Cleaning Out My Closet

I love organizing, honestly I do, but you wouldn’t know it by looking around my house.  Since having toddlers, things just get shoved wherever they will fit, until I have time to deal with them, like our medicine/toiletries closet which hadn’t been touched since we moved in.  You know, the place you shove all those extra half used travel shampoos and soaps that you take home from the hotel or all the sample size freebies you get in the mail or those 10 tubes of toothpaste you bought because you couldn’t pass up the sale?  Every time I open the door, something falls off the shelf.  Well, I’m 36 1/2 weeks pregnant and in full nesting mode, so I decided to conquer it.  It was on a whim really, not planned out, but I found a pack of 5 shoebox size tubs in the clearance section at Target for $5 and thought, why not today?  Most dollar stores will have decent cheap options for small storage containers also.  The problem is that to really clean out and organize, you have to make a big mess first.  If you have little kids, I recommend tackling these projects at nap time or night time so that you can really focus and not worry about them spreading the mess further into the hallway or rest of the house.  Also, I should tell you that I’m a saver at heart.  If it’s usable at all I don’t like to throw it away, but I’m getting better.  Yes, I had lotion from 7 years ago that I had maybe used once.  Why had I let it take up space for this long?  Throw that junk away!

If you need some guidance of how to start, spread out your containers or cute baskets on the ground around you, also have a trash bag close for things you just need to throw out and maybe even a donation bag for items that are still usable, but not for you.  Then start filling.  Try to keep like things together so that you’re not having to dig through tubs every time you need to find something.  Here are some category ideas: trial/sample size items, medicine or first aid kit items, seasonal things such as sunscreen or allergy stuff, small full size toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), makeup or nail polish items, tampons/pads, etc.  Here are my tubs, almost full!

Then start placing the tubs back onto your shelves.  Make sure to put tubs that you won’t use as often on the bottom if stacking them.  And if you have a label maker, the heavens might open and sounds of rejoicing might be heard.  Unfortunately I don’t, but I was still rejoicing at how nice and tidy every thing looked (the before and after pictures do not do justice).  I was so excited that nothing was falling out on me and I had more room to spread things out!  Success!  Now, on to another closet, or pantry or drawer……

Oh yeah! And while your going through all your stuff, make up a little basket of extras for guests that might be visiting.  Here’s mine:  It has complimentary toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, floss, tampons, disposable razor, etc.  You know you’ve been somewhere and forgotten these things, so how hospitable to have it all in one spot ready for your guests to use without asking.

What area in your house is most desperate for some organizing?  Do you have any tips or tricks to share with us?  Do you want to buy me a Label Maker?