Holidays are great excuses for stores to have sales, and linens (sheets, towels, pillows, tablecloths, etc.) are no exception. Actually, I wonder why people don’t wait for a white sale to buy those much needed sheets or towels because either the next holiday is right around the corner (Presidents Day) or they could use their myriad of Bed Bath & Beyond coupons anytime. Since I have organized many linen closets, I decided that this would be a good time to write about this topic.
It is amazing what you can find when you pull everything out of your linen closet. As I say to my clients, we are going on an archeological dig. Think of what you will find that you’ve been trying to find for months (even though you’ve already gone out and bought duplicates and triplicates of the item because you couldn’t find it). Think of how much money you will save because you won’t need to go out and buy that item for months now. Finally, think of how much room will be left once you get rid of those items you don’t need anymore.
When I work with my clients and their linen closets, I use my BB’s Brilliant Blueprint process. It works like a charm and is easy to follow.
Step 1: BEGIN to assess the situation. What happened that you have so many pillowcases and no sheets to match? How did you get so many different towels that don’t match and are not even the colors you are using now?
Step 2: BUILD an Action Plan. Do you want to work on the top shelf first? Perhaps the floor of the closet is the most disorganized.
Step 3: BREAKDOWN the tasks. Sort like with like. Purge anything that is stained, worn out, or you no longer like. Animal shelters will gladly take these kinds of items.) Figure out whether any of the small items should be containerized and labeled. Assign a home for the items – does one shelf work better than another shelf? Place items you use less frequently on the hardest to reach shelves. If what you found really belongs in another area of the house, take it there.
SUCCESS – You now know which sheets go with each pillowcase (or don’t), how many towels you have, and whether or not you really need (I am not saying want) to buy anything.
Step 4: BE persistent: Need to grab something quickly from the closet? Do so, but return the item to its “home” as soon as you no longer need it. Finished with the laundry? Put those sheets and towels right away.
Linen closets do not take as long to organize as you may think. You will be amazed at how much can get done in a short period of time.
P.S. I can even teach you how to fold a fitted sheet!
READY, SET, GO From Bedlam to Brilliance!!!
BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City. Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.
