Did you know that there are proven health benefits to being organized? A 2010 study found that women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than those who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.” In 2011, researchers at Princeton University found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. Why not de-stress and tidy up?!
If you’re like us, this time of year is full of cleaning out closets and organizing spaces. It's a perfect rainy-day activity that will make you feel productive and less frustrated when you're hunting for things. The linen closet in most homes should be cleaned out and organized at least once a year. Here are ten tips to make the task easy.
- Remove everything and wipe down your shelves.
- Donate or gift items that you don't need.
- Find baskets, bins, and trays to hold small items. They pull out like drawers to make use of the entire depth of your closet.
- Store sheet sets together in one of their pillowcases or in a basket. You shouldn't need any more than 1-2 sets per bed, unless you have a baby.
- Use all white sheets and towels so they're easily bleachable if they get dirty.
- Sort bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths by size to make them easy to find.
- Store items you don't use as often on the top shelf of your linen closet (including non-toxic cleaning supplies) and put items you use often at eye level.
- Label your shelves to make sure items are easy for guests and family members to find, and easier to put away.
- If you have space, store extra blankets and pillows in the rooms where they will be used.
- Pretty throws (like Seek & Swoon!) and blankets can be stored in plain sight, especially in the winter months. Stack them on a shelf, roll them in a basket, lay them across the foot of a bed, or drape them over the side of a chair or sofa.
It's easy to underestimate the benefits of a clean and organized linen space, but the reward is guaranteed to be well worth the effort! What are your tips for creating and keeping a clean and organized linen closet?
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Photo credit: Urban Oreganics
