Politicians with skeletons in their closets have plenty to be afraid of. You, on the other hand, not so much. Your closets may be filled with all sorts of clutter and junk, but there is no need to fear them. You are in control of your house. You alone can decide the fate of your closets.
For many people, closets represent that magical place where clutter can be accumulated outside of the public eye. Anything that does not seem to have a place out in the open automatically finds a home in a closet. After years of living in the same house, some closets can become a bastion for unknown possessions that haven’t seen the light of day for years.
At My Divine Concierge, closets don’t scare us. Yours shouldn’t scare you either. With a basic plan and a little help from a professional, you can get those closets cleaned up and restored to their original factory condition. We see it happen all the time.
Five Simple Strategies for Cleaning Closets
Successful closet taming is not something that happens by accident. If you want your closet cleaning project to be both effective and long-lasting, you need to be prepared ahead of time. We suggest these five simple strategies that should serve you well regardless of the condition of your closets:
1. Establish Fact-Based Criteria
Cleaning out the closets can be an emotionally draining experience with all the memories attached to the things you find inside. But letting go, which is almost always required in a closet cleaning job, requires stepping outside of the emotion and dealing with the facts. To that end, we recommend establishing fact-based criteria by which you will decide what stays and what goes. We like the rule that says if you haven’t used something in three months it needs better storage; if you haven’t used something in six months, you need to consider getting rid of it.
2. Start Thinking Simplicity
A lot of us have trouble with clutter because the idea of a simple lifestyle escapes us. We have somehow managed to convince ourselves that possessions equal success. But they do not. There is much more peace and happiness found in simplicity than could never be found in owning stuff. So, as you are cleaning, keep thinking simplicity.
3. Turn on Closet Cleaning Music
Music has an interesting way of motivating us to do things we otherwise would have trouble with. So put on some music. Perhaps you would do best with soothing music that helps you relax and calm the nerves. On the other hand, you might need some old-fashioned rock ‘n roll to get you pumped up so you can attack your closet with full vigor. It’s up to you. Either way, we have found that putting on a little closet-cleaning music is almost always helpful.
4. Do Not Work Alone
We always suggest homeowners get some help on closet cleaning day. Whether that help is professional or volunteer, you need it for both physical and emotional support. One or two people capable of sharing the workload makes the job easier, faster, and more efficient. And the sooner you are done, the sooner you and your helpers can relax with a refreshing drink and good conversation.
5. Establish Starting and Ending Times
Lastly, establishing concrete starting and ending times is invaluable. Why? Because without them, the job has no parameters.
Lack of starting time makes it too easy to continually delay until there is no longer enough time in the day to do anything. Not having an ending time makes it just as easy to dillydally in your decision-making processes only to end up dragging the project out for days or weeks. Starting and ending times establish a clear window of opportunity to get the job done.
My Divine Concierge is here to help you attack and get victory over your closets. There’s no need to be afraid of them; you are bigger, better, and stronger in every way.