by Lindsay Horvath

Created on: December 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 24, 2008

There is something about the smell of flowers and spring mud that incites a need to clean. Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition in many households; a way to weed out clutter from the past year and make a home feel as fresh and new as the outside world. When spring cleaning comes to mind, it brings forth images of washing baseboards and cleaning floors by hand. But, there is another area that shouldn't be ignored during spring cleaning: the closet.

Most of us could use more closet space. Bedroom closets, linen closets, hall closets...they never seem to be big enough for all we need them for...clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, coats, boots, Christmas decorations, vacuum cleaners...the list goes on and on. The good news is that by following a few simple steps you can increase your closet space during spring cleaning.

1. First, empty the closet. As daunting as it may be, remove EVERYTHING. Clean the entire closet...wipe down walls, clean the floor, repair loose hooks or shelves. Closets are like tiny rooms...that we never clean. Fortunately, it won't take you long to do this.

2. Secondly, assess your closet. Would a few shelves be helpful at containing the clutter? Are there a lot of loose items that could be contained in sturdy plastic bins? Take measurements, make a list, and head to your local home improvement store. Upgrading closet storage does not have to be expensive; there are a lot of innovative little gadgets designed especially for maximizing closet space.

3. Now, it's time to look through your closet contents. Spring cleaning usually means setting aside items for a yard sale or charity. A bedroom closet, in particular, lends itself to this. Go through all of your clothes and shoes and decide which ones you don't wear anymore, and set them aside. There may even be a few items that are ready to be tossed. For the linen closet, do you really need all those towels and sheets? Check with your local animal shelter-such places are usually happy to accept donations of towels and sheet to use as bedding for animals. In a hall closet, you're like to find lots of things you can get rid of. Broken umbrella? Toss it.

4. Finally, put everything back in an organized fashion. You're likely to have much more closet space now, and keeping it visually organized is a great way to maximize the benefits of your spring cleaning. Hang clothes based on color or type. Store winter clothes in boxes, and utilize your new gadgets for hanging belts and bathrobes. Take the time to fold and stack all of your linens, and store your hall closet items in a neat and orderly fashion.

There! Your spring cleaning is done, at least in the closet area. Spring cleaning can result in more than just a clean house...it can give you more closet space! That's what I call hitting two birds with one stone!

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