It is a quite common problem today to have a clothing or shoe collection that rather pushes the capacity of your clothing and shoe storage space. Such a situation leads to inevitable consequences that many of us are only too well aware of – unsightly piles of clothes, shoes and long since worn items becoming totally lost at the back of the closet
And there is a hygiene element to this problem as well. Especially in the case of shoes, disorganized storage can allow pairs to smell at the back of the closet for a long time before the source of the smell is even discovered. A good method for eliminating odors is to have a long-lasting shoe deodorizer spray to hand. For disorganized shoe storage, the risk of shoes being left for a long time between deodorization sessions is high, so acquiring a good shoe odor spray which can last for a while on only a single spray is a good idea. Something like ShoeFresh, which itself can keep shoes fresh for up to three months on a single spray, is highly recommended for this purpose.
But regardless of how effectively you clean your clothes and your shoes, an unruly messy closet is something best dealt with sooner rather than later. The best time to do this, however, is the spring. Just after the holiday season, when you have likely expanded your collection, and just before the summer comes in, when you begin make full use of your extensive array of clobber again – this is the best time to get purging.
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A Note on Better Storage
But before you start throwing things out, you should first consider whether your storage solution is optimal for your collection. It could well be that you actually have enough room to accommodate your large collection but simply need a better way of storing things. There are a great many space-saving solutions for those with limited space. You could invest in hanging shoe pockets to make more room for your footwear (or even a simple rack if they are just lying on the floor), and an over-the-door storage solution can make more room for clothes. As well as increasing your storage efficiency, taking this route will also help you find what you need.
How to Purge Your Closet
However, when it’s time to purge, it’s time to purge. But how to decide what goes and what stays? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Did I Wear it Last Spring?
By restricting things first to seasonal wear and cleaning out in the spring, you can ask yourself this simple question – did I wear it last year? If not, it can probably go.
Would I Pack it For a Trip?
It’s difficult to let something go forever, but simply leaving things on the shelf and neglecting them forever is surprisingly easy. These latter items, however, you really should get rid of. A good way to tell what these items are is to consider if you would miss them when off for a trip.
Do I Have Other Similar Items?
Simply put, clothes and shoes will meet specific tastes and function necessities that you have. But if you have more than one item serving a single need, can you get rid of the excess ones?
Is It Comfortable?
You could have many items that look great, but if you don’t wear them because they give you blisters or itch all over, it could be time to let them go.
Applying these simple questions will allow you to effectively purge your closet, leaving you a fresh-smelling, clean and well-organized shoe or clothing collection to see you into the summer.