Week #27 Organized Home Challenge
Organize Linen Closet Or Cabinet
During this week's challenge we'll organize linen closet or cabinets, so you can easily find the items you need among your collection of fabrics items for use in and around your home.
There are three main types of linens I'll be discussing, and helping you organize this week.
The types are separated by what room they're used in, and include:
- Bathroom
- Bedroom; and
- Table (such as used in the dining room)
Are you new here? The Organize Linen Closet Or Cabinet Challenge is part of the 52 Weeks To An Organized Home Challenge. (Click the link to learn how to join us for free for future and past challenges if you aren't already a regular reader).
Step 1: Declutter Your Linens
The first step in this week's challenge is to declutter and get rid of excess linens.
The items you should focus on decluttering include:
1. Bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths
3. Pillows
4. Blankets, quilts and comforters; and
5. Tablecloths, napkins, and placemats
Obviously, get rid of anything you no longer use or love, and any items that are excessively worn or damaged.
However, after that it gets tricky trying to figure out what to keep and what to donate or use in another way.
Make your own hanging shelves in closet
[Click to buy on Amazon.com]
A good rule of thumb for bath linens is to keep two complete sets, which include a bath and hand towel, along with a wash cloth, for each family member, and an additional two sets (at least) for use by guests.
For bedroom linens the rule of thumb is two sets of sheets (which include fitted and top sheet, and pillowcases) for each bed and guest bed in your home.
With the popularity of air mattresses these days, make sure you include these beds within your count of how many sets of sheets and blankets to keep, for use by guests.
Finally, for table linens, there is no specific rule of thumb, but instead it is more dependent on how much entertaining you do, how many different varieties you have for holidays or other occasions, and finally, and most importantly, how much room you can devote to such items.
Remember, if you don't use something at least yearly though you should seriously consider whether it deserves a place in your home.
If you've got an excess of items still in very good condition that you are going to declutter, consider donating them, or selling them at a yard sale.
If, on the other hand, the items are no longer in good condition either dispose of them, or better yet, make them into rags, use them in the garage for washing and drying your car, or to dry off pets after a bath.
Such older linens that you're repurposing should be held in a separate location, such as the garage or utility room, instead of with your good linens in your linen cabinet or closet, so they don't get mixed up and used for the wrong purpose.
Step 2: Decide Where To Store Your Linens
Quilt or blanket rack
[Click here for similar rack on Amazon.com]
The second step in the Organize Linen Closet or Cabinet Challenge is to decide where you'll store your linens.
If you can store them all together, such as in a large linen closet or cabinet, this can be convenient for putting things away after you launder them.
However, this set up is not possible for everyone, and depends partially on how your living and storage spaces are set up in your home.
If you can't store everything together I would suggest storing items close to where they'll be used instead, such as bathroom linens in the bathroom, sheet sets in the bedroom they'll be used in, etc.
Personally I think that even if you have most things located in one location you may want to keep a few linens in strategic places throughout your home, such as extra towels in the bathroom at all times, and blankets close to the couch or bed for snuggling up at a moments notice.
Step 3: Ready The Space You'll Be Storing Your Linens
Shelf dividers can help separate small items, such as
wash cloths & hand towels [Available on Amazon.com]
Once you've decided where you'll store all your linens, the next step in the Organize Linen Closet Challenge is to get this space ready to hold all the items you'll place there.
For example, if needed, clear out shelf or drawer space in each room you'll be storing items, so you have an uncramped space to put these items.
Further, if you've got a whole closet to work with, make sure you have your shelves spaced well to hold the types of items you'll place there.
For example, sheet sets are not very bulky, and having too many stacked on top of each other just makes a mess. Therefore, you can have a small shelf clearance for these shelves, such as 10 inches or so.
The next bulkiest item are towels, which require about 16 inches of space between shelves.
Finally, comforters, blankets and pillows are all quite bulky, and you'll need at least 18 inches of space, or more, between shelves for such items.
In addition, if you're using shelves, you may want to use something to divide the items on the shelves, such as putting various items in baskets or adding closet shelf dividers.
Step 4: Sort & Organize Linen Closet Or Cabinet Contents
The next step in the Organize Linen Closet or Cabinet Challenge is to sort all your linens, and then begin putting them onto the shelves or into the drawers you'll be using.
It is best to sort your linens by type first, such as into the categories of sheet sets, towels, comforters and blankets, and table linens. Then, begin sorting and organizing within those categories as follows:
How To Organize Sheets
Group the sheets according to which bedroom, or bedrooms, they will be used in.
Then, to avoid the problem of searching for all the parts in the sheet set (I find that maddening, don't you?) keep the set completely together. The easiest way to do this, I've found, is to place the entire set inside one of the pillowcases of the set. It is like a built in bag to hold all the set together!
How To Organize Towels
Group all the towels together that go in a particular bathroom.
Then, sort and organize them by size so everyone can easily find a washcloth, bath towel, etc. when needed.
How To Organize Comforters & Blankets
Blanket bag with breathable panels
[Available on Amazon.com]
These will most likely be stored on the lower shelves, since those are generally the shelves with the largest clearance.
Group them by bedroom, and place the heaviest ones on the bottom, and lighter ones on top.
If you don't use them often you may want to place them in a loose bag, which allows some air circulation (such as the one shown to the left), to keep them from getting dusty.
I don't suggest space bags for this shorter-term storage, since such bags compress the comforter or blanket and make it less fluffy, and letting air circulation in is important for keeping the blankets smelling fresh.
How To Organize Table Linens
Sort all of your table linens, first by type, such as tablecloths, placemats, napkins, etc. You can then also sort by any other criteria make sense for your collection, such as what types of occasions or holidays they will be used for.
The key to storing these items, if you're folding them, is to lay them out with as few folds as possible so you don't have to iron them as much before use. As discussed more in the Dining Room Organization Challenge, you may want to hang them (especially tablecloths) where possible to lessen creasing.
General Organizing Tips
Finally, here are some general instructions for organizing all these items in your linen closet.
First, develop a system that allows you rotate all your linens use. If you always use one set of sheets, for instance, it will begin to get worn and faded more quickly than if you rotate them with the other set, resulting in more even wear.
I suggest always using the set on the top of the stack, and when you are replacing them into the cabinet or closet, place the freshly laundered linens on the bottom of the pile.
Second, if you can, it is helpful to label the edges of the shelves of your linen cabinet or closet with some basic information so anyone can place the items in their right spot. Plus, it will help you grab the right linens when you're searching quickly.
Step 5: Consider These Linen Storage Solutions
If you don't have a linen closet
consider a cabinet
[Lots of choices available on Amazon]
When making the most of the space you have available to store linens you may want to consider using some of these storage solution ideas I've listed below.
In regard to organization of these spaces in general, you may want to create your own shelf space if none exists, such as using hanging shelves in a closet (as shown above), or purchasing a small linen cabinet or linen tower for a specific room, most often the bathroom (such as the white one on the right).
In regard to blankets and quilts, don't forget about blanket chests, and racks to keep items stored while not in use, but still quite handy to grab when needed.
Then, to keep piles of linens from toppling over on shelves, and to keep items from gettig to crammed together, it is a good idea to use shelf dividers (click the link to read an article about these organizers), especially for stacks of smaller items such as wash cloths and hand towels.
If you don't want to use shelf dividers, another possibility is to use open storage containers on the shelves, such as baskets or foldable boxes, to place linens into.
Finally, if you'll be storing items long term, place your linens in moth-resistant bags to keep them in good condition. You can learn more about clothing storage here, which also pertains to linens.
Listen To Taylor's Video Tips For This Week's Organized Home Challenge & Declutter 365 Missions
Do you want more in-depth tips and instructions for how to do this week's missions and challenge all about decluttering and organizing your linen closet? If so, I've got recorded video tips from me, Taylor, from the video archives in the Declutter 365 Premium group, all about this week's challenge and missions.
These video tips are available on demand in the archives, once you're a member of the group.
In Week #27's video I discussed the following topics, among others:
- How many of each type of "linen" such as towels, sheets, do you need?
- Tips for organizing your linen closet
- Decorative pillows - yay or nay?
- Declutter 365 missions for week
I suggest watching the video archive for the week, perhaps while you're doing some decluttering or cleaning around your home, before starting the week's missions and Challenge, and then you'll be able to breeze through this week's worth of decluttering missions, as well as organize what's necessary for the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge, based on the advice and instructions within those videos.
It really is like having me, Taylor, available, 24-7, as your decluttering and organizing coach, for every area of your home!
Plus, once you're a member of Declutter 365 Premium you get access to not only this video, but all the videos for the 52 weeks of the year, for 5 years (that's over 260 videos available in the archives!)
Get This Linen Closet Decluttering Checklist + 32 Other Decluttering Checklists For Your Home
Right now you're decluttering your linen closet, and there's a lot of stuff to declutter in this space.
I've done the hard work of breaking down these tasks into smaller more manageable steps for you, so you don't get overwhelmed or worry you're forgetting a task, and you can go at the pace you want, whether that's fast or slow.
In addition, you can tackle these decluttering tasks in whatever order you want when you use these checklists!
Tell Me How The Organize Linen Closet Or Cabinet Challenge Is Going For You
I would love to know how this week's Organize Linen Closet Or Cabinet Challenge is going. You can tell me your progress or give me more ideas for how you've organized this area of your home in the comments below.
I also would love to see before and after pictures of your linen cabinets, closets, or chests, once you've completed the challenge. Submit your pictures (up to four per submission) and blog posts and get featured in the Creative Storage Solutions Hall of Fame. You've worked hard to get organized, so now here's your chance to show off!
Sneak Peek For Next Week's Challenge
We're working on our homes slowly, one area at a time, so don't get too distracted from this week's Organize Linen Cabinet Challenge. However, I know some of you love to know what's coming next, so I'll tell you.
Once we've got our linens, towels, and other fabric in order, it's time to tackle organizing the master bedroom closet.
Make Sure You Make The Most Of These 52 Organizing Challenges
Get your copy of the printable one page 52 Week Organized Home Challenge schedule for the year here, so you can see all the challenges we're working on.
Further, if you'd like to join a community of others who are all commmitted to these organizing challenges and corresponding decluttering missions, and want more interaction with me, Taylor, video archives of Taylor providing more tips for each of these challenges and missions, as well as live monthly group coaching sessions focusing on the skills and habits necessary to maintain your home from now on, I'd urge you to join the private and exclusive Declutter 365 Premium Facebook group (you can learn more about it at the link).
In addition, have you gotten your Declutter 365 Products yet, to make sure you can get even more assistance with decluttering and organizing your home this year? There are both free products (like the Declutter 365 calendar, a $20 value), as well as add-ons, such as daily text messages, planner stickers, and a Premium Facebook group, as well as a pack of printabe decluttering checklists.
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