see how I Methodically and mindfully purged, cleaned and organized (Most of) my closets in less than a month
A Midpractical Modern Monthly Challenge :: #ClosetChaos :: December 2022
Read on if…
- You have closets, shelves, drawers or storage spaces of any kind that are either overflowing or have been “out of sight, out of mind”
- You don’t know the last time you used or looked at some of the things contained in those spaces…or are not even sure what’s in there
- You want to take a methodical, money-saving and mindful approach to cleaning and reorganizing your spaces
- Instead of pining over an immaculate and color-coded image of a closet on a pinterest board, you want to stare at and feel the satisfaction of having your own neat and tidy closet space
Challenge Scale
Before you get started, here’s a brief overview of how much money, time, effort this challenge may take and how functional or fun it is.
This is a snapshot of what my challenge looked like – yours may be different based on how much organization love your closets need, how many closets you have, how much stuff you have in those closets, and how aesthetically pleasing you want them to look at the end (i.e. do you want all new Target Threshold baskets or are you okay with using some cardboard boxes for storage).
Hop down to the Challenge Outcome to see how each of my closets fared in this challenge and to get inspiration to complete your own #ClosetChaos Challenge!
Why Did I do The Closet Chaos Challenge?
Well, I’ve got two reasons for this challenge.
- I had not cleaned (or even looked at) some of the closets since we moved in ~2 years ago and based on the accumulation of dust and past expiration dates I glimpsed…it was about time.
- I polled my instagram followers on which challenge I should do next based on just a hashtag description and this was the resounding winner (sidenote: the losers, or rather, future challenges, were #DehydrationStation and #WorkstationElevation). So, peer pressure.
The Challenge: Clean Out the Closets
Prior to moving into our house, we lived in a 2 bedroom condo with a total of 3 closets. In our current house that we’ve lived in for only 2ish years, we have 13 closets. And they ARE ALL FULL.
HOW is this possible?
For some of my closets, the Nora from Queens GIF is not far off from reality.
I mean, okay. So I’ve taken a few trips to Krazy Bins and gotten some, what I would like to call, “necessities” (please don’t ask my husband for his definition). And maybe I found some new-to-me treasures while thrifting. And when family members or total strangers tell me that they are giving away things for free, the only response to this is “When should I pick it up?”
Okay, maybe I have a little bit of a problem. Teehee.
But that’s what this challenge is for, right? I’ll spend the month going through each closet with a Marie Kondo mentality so by the time the ball drops on January 1, I’ll be able to keep ‘closet cleaning’ off my New Year’s resolutions. And maybe become less of a pack rat in the process.
To getter better organized, I will clean out and reorganize my closet and storage spaces.
#MonthlyChallenge
Challenge Outcome
How did I fare in this challenge?
8 out of the 13 (or so) storage spaces have gotten makeovers. As Jonathan Van Ness would say…
I would have gotten through a few more had a pipe not burst in the basement and halted closet cleaning (we had some carpet cleaning to take care of instead!). But, there was a silver lining – I had a whole closet in the basement empty so I used it to salvage the dry things that did not get damaged from the pipe monsoon. A small win, but a win nonetheless.
Challenge Highlights
Instead of me writing about all the highlights of this challenge, you can view all of the highlights in the series of videos I made throughout the process (go to the Closet Chaos highlight reel). In summary – while it took time and effort to assess, clean out and reorganize each closet, it was fun to go through all the things and reminisce (especially the ‘box of memories‘) and even more freeing when I removed something completely.
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Your Turn – Time for your #MonthlyChallenge
Are you ready for your own #ClosetChaos Challenge? Check out the checklist and steps below to get your closet journey started. Share your monthly challenge on instagram and tag @midpracticalmodern so I can see your progress and cheer you on!
Ready To Tackle Those Closets? Start with the Closet Cleanout Checklist
As I mentioned in the challenge scale, your aesthetic vision of what you want your closet to be after the cleanout may vary from mine (though we can all agree that a less cluttered closet is the end game here!). But no matter if you want a utilitarian, plain ‘ol closet or HGTV magazine-worthy she shed, there are a few things you’ll want to have handy before you begin the purge.
Closet Cleanout Checklist
- A big box or bag to be used for donations (you may even find one as you start to clean!)
- A separate big box or bag to be used for trash (don’t mix it up with the donation bag)
- A notebook and phone to capture notes and images of each space
- A tape measure
- Cleaning supplies – vacuum or broom, paper towels and a cleaning solvent.
- A mask if you will be in a particularly dusty area.
- (Optional) New storage solutions, such as baskets, drawers, boxes, hooks, or shelves (but wait until after you’ve gone through all your closets to buy)
- (Optional) A scanner (read the section below for why!)
Here’s the step-by-Step, “How to Clean your Closets in 30 days” Guide
Before you read below and make an assumption that I’m a ghost writer for The Home Edit, I want to throw it out there that, I am not a ‘neat freak’ or some other cleaning guru. I like to describe myself as a ‘Collection Mouse’ (or what others would call a ‘pack rat’. Rude). My home office is organized chaos. And I will play trashcan jenga until I win (sorry Chris). But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to take turn a closet from ‘Oh my god…’ to ‘Oh my god!!’. It just takes a little bit of time, patience, and detachment from things that you think you need, but really don’t.
1. Do an analysis of your current closets
Before you start exorcising the demons (figurative or literal) from your closet, do a quick analysis on where you’re starting from. Ask yourself a few questions:
- How many closets and storage spaces will you realistically be able to clean out within the month?
- What is the general inventory of each closet?
- What is the primary purpose of each closet or space?
- Do I want to be more intentional or methodical about goes in each closet?
- What existing storage accessories or support is available (i.e. shelves, hooks, drawers, rods, etc.)? What is permanent and what can be adjusted or moved?
- What are the dimensions of the overall space and any key areas where you may need something to fit precisely?
A quick overview of the closet inventory I took before starting to empty any of them
By better understanding the inventory, size, purpose and support of each closet, it will make the decluttering and reorganizing part of the process easier in the long run.
Midpractical Tip – Take “Before” Photos!
2. Start Emptying
Now that you have an idea of what’s in each closet and how much space you have, you are ready to start to begin the purge!
Those boxes/bags/bins for donations and trash that were on the checklist? Yeah, you’re gonna want to have those handy.
As you go through each closet, ask yourself these questions:
Questions to Ask Yourself When Evaluating Each Item
- Why do I have this?
- What will I use it for?
- How often do I need to use this?
- Is this outdated, expired, irrelevant, or broken?
- Would someone else benefit from this?
- Does this have sentimental value (if you are Marie Kondo fan, ‘Does this bring you joy?’)?
- Does this belong in a closet? If no, where should it go? If yes, which closet?
- Can this item be digitized vs. keeping a hard, physical copy?
You can check out all of my “Keep or Toss” videos on my instagram @midpracticalmodern
Mentally ask yourself these questions for each item. After you answer them, you should take one of the following actions
Actions to Take Based on the Answers to the Evaluation Questions
- If you are keeping the item, set the item aside until you have completely emptied the closet.
- If you are digitizing the item, set them aside in a separate pile in a separate area (to avoid this being mixed up with any of the other piles)
- If you do not have a need for this item anymore but it is in decent shape, add to the donate pile.
- If you do not have a need for this item anymore but it is in poor shape (damaged, expired, etc.), add it to the trash pile.
- If something requires further action (i.e. fix something that is broken, use it at a certain time, etc), put a reminder or event on your calendar so you can hold yourself accountable to taking that action
In an ideal world, until you had a chance to go through all of the closets completely, you would set aside the items that you are planning to keep in one area. Realistically, we all have to live our lives and don’t want our homes turned into a maze, so if you need to, put the ‘keep’ items back in the closet you found them, but don’t worry about organizing just yet. You’ll want to get through all the closets first before you spend time with any meticulous organizing.
3. Plan for Re-Entry and Re-Placement
After you’ve gone through and kept or tossed all of your things, now you are ready to put the kept items in their proper places.
Think back to Step 1 when you did an initial analysis–you should have a good idea for the purpose of each closet. Is it a mudroom-esque storage area? That should be where in-season clothing and gear goes. Is it a closet in or near your dining area? Put table linens, dining equipment, etc. in there.
This will look different for everyone, but if you have a theme or purpose for each, it will be easier to find like items in the future.
Also consider if the initial way you had things in your closet was the best way. Should those lightbulbs be hanging out on a shelf loosely or would they be better consolidated in a drawer (answer = lightbulbs should not be stored loosely!)? Can I put all of my gift wrapping items in one container instead of strewn all over the closet (answer = yes)? Can my off-season clothing be stored in a separate area until I need to access it regularly (answer = also yes)?
If there’s a better way to store things within the storage spaces, definitely do it! By now you have the dimensions, an idea of what the closets should be used for and how much stuff is going back into them. If you couldn’t find any accessories during your cleanout, this is your opportunity to intentionally (not frivolously) buy new baskets, bins, hangers, shelves, rods, drawers, hooks, containers, and whatever else you need to get your closet it in tip top shape.
If you need some motivation to get started on these cleanouts, follow me on instagram to see all of my closet before and after videos!
Don’t Forget These Things!
After all the time spent clearing out and readjusting your closets and after all the time spent admiring your hard work, it may be easy to defer some of the other finishing tasks to this challenge. Don’t forget to do these things!
- Do something with the donation pile. Yes, I know this seems obvious but it could be just as easy to shluff that box back into one of your pristine new closets. Fight the urge! I suggest taking it to your local thrift store or charity. Or if you have a local Buy Nothing group (if you have never heard of this, check out this link), make a few posts and pass along to neighbors
- Take out the trash, if you haven’t already. Again, avoid the urge to re-look at all the things you’ve already deemed as tossable.
- Digitize the items that you deemed worthy of keeping but not in physical form. If what you have is paperwork, use a scanner (if you don’t have a scanner, use your phone or see if your local library has scanning equipment available to use). If it’s more 3D than paper, take a picture of it. If it’s a collection of similar things and you want to be able to look at it often, consider making a photo album with the images you take. Just don’t put the thing back in the closet!
- Schedule your to-do list. If you found a pair of pants that has a tear in it and you’ve been meaning to patch it up, put an event on your calendar. If you found a bag full of corks that you’ve been meaning to do some pinterest craft with (not that I’m talking from experience…), put a due date on your calendar to use these by and give yourself reminders to work on it. And if you don’t adhere to the dates…you know what to do (*tosses into trash can*)
Did you enjoy this #MonthlyChallenge? I’d love to hear it! Shoot me an email at hello@midpracticalmodern.com or send me a DM on instagram!
What is the Midpractical Challenge?
It is a challenge for a set amount of time that puts extra focus and emphasis on a specific task to complete, trying something new or overcoming an obstacle. These challenges show how midpractical decisions around money, time and energy can help us not only live, but thrive, in the middle of a modern world.
See what the latest challenge is and tag @midpracticalmodern with your own challenge progress!