Monthly Archives: November 2009

24 November, 2009
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Saving Space in Your Closet

Saving closet space may not be rocket science, but sometimes it can sure feel like it! Closets get crowded so easily. Switching back and forth between seasons can make matters worse. If you’re ready to take control of your closet, then good for you! It may take a little time and a little work, but having an organized, spacious closet is worth it.

1. Get out of season clothes out of the closet. Winter clothes especially are bulky and take up a lot of space. They either eat up the closet with huge bins, or require more space than you can make on your hanging bar. The key is to get some of that out of the closet. Instead of storing out of season clothing in the closet when you’re not using them, find some attic, garage, or spare bedroom space for storage. Use containers that seal out moisture and protect your clothes from insects. Cedar closet accessories are great for keeping clothes smelling fresh, repelling insects, and absorbing moisture.

2. What if your closet is still crowded after you remove the alternate season’s clothes? You can make extra room by getting the bulkiest items out of there. Big coats and comforters take up a lot of space. Comforters can be stored in big bags that you can vacuum the air out of. You’ll be shocked how much smaller they get! Then you can simply prop them against the wall behind your hanging clothes and they’re off the shelf completely. You can hang big coats on a wall mounted bar outside of the closet. Dress it up a bit with wooden coat hangers and you won’t mind having it as part of your décor. You can also use a portable garment rack to keep clothes that aren’t used very often out of sight.

3. Once you’ve done that, you closet should be getting better. Give away as many clothes as you can. If you are storing something that you didn’t wear last season, then you’re probably going to care about it even less when it comes out of storage again. Have an exchange with friends and give whatever is left to charity. Another option is to have a garage sale and use the money to update your closet.

4. Install some shelving that accommodates the items that you own. If you waste a lot of vertical space because shorter items sit on deep shelves, then add some smaller shelves or cubbies on top of the existing shelf. A simple riser or divider can double the space in the closet storage areas.

5. Make the absolute most of closet space by utilizing space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These new hangers are super strong and have a velvet coating to prevent clothes from slipping and ending up in the floor. They come in different styles that can hold multiple items on one space saving hanger. You’ll love the look and be shocked at how much space these slim velvet hangers can make.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

20 November, 2009
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Get Your Home Ready for Thanksgiving

Decorating for autumn is an exciting time of year. The colors, the weather, the sentiment, the holidays, and the time with family make fall a lot of people’s favorite season. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, so we decided to put together some quick organizing tips for you. Part of decorating is getting organized so that you can keep your house clean enough for visitors while keeping your own stress level down during this busy time.

Prepping your home for Thanksgiving starts with getting organized. You need to get things in order to keep it running smoothly when the visitors start to pour in. Start with your everyday problem areas. The entryway to your home, your countertops, and your closets are usually the biggest challenges. After you get these things under control, you can decorate and get your house ready for company.

Entryway: Keep the entrance to the home welcoming and clear. When people come in, they will need somewhere to hang their coats. If your coat closet is already stuffed, consider clearing it out a little. You can hang coats that aren’t used as often in a spare bedroom or on a rolling garment rack. This combined with using space saving hangers in the closet will give you a lot more space. If you don’t have room in the coat closet, you can use a stand-alone coat rack by the door. Or, you can install a wall mounted coat hanger bar. You can stock it with slim velvet hangers that won’t cause your guests’ coats to end up on the floor.

Countertops: Keeping the kitchen and bathroom countertops clear can be challenging for sure. These areas often become the catch-all spot for little things that people don’t feel like putting away. If you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner at your house, you will definitely need to do something about clutter before you need that space. See if you can find areas for appliances that aren’t constantly used. You will need a lot of counter space to prepare and serve all of those dishes. An organizing charging station on the kitchen counter can solve a lot of your problems. Small wall shelves or cleaning out your junk drawer can give you more room, too.

Closets: Closets are notoriously messy. They are rarely seen by others, so they are constantly pushed down the list of cleaning priorities. Give your closets a quick makeover by giving away as much as possible to charity. Hang your clothes on space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to find new space that you didn’t know you had. You will be amazed how much time you save when your closets are usable and decluttered.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

13 November, 2009
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How to Make Closet Space

Making space in a cramped closet is no picnic, but it can be a lot easier than you think. Follow these steps for making the task run more smoothly and make more space in your closet than you ever imagined possible!

1) Traditional closets waste a lot of space. Consider removing the old “rod and shelf” and put up some inexpensive shelving. There are so many options on the market today and most are very sturdy and easy to install.

2) Donate what you can to charity. Most people report having a lot of the same clothes in their closet that have been there for ten years! You really should go through and get rid of out of date clothes. You probably rotate between your favorite outfits and ignore the rest. Slimming down your belongings is a quick and easy way to make more room.

3) Store sentimental clothing outside of the closet. If you must keep your prom dress for twenty years, consider having it heir loomed. Most cleaners offer this service. They will clean the dress and then seal it in an acid free container that will keep your dress in great shape. Plus you can store that box in the attic, under a bed or in the garage without worrying about the dress.

4) Store out of season clothing rather than leaving it in the closet. A rolling garment rack with a cover is a great way to store clothing without taking it off of the hanger. Your clothes will be protected from dust, wrinkles and musty smells. You can keep the rack in a spare bedroom, garage, basement, or even just in a corner of your room. But, getting those clothes out of the way will be priceless when it comes to creating some space and staying organized.

5) Create a system that will help you keep things clear. Hang all of your clothes hangers backwards on the bar. As you do laundry and hang up things that you have worn, hang them the right way. When the season comes to an end and you are ready to switch out your wardrobe, give away the clothes that are still hanging backwards. This will help you to get rid of things that you don’t wear without wondering if you’ll ever use them again. If you didn’t use them this year, chances are you won’t miss it.

6) Use clever ways of making space. Using space saving hangers is a quick and easy way to create a lot of space in a very short amount of time. Space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, are very slim, yet sturdy. They grip clothing to keep it from ending up on the floor, help clothing keep its shape, and fit closely together to make a lot of room. You can even add specialty hangers like pants hangers that hold a lot of items on one hanger. Cascading hooks and other closet accessories will help you to create even more space as needed.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

4 November, 2009
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Saving Closet Space this Winter

Closets definitely get cramped when the winter clothes come out. Get your closet winter ready with these easy to follow tips.

1) Get your other clothes out. Get rid of whatever you didn’t wear over the summer. You can donate clothing to charity, a friend or family member, or even sell it on consignment. If you didn’t wear it this year, then chances are it just doesn’t fit right, it’s out of style, or you simply don’t like it enough.

2) Store your summer clothes. You can use boxes and bins or store them on a rolling garment rack. You can make extra room on the garment rack by using space saving hangers that cascade off of each other. This allows you to piggy-back lots of items on one hanger. You will be surprised how many articles of clothing you can hang on one garment rack. Throw on the plastic or canvas cover and you’re set for the winter.

3) Keep musty odors down in your stored clothes by throwing in a few used dryer sheets. Fresh dryer sheets will deposit a waxy substance on your clothes, which you can see on dark fabrics. If you really want your clothes to smell a lot like the dryer sheet, consider taping it inside the lid so that it’s not touching any of your clothing. The smell that happens when clothes are stored is actually mold. Use cedar hangers or cedar closet accessories to absorb the moisture and odors, keeping mold from forming.

4) Go through your winter clothes. Take the time to actually try things on. If something doesn’t fit right, has a stain that won’t come out, or if you just don’t think you’ll wear it, go ahead and get rid of it. Winter clothes are bulky and take up a lot of room. Not only are they bulkier, but add coats on top of it and your closet can become quickly packed. Make room by using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These are shaped correctly and are strong enough to hang your heaviest coats. They keep everything close together.

5) If you still don’t have room, consider cascading hooks and pants hangers. Pants hangers hold three to six pairs of pants on one hanger. They hang flat against each other so they don’t get wrinkled. Velvet hangers also have optional cascading hooks and clips. The hooks hang over the neck of the hangers and make a space for another hanger to hang. You can pair up pants and shirts that go together, or simply hang as many shirts as you want on one hanger. You can cascade hanger after hanger until you have the space that you need. You can triple the space in your closet using velvet hangers. Space saving hangers are an inexpensive, effective option over installing an elaborate closet system.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.