Closets can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they are great for keeping seasonal clothing and spare linens tucked away, but on the other hand, they are the prime place for that “out of sight, out of mind” mentality to grow. It’s way too easy to stuff old clothes, housewares, and unused gifts into the closet to get them out of the way for the time being, but the day you open the doors looking for one specific thing and have to dig through piles and piles of junk is the day you think “yep, it’s time to do something about this.”
If that sounds anything like what happens to the closets in your home, spring cleaning is just what you need to get things organized! Not only is it a great time to get rid of old clothes and things you don’t need, but it’s also a great time to scrub down the floors and shelves and give your stored away items a cleaner space to live. Nobody wants linens or winter sweaters covered in dust and dirt, do they?
Here is a checklist to go through while spring cleaning closets in your home:
CLOTHING/LINEN CLOSETS
* Clothing, belts, shoes: Take everything out and throw everything you haven’t worn in a year in a donation bag. Organize similar clothing pieces (skirts, pants, sweaters) into their own piles to keep everything of the same category together. If you are keeping any leather shoes and belts, treat them with the Leather Shine and neatly organize them on a hanger and shoe rack. Clean smelly shoes with one spray of the Sportzyme.
* Linens and blankets: Take everything out and get rid of/donate anything that is torn, worn out, or hasn’t been used in a year. Create a stack for each type of item – fitted sheets in one stack, pillowcases in another, duvet covers, etc. (Find out how to fold a fitted sheet here!)
* Miscellaneous items: Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the closet. I tend to toss old photo frames and candles in the closet if I think I’ll use them eventually. If you haven’t used them in a year and don’t see yourself using them in the next couple months, toss them into the donation bin.
* Shelves: Wipe down each shelf and the wall behind it with a wet Enviro Cloth or wet Dusting Mitt.
* Floor: If it’s a hardwood floor, mop it clean with the Dry Superior Mop Pad and finish it up with the Wet Mop Pad. If there are stubborn stains, get rid of them with the Cleaning Paste and a Spirisponge. For carpets, spot-treat with the Carpet Stain Buster.
JANITOR/CLEANING CLOSETS
* Products: Recycle any cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals and replace them with the Norwex alternative. Stock up on other healthy home cleaning essentials such as vinegar, baking soda, and borax.
* Shelves: Do the same with the shelves in this closet and wipe them down with a wet Enviro Cloth.
* Organize: I keep all my cloths (Enviro Cloths, Dusting Mitt, Window Cloth) on one shelf, natural products (borax, vinegar, etc) on another, and all my Norwex product bottles on another. Every year I recycle expired products and rags/cloths that are too soiled or wore out to use anymore.
* Floors: Work the floors in this closet the same as your clothing closet with the wet and dry mop pads and cleaning paste if necessary.
Once you have a routine down and you finish one closet, you may come to realize it’s actually pretty simple and quick to do. I love that I only need 4 or 5 Norwex products to deep clean every closet in my home, and there are no harsh chemicals or fumes to permeate our clothing and linens.
Do you have any tips or tricks for cleaning your closet? What products do you use to get the job done?
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