closet clutter

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ACK RAT. JUNK COLLECTOR. Gatherer of unnecessary objects.
If you answer to any of these handles, then perhaps it's high time you got a handle on your clutter.
It's a new year and the perfect time for a fresh start, so be brave and get rid of that useless bric-a-brac and rubbish.
Begin by cleaning out your home's closets.
"The general rule of thumb is that if you've had something for more than a year and you don't use it, it's time to get rid of it," said Susan Groszek, owner of California Closets in Boardman.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule.
"If something has sentimental value, and you really don't want to part with it, then store it somewhere else in your home -- maybe in an attic or basement. Items that you never use should not be front and center in your closet," Groszek said.
If you're having trouble saying goodbye to an item, Groszek suggests asking yourself, "When is the last time I used this, and will I ever use it again?"
Once you've cut the cord, have a tag sale or donate unwanted items to Goodwill or another charitable organization.
Then, after you've thinned your inventory, you can start getting organized.
Ron Donofrio of Organized Space in Youngstown identified common organization problems with certain types of closets.
Bathroom closets
"The most common problem I see in bathrooms is that people mix different items together in one space. They have towels and toiletries and cleaning supplies all jammed into one closet," Donofrio said.
Donofrio recommends using storage containers for small toiletries and keeping toiletries separate from towels, washcloths and cleaning supplies.
"Don't put small toiletries in a closet with large, deep shelves. They'll get shoved to the back and forgotten. If your closet has deep shelves, use a step shelf or a hanging three-tiered basket to store small items," Donofrio said.
Another word of advice: Keep linens out of bathroom closets.
"Don't store your sheets and blankets in the bathroom closet. They clutter up the space you need for towels and toiletries," he said.
Linen closets
Without careful stacking and folding, linen closets look unruly.
"Stack your blankets and sheets in two different piles and invest in some dividers to keep piles from leaning and falling over," Donofrio said, adding, "To keep the linen closet neat, fold items carefully each time you put them away."
And don't cram bulky bedspreads, pillows and sleeping bags into small linen closets.
"They take up a ton of space. Since you don't use them every day, store them somewhere out of the way, like toward the back of the top shelf of your bedroom closet," Donofrio said.
Kitchen closets
Dusty, outdated canned goods often lurk in the back of disorderly kitchen closets.
"A lot of people think deep shelves are the best shelves to have, but this isn't necessarily true, especially in a kitchen closet. Items get shoved to the back, and if you can't see them, you'll forget they are there and won't use them," Groszek said.
Keep food items current by rotating older items toward the front and newer items toward the back.
And don't forget to take inventory every few months so you can toss out old items.
Entry closets
You walk in the door, kick off your shoes and toss your coat to the side.
Is it any wonder your home's hall entry closet is a wreck?
"If you have kids coming and going, the entry closet can easily become a place where everything gets tossed," Donofrio said. "Shoes are an especially big problem because they pile up at the bottom of the closet."
Donofrio recommends keeping only the shoes you wear regularly in your hall entry closet.
"Shoes you wear for special occasions -- such as church on Sunday or a wedding reception -- should be kept in a bedroom closet," he said.
Install a shoe rack in the hall entry closet to keep everyday shoes in order.
For families who frequently enter their homes through the garage, Donofrio recommends a garage entry closet.
"There tends to be a lot of wasted space in the garage entry. Make use of it by installing a closet with shelves for shoes, drawers for hats, scarves and gloves and a hanging rod for coats. Install a high rod for adults' coats and a low rod for kids' coats," Donofrio said.
Donofrio doesn't recommend leaving shoes stacked in the garage unless they are inside a closet.
"Spiders and other bugs tend to get inside of shoes that are lying out in the open in a garage," he said.
Laundry room closets
If three half-used bottles of Windex crowd your laundry room closet, you're not alone.
"I always see laundry closets with two or three half-used bottles of a cleaning product. The first bottle got shoved to the back of the closet and was forgotten, so a new bottle was purchased," Donofrio explained.
To save space, sort out cleaning products and empty all half-used bottles of the same item into one bottle.
"Just by doing that, you've saved a lot of space," Donofrio said.
If you want to install more closets in your laundry room, make use of the area above the washer and dryer.
"This area is often wasted space, and it's a handy place for a closet or cupboard with shelves," Donofrio said.
Bedroom closets
Most bedroom closets can benefit from a few simple updates.
"I frequently install a high and low rod for hanging clothes, some built-in shelves for folded clothes and a rack for shoes," Donofrio said.
Although some closet organizers recommend parting with clothing after one year, Donofrio finds this rule a little harsh.
"I think three years is better. If you haven't worn it for three years, then you can get rid of it," he said.
Groszek said bedroom closet organization should be very personalized.
"The way a bedroom closet is laid out will depend on many factors. A person's height, whether they are right- or left-handed, whether they share the closet with their spouse and what their daily routine is helps me determine how to organize their closet," she said.
Groszek said an individual's routine and preference should be considered in all types of home organization.
"I've found that if a person is not comfortable with how something is organized, they won't keep it organized for very long," she said.
Staying organized
Some folks stick to a diet for three or four months and then fall off the wagon the moment they take their first bite of chocolate.
The same can be said for home organization.
"Organization really boils down to four things: separating or sorting objects, taking stock of objects, and then arranging them in an orderly fashion and keeping them that way," Donofrio said. "Once you separate objects and put them where you want them to go, you have to stick to it, or things will end up a mess again."
To help keep things as neat as a pin, Donofrio recommends taking time to put things back where you found them and "taking inventory" frequently.
"We live in a drive-through society. We are always in a hurry, and we want everything to happen quickly. Often our biggest organization problem is that we don't put things back where they belong. We just shove them in the closet and go," he said.
Hiring a professional
If you plan to organize your closets on your own, tackle the job gradually.
"Do one closet at a time and don't bite off more than you can chew, or you'll get discouraged," Donofrio said.
If you need professional help, Donofrio and Groszek said cost will vary greatly depending on the size of the closet and what needs to be done.
"We can start as low as $80 and go all the way up to $20,000 for a big Hollywood-style, walk-in closet," Groszek said.
Donofrio said his jobs typically range in price from $75 to $3,500.
"If you want new shelving or rods, the price will be determined by what type of material you choose. Obviously, cherry melamine shelving will cost more than wire shelving," he said.
Home organization retailers sell a bevy of items to help folks keep their closets orderly.
Items that make Donofrio's "must-have" list include: hampers, double-hung rods, shoe racks or shelves, closet drawers or bins, jewelry trays, ironing boards (in bedroom closets), hooks (for tight spaces or on the backs of doors), tie racks, belt racks and a pullout valet.