put, it just looks neater.

Shelves with towels and sheets before better folding — Before

Towels and sheets folded better. Easier on the eyes! — After

Next, the smaller towels and wash cloths were straightened. Toiletries were organized and placed into two containers already there. The hair dryer, rubber workout bands and health supplies for her daughter went into plastic bags. The neck braces were stood up in the back, where they could be seen easily, with the heating pad nearby. The facial tissues and toilet paper remained on the floor, also easily seen and reached.

Towels, toiletries, and more before their clutter was cleared — Before

Towels, toiletries, and more - organized! — After

At the end, everything was organized and easily reached. Attention paid!

Closet, Success Stories

A Birthday Present!

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Kate emailed from Massachusetts. She had worked with a professional organizer there. She and her brother wanted to give their mother similar help for her birthday. Would I be available? We talked on the phone, she sent a check and, soon, I arrived at their parents’ lovely home.

Mary had admitted to being a bit nervous, but soon she was smiling and laughing as we worked on a hallway closet. She had emptied some of its contents onto the floor and the stairs.

The hallway floor, with items from the closet — Before

Explaining my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method of working top-to-bottom, we first cleared the closet’s shelf. There were some objects wrapped in paper. What were they? We soon discovered that they were candles. We set them aside for her local son and his family. We pulled other items to discard or donate. What was left? Empty space! How rare! With time, some items might “migrate” there but, for the moment, there was space for the eyes to rest.

Closet shelf clutter before we cleared it — Before

Closet shelf clutter cleared with empty space available! — After

Next, to the other side of the shelf. We emptied most of it, placing just a few things there, including a pretty hat box. More empty space! Below it, we hung many of Mary’s tote bags. (She has a lifetime supply.) We set some aside for donation and a few to leave in her car for grocery shopping. That cleared much of the floor space.

A cluttered shelf before we cleared it — Before

More clutter cleared, and more empty space! — After

We looked online for boot and shoe trays for the closet floor, which she would add later.

When we were done, the floor and stairs were cleared.

The hallway floor and stairs after we cleared their clutter — After

What might be next? Mary wasn’t sure yet, but she was pleased with the first part of her children’s birthday present.

Closet, Success Stories

A Shared Closet Cleared

Posted on September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Etienne and Paul share a closet, which could present some challenges. She and I decided to make the space work better for both of them.

We started with Paul’s folded clothes on a shelf. We pulled out some items, refolded, and put them back. I suggested placing everything with the fold facing out. It’s a subtle, though powerful, thing to do, reducing “visual noise.” It looked neater and there was more storage room, if needed.

A closet shelf before we cleared its clutter and reorganized it — Before

Shelf cluttered cleared, with more space available — After

Next, we worked on Etienne’s shelf, with relatively little already on it. Even so, folding and clearing clutter made more space available.

A closet shelf, before we cleared its clutter — Before

Shelf clutter cleared, with more space available — After

Below the shelf, the rod holding Etienne’s other clothes could use some attention. We consolidated dresses and slacks and, as much as possible, hung long items together.

Etienne's hanging clothes before we rearranged them — Before

Hanging clothes much easier to see and choose! — After

Below, we pulled everything out, off the closet floor, hanging some items and placing shoes in the cubbie holes to the left.

A cleared closet floor, with "visual noise" gone — After

With a bit of time left over, we cleared the top of Etienne’s dresser. It would be much nicer to look at from across the room, in bed. Relaxing and restful, too!

The dresser before we cleared its clutter — Before

Clutter cleared from the dresser top — After

Closet, Success Stories

Clearing a Closet

Posted on August 5, 2020August 5, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Pogo and Sylvie have a lovely home. They’re selling it, and plan to move in just under two months to another house, reducing square footage by about 1,000 feet. In a phone conversation, Pogo asked me to “hold their feet to the fire,” encouraging them to get rid of excess items. Okay!

Arriving, I asked where to focus our work. Sylvie quickly suggested the basement. It has a closet that was chock-full of housewares, very neatly arranged. They entertain a lot. There were some duplicates. We would work our way across the shelves, separating out items for family, for donation, to sell, to discard, or to recycle. Example – we set aside several vases for a local florist that picks up flowers left over from events, then freshens them for donation to nursing homes and other facilities. While the program is on hold, amid COVID-19, vase donations are still accepted.

Front view of the closet before we cleared it — Before

Shelves on the left, before we cleared them — Before

Shelves on the right with some extra items, including candles — Before

What might be next? They weren’t certain – maybe helping in their new home. In the meantime, though, both Pogo and Sylvie were pleased with our process. Success!

A hallway closet before we cleared its clutter

Closet, Success Stories

Hallway Closet Clutter Cleared!

Posted on February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

During the morning of our “double session” day together, and after clearing the living room, Josh and I worked on a hall closet. It held paper towels, two lunch boxes, a “lifetime” supply of plastic grocery store bags. Clogging its space most were central vacuum parts. The system didn’t work well. Sarah coiled its long hose, securing it with a strong plastic twist tie. We would put the parts downstairs. We removed a couple of other vacuums that didn’t work well.

Josh hammered some nails into its walls, to hold cleaning items. We placed “front and center” the best vacuum, which the family uses the most. The closet wasn’t full, which was good!

A very full closet before we cleared its clutter — Before

A cleared closet, with fewer items — After

A closet with sports equipment and other stuff before we cleared its clutter

Closet, Success Stories

A Quick Fix for a Closet

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Jonathan and I are working our way around his apartment. This session included work in a closet. It held a variety of items – kayak paddles, bike tires, crutches, a table leaf, sketch pads, weights, brooms, kite string, flower pots, a tennis racket, a life preserver and a brightly colored safety vest.

We pulled everything out from the bottom, wiped down the paddles, and strategized about where to put back all items. We placed the paddles along the left side, and the crutches, table leaf and brooms on the right. Against the back wall – the sketch pads and bike tires. In a red plastic bin retrieved from another room, we placed the flower pots, weights, and kite string. We hung the safety vest.

On the shelf, we placed the life preserver and tennis racket horizontally. Not bad for half an hour’s work! The best part – Jonathan was pleased.

A closet, cleared of clutter and reorganized — After

Closet, Success Stories

A Little Girl’s Closet Organized

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Ellen Gurwitz

Ava is a wide-eyed and artistic little girl. She doesn’t always say much, but it’s clear that she doesn’t miss much happening around her, either.

Her dad, Mike, and I spent some time organizing her closet. First, we pulled items from its shelf. Some went into the laundry, and others were set aside for other rooms.

Next, I told Mike about previous work in other closets. A few clients and I separated hanging clothes into sections for work and play, making it easier for them to get dressed, and maybe in less time, too. If there was enough room, we also arranged clothes by seasons.

Since Ava isn’t working yet, we hung her clothes according to the seasons. Easy peasy!