ASK
PRISCILLA
Taming the disorganized
disaster in your closet

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

Q. My clothes closet is a disaster! I can’t find anything, and what I can dig out is too wrinkled to wear. What’s the best way to straighten out this mess?

A. The first step is to mentally detach yourself from the chaos and become an uninvolved third party. This means neither the closet nor any of the stuff in it belongs to you. Then empty and purge ruthlessly — which can be a lot of fun if you approach it right. I love to pitch things. (I’m the opposite of a pack rat.) My goal is to get rid of more than I keep. It doesn’t usually work out that way, but I tackle the job in this frame of mind.

The procedure goes like this: Take absolutely everything out of the closet. For the sake of efficiency, purging as you go cuts down on some of the pandemonium that results from having all your stuff strung from one end of the house to the other. Get control of the project from the very beginning by having boxes, laundry baskets or other containers ready and waiting. Stash the following in individual containers:

Anything that wasn’t worn or used in the last 12 months and doesn’t have a place in your life any time soon.

Mistakes — things that you never liked in the first place.

Anything that has seen better days. Things that don’t fit or are out of fashion.

Anything in question, but be critical and realistic about it. Don’t end up with a huge pile of clothes and shoes in this container.

Out-of-season keepers.

Shoes — spring and summer in one container; fall and winter in another.

Handbags — also separated according to seasons.

Current ready-to-wear.

Everything in the first four containers, including shoes and handbags, goes byebye to your favorite charity as fast as possible. Don’t think about it twice.

The container with “anything in question” may need extra consideration. Store this one away for a while — six months to a year. Then re-examine the contents. Rule-of-thumb: If you haven’t missed it, needed it or wanted it in that length of time, it can go.

Out-of-season clothes and shoes have special needs that require extra attention. The golden rule for storage is that everything must be clean and spotless before it’s put away. The next step is to remove all plastic bags and wire hangers that may or may not have come from the cleaners. Plastic holds in moisture and encourages the growth of mold and mildew. Get rid of wire hangers. They’re a nemesis to clothes. Invest in wood, good-quality plastic or padded and fabric- covered hangers.

Cloth garment bags made out of 100-percent cotton are the best. Natural materials such as leather, fur and wool need to breathe and should never be stored in plastic bags.

Sweaters, knit pants and clothes that can stretch out of shape must be folded rather than hung. It is recommended that these items be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and packed away in storage boxes; many different kinds are available. Some fit on closet shelves, others go under the bed, and still others are stackable and designed to store vertically.

Be sure to protect everything in storage boxes, especially those things stored in plastic boxes, against bugs and moisture. Cedar chips or blocks discourage bugs, and moisture-absorbing packets will help to protect against mildew. Cedar blocks should be good for several seasons — refresh from time to time with just a light sanding. Mothballs were the standard de-buggers for our grandmothers, but their day has passed. They are highly poisonous and especially dangerous to have on hand when children and pets are around. We have better choices now.

Excess humidity is a problem in our area. Even central air conditioning can’t guarantee a desert-dry closet and dry clothes. Put a humidistat in your storage closet to test the humidity. You may need a dehumidifier to take out excess moisture. Warning to all: Do not depend upon an incandescent light bulb to dry out the closet! It will fade the clothes and is a dangerous fire hazard.

At this point, your clothes closet should be completely bare, and you’re left with only your current wardrobe to deal with. Now you must examine your needs and the space that’s available. With the help of all the storage aids stocked in home improvement centers and container-type stores, you will be able to use the space more effectively. Everything from telescoping rods, expandable shelves, shoe and storage compartments that suspend from rods to organizers of all types and sizes should be affordable and convenient.

A shelf over the clothes rod is derigueur — even two shelves if the ceiling is high enough. Use the back of the closet door for hooks to hold handbags, robes and hangers with tomorrow’s work outfit, whatever. Double rods are good for men’s closets as well as children’s. Babies’ and toddlers’ closets can even take triple rods.

Personally, I’m not a fan of multiple rods for myself. I hang pants by the waistbands and suits and outfits together on double hangers. So it seems that all my clothes dangle down. Certainly there’s no room for another rod. I prefer the type of hangers with clips that allow for multiple garments — pants or skirts. It’s an option that works for me.

If this whole closet-organizing thing is more than you can handle, it’s time to call in the professionals. We have several closet planners in our area who are ready and able to solve your problems, according to your budget and needs. For more on the subject, please see my closet story in SAN ANTONIO AT HOME.

Q. My closet smells like a gym locker — ugh! What can I use to kill the odors that won’t also permeate my clothes?

A. Do you keep a clothes hamper or a basket with dirty clothes in your closet? If you do, and it’s full of sweaty exercise clothes as well as dirty socks, etc., you need to move the container and its offensive contents out of your closet posthaste! Relegate the mess to the laundry room, or better yet, shove it into the washing machine.

Chances are that shoes, and especially tennis shoes, are among the offending culprits in your closet. Wash those that can be washed either in the machine or by hand with a small scrub brush. Let them dry in the fresh air and sunshine. If they can’t be washed, air them out in the sunshine anyway. When you’re ready to store them, place an inexpensive storebrand fabric softener sheet in each shoe. They have scents that are pleasant and not overwhelming.

Spritz the closet with Febreze or a similar product that doesn’t saturate your clothes with something that smells like a bathroom spray. Good ventilation is important, and most of our closets don’t have it. A simple exhaust fan that vents into the attic or between the floors does wonders.

Q. My New Year's resolution for the past 12 years has been to organize my clothes closet, but I get stumped by organizing seasonally since I travel frequently and never know what climate I'll be in next. I don't know if I have an organization problem, a wardrobe problem, or, even worse, both.

A. I hope you have access to two closets because that’s exactly what you should have. You need a closet for your current wardrobe — that which makes sense for your everyday use, whether it takes you to the office, the playground or moms’ day out. You also need a separate closet for your travel clothes, whether that includes business suits or holiday clothes. Only your favorite things go into this closet. Fewer choices work for faster decisions. Group warm-weather things and cold-weather gear separately. You’ll be ready to reach in, grab and pack at a moment’s notice. Bon voyage!

Until next time, happy decorating.

Priscilla Kohutek, internationally published home decorating columnist and author, draws from her own experience and the advice of experts to answer your questions. Send your queries to her via email at Priscilla@askpriscilla.com, or mail them to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, 8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.