Wood Hangers Blog

DIY Organizing Solutions

2010-04-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Do you feel like your home is like a holding ground for everything you’ve ever owned? Does it seem like the junk just seems to grow and grow? You’re not alone! Most people have a hard time keeping things organized. It can be even more of a challenge if you’re dealing with limited space or a limited budget. Use these tips and ideas to come up with organizing solutions that work for your home.

1) First, you need to tackle one area at a time. Trying to take on the whole house in one day can be a real nightmare. Getting frustrated generally leads to giving up. Letting things stay disorganized can lead to a lot of stress, anxiety and even depression. Try to set yourself up for success instead of failure. Decide on one area or one pile that you will tackle. Give yourself a time limit so that you don’t wear yourself out. For example, if your computer desk is littered with old mail, magazines, receipts, notes to yourself, dishes and junk, take on that one area first. Don’t worry about getting the whole room clean in one fail swoop. The smaller the task, the better your chances are of finishing it.

2) Concentrate on the areas that affect you most. If you work at your computer at home, then that should be where you begin. If you wake up to get ready in the morning and have to face a disorganized messy bathroom, it’s time to get it in order. You don’t want to wake up to disarray, or go to bed at night staring at it. Clean your bathrooms, your night stand, your coffee table, your computer desk, and your kitchen counters as often as possible, because these are the areas that are typically hot spots. Getting one or two areas completely clean and organized will give you a positive outlook, reduce stress, and motivate you to do more.

3) Don’t backslide. Once you get an area clean, focus on maintaining it. Do this before you tackle new areas that need cleaning. You can create new habits for yourself that help you to keep things organized once you get them that way. For example, if you’re bad about leaving the cap off the toothpaste and leaving it on the counter, concentrate on keeping that area clean. Make a special place for your toothpaste to go that is really easy to access. If you have to go half-way across the room or open an organizer, you aren’t very likely to use it.

4) When you get more and more areas organized, it’ll get easier and easier. Those first few piles are the hardest because you have to come up with places to put things. But after you get to your fourth or fifth area, you’ll be a pro. You will find yourself going faster and doing a better job.

5) Use your closet. Closet space is great for storage because it keeps things out of sight. Waking up to an organized closet is a great way to get your day started. Use special hangers to get everything where it should be. A wood hanger or coat hanger is best for heavy items, while specialty clothes hangers can help you to coordinate outfits or hang things like ties. Get your home organized and your life will get that way, too.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Get your Closet Ready for Summer

2010-04-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well, the weather has warmed up and the shorts are coming out! It’s time for some spring cleaning and your closet is a great place to start. You can make sure that your laundry rotation isn’t interrupted by summer and winter clothes getting mixed together. When that happens, it’s just so hard to find a place for everything. Make your closet a neat and clean area by organizing it at the same time that you switch out your winter for your summer wardrobes.

First, you need to take all of those winter clothes out of the closet. You can use a rolling garment rack with a cover for storing your winter coats and suits. Or, you can store them in another closet, like a spare bedroom closet. Keep them from becoming musty while in storage by using a cedar hanger or cedar closet accessories when you pack them away.

Make sure that you have durable containers for your clothes. If you are going to keep them in the garage or basement, make sure that they have a lid that seals well. You wouldn’t want moisture or pests to invade your investment! Cedar helps to absorb moisture from the air, deodorize, and repel insects. So, use cedar in your storage and you should be good to go next winter.

Now it’s time to clean the closet. While you have it completely empty, go ahead and vacuum, dust, paint, whatever you want. Now is a good time to add shelving, hooks, shoe racks, hat racks, extra hanging bars, or even line the walls with cedar planks. Right now, it’s probably fresh in your mind what didn’t work about your closet with your winter clothes, and you have your summer clothes ready to go in, so you can assess what extras you may need for your closet.

Categorize the summer clothes and take a look at what you have. If you have more shorts than you remembered, you may want to install a deep drawer or invest in some new clothes hangers, like pants and skirt hangers, that will allow you to keep your shorts organized. Tank tops and shirts with spaghetti straps can even hang on hangers that have notches or clips.

Make sure that everything has a special place to go. You can have a special drawer or bin for pajamas, special hangers or bins for organizing smaller items, like swimsuits, and maybe even a towel bar for drying beach towels. When your closet is ready for your summer clothes, you’ll be ready for summer!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Getting Help with Housekeeping

2010-04-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

When your home runs smoothly, you run smoothly. However, most people are not very good at keeping up with their housework. With today’s busy lifestyles and schedules, it can be almost impossible to keep up. Throw in a family that doesn’t help out, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster! Keeping up with everything really should be a group effort, and you deserve a little help. If motivating your family to clean is like motivating an elephant to jump in the air and spin around, then you need help. Use these tricks on your family and see which ones work for you.

1) Lead by example. You may be thinking, “Yeah, right, like that’ll work” but just wait. Simply cleaning in front of everyone all day may not move them off the couch. However, if you go into your teenage daughter’s room and start going through things, you’d better bet she’ll be in there with a swiftness! Hand her something to put away and innocently ask, “Where do you want to put this?” By asking and putting it directly into her hands, you are passing on the power. Instead of being defensive, she should answer you and put it there herself. Immediately follow up with the next item and then make a statement like, “If we can finish this in time, we can go rent a movie tonight.” Just give her a little something to think about without ever saying “You are going to clean your room.”

2) Delegating is a parent’s best friend. If you have some less than helpful family members in the house, you will have to tell them specifically what to do to make anything happen. Let them know that if they complain, you will give them another thing to do. This usually gets them in the habit of complying the first time every time!

3) Point out how fun it is to have everything clean. Make suggestions like, “If you could help me do this one thing for five minutes each day, then we could have more time to go out and do something fun.” Don’t make generalized final statements, like “I do everything around here and you never do anything!” This will only start trouble and defensive action. Make your non-motivated family member feel appreciated for the little thing that they did do. “Oh, you just don’t know how much help that was when you took out the trash. I think I’ll make you your favorite dessert tonight.”

4) Planning ahead will save you the most time. Make a set schedule. Make a fifteen minute block for everyone to get something done. If you put the time limit there, it won’t seem so bad. Reward whoever gets the most done in their fifteen minutes! Have them run a load of laundry and hang clean clothes on clothes hangers. Provide an easy to handle wood hanger or coat hanger for larger items. Hanging things on hangers is a lot easier than folding, so you are more likely to get some help in that department.

Keep at it and eventually you’ll have a family that likes to help you out!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Choose Your Hangers

2010-04-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Knowing how to choose the right hanger can help you stay organized while making your closet beautiful and stylish. Using high quality clothes hangers also helps you to protect your wardrobe from damage, stretching, and wrinkling. Each type of hanger is unique and is designed for a specific function. Choosing the right one for you can be difficult if you don’t know how to choose. Use this guide to help you decide which hangers will suit you best, protect your clothing, and fulfill your closet organization needs.

1) Wood hangers can give your closet that sophisticated look that you crave. Their warm texture and beauty are unmatched by any other. These not only look great, but they are a sturdy option for home or retail. They help clothing, like coats, suits and dresses, keep their shape and hang nicely without wrinkling. Wooden hangers are available in a variety of styles and finishes, so you're sure to find the ones that suit your needs.

2) Bamboo hangers are ideal for the environmentally conscious. They are lightweight, yet very strong. Because bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth, reproducing itself every 5 years, it is the eco-friendly choice over wood, and in turn, helps to sustain local economies throughout the planet. By utilizing renewable natural resources like this, we can make a difference in the future of our world. Additionally, the wood grain is just beautiful and would make a great addition to your closet.

3) Cedar hangers are a classic choice preferred by high end retailers and boutique hotels everywhere. They possess a refreshing aroma and look beautiful in any closet. Cedar has natural deodorizing properties. It repels pests and absorbs moisture from the air. By absorbing moisture, cedar helps to prevent mold and mildew from forming in your clothes and stored items. No more musty smells! If cedar begins to lose its aroma over the years, you can simply swipe it with a fine grit sandpaper to bring back that great scent that you love.

4) Keep your clothes fresh and creaseless by using our high quality, virtually unbreakable, plastic hangers. Choose ones with smooth edges so they don’t snag your delicate fabrics and garments. Look for ones with plenty of notches for hanging a wide variety of items. High quality plastic hangers are the a good economical choice for home closets or retail settings.

5) If you’re looking for a contemporary, space saving type, metal hangers may be for you. Today’s metal hangers are not at all like those old wire hangers that you’re used to. They do not snag your clothes, bend, or get tangled together like flimsy wire ones. These are strong, durable, and feature a flat design that helps keep your clothes from wrinkling while saving closet space. You can get vinyl covered metal hangers that are perfect for delicate fabrics and prevent clothes from slipping. These clothes hangers are perfect for anyone looking to save space while keeping a sleek look in their closet or retail store.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How Hangers Make a Difference

2010-04-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, your hanger selection can make a big difference in your closet. You have made an investment in your wardrobe, so it is important to protect it. Choosing the clothes hangers that are designed to meet your specific needs can seem like a daunting task. There are wood hangers, cedar hangers, bamboo hangers, plastic hangers, and metal hangers. The styles are all different and basically, each hanger is designed to meet a specific need. Choosing the hangers that work the best for your closet and your wardrobe may take a little time, but the effort you put forth can pay off for a lot of years.

Choosing hangers is nothing to take lightly. You don’t want to skimp on quality, or you’ll just end up investing again before you know it. Choose a company who has customer reviews for you to check out. Check for the quality of the materials that the hook and body are made of. Check thickness or weight of wood hangers to get an idea of how well they’re made. Sometimes wood hangers will look okay online or in the store, but then you get them home and the weight of your coats pull the hook out, or the wood snaps in half damaging your expensive coats and suits.

You can often research which company you want to go with online. You can save money by getting your hanger collection from a manufacturer who also does their own distribution. Buying from a retailer can be more costly. Look for shipping deals and try to buy in bulk. You won’t end up paying nearly as much as you thought if you do a little research before you buy.

When you start looking, check for styles that match your taste. Wood hangers come in all different finishes that will suit your style. For a more contemporary look, try velvet hangers or metal hangers. Metal chrome hangers are a lot stronger than those old wire ones that you’re used to. These new designs use a heavy gauge metal that can support the weight of most coats and suits. They don’t have the wire twist at the top that used to snag and tear your clothing.

Choosing slim hangers like these can help you save space. By fitting your clothing close together in the closet, you can save more than you think. You can also use other hanger accessories, like hooks and clips, to cascade your clothing together on one hanger. This will save you time when you are trying to find what you want to wear. You won’t believe how much space you can save doing this one simple trick.

Choose your clothes hangers wisely, and you won’t regret it!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Clutter Management

2010-04-02T08:13:00.001-07:00

If you’re not careful, clutter can take over your life. Taking control of your clutter will give you a sense of pride, independence, and relief. It can seem like a daunting task. There are a few ways to make it easier while making it more of a lasting adjustment. Getting things all cleaned up will only last for so long if you don’t make it easy to manage in the future. Clutter control starts with a plan. You have to plan for the future so that your efforts are rewarded with constant organization afterward. You don’t want to get completely done cleaning fifteen things in your house only to find out that the first thing you cleaned is already disorganized and cluttered once again. Follow these steps to getting your home clutter free and keeping it that way.

Concentrate on being efficient. With every task, ask yourself, “What is the fastest way to get this done correctly?” For a bedroom, it could be that you should make the bed, pick up dirty laundry, put away clean clothes, remove trash, organize junk, and then vacuum and dust. If you start with organizing your bedside table, then the giant mess will be looming over you the whole time, draining your mental energy, and making it less likely that you will finish the job. Getting the big and easy things out of the way first will motivate you to keep going.

When everything is pretty straight, evaluate what you have. What are the key problems with the areas that get the messiest? Does the laundry go all over your room instead of in the hamper? What’s the easiest way to solve this one problem? Make your solutions as simple as possible so that you are more likely to follow through.

It may seem silly, but having a hamper with a lid will deter most people from putting their dirty laundry inside. If the hamper is in the closet, you’re more likely to leave the clothes in a pile outside of the closet, just to avoid opening the door every time. Replace the closed or hidden hamper with an open one or a laundry basket. Put it where you can easily throw clothes into it from where ever you normally get dressed. Make sure that you have another laundry basket to replace it when it’s being used to bring laundry to the washer and dryer, or to bring clean clothes back into the bedroom. You want a laundry basket or hamper there at all times.

Make sure that you have a place for all of your clothing, preferably in your closet. Try to make putting laundry away a “one stop shop”. Use the right hangers for the different types of clothes that you have and it’ll keep your closet and your clothes looking neat. Choose clothes hangers that serve the purpose that you need them for. For example, a coat hanger or wood hanger is best for heavy coats and suits. A cascading hanger can let you hang multiple pairs of pants on one hanger, saving you space in your closet.

Use these same techniques of concentrating on your habits and making the solutions more efficient throughout your home. Your clutter will shrink and your messes will be more easily managed. Remember that if it changes your routine too much, you are less likely to follow through. Having a place for everything and making that place easily accessible will help you control clutter in your home.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Getting Organized and Staying that Way

2010-03-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Everyone has to take the time to get organized once in a while. When your closets and living areas overflow with junk, it’s time to take control. Using these professional tips, you can get your most bothersome areas organized and keep them that way!

First you need to identify areas that are the most trouble. Most people have a “pile it on” spot, like the kitchen counter, an end table, or the bathroom counter. Sometimes we clean in a hurry, throwing everything into a laundry basket, bag or box, and then never get around to sorting it out. Places like these make our homes feel cluttered and disorganized. Tackle projects one at a time and come up with logical solutions to the problems.

A clean counter is very alluring to someone looking to set something down. Identify what type of items are constantly being put there so that you can provide a space for them. If it’s papers from work, try a wall file. If it’s keys, wallet and pocket knife, place a small basket there, or hang a shelf with hooks. It helps if you arrange your organizational products in the area where your family is used to putting things. We are, after all, creatures of habit. If you normally come home and drop everything in the kitchen, putting an organizational set of baskets, shelves and hooks in the living room will only work for so long.

Use this same principal for controlling other things, like laundry. If your child’s laundry basket is in their closet, but they always leave their clothes at the foot of the bed, then you need to move the basket to the foot of the bed. You can slowly move the basket closer to the wall, and even back into the closet after they get the hang of using it all the time. Getting them to have some successes in the beginning is the key to making it a habit for them.

When you get around to the biggest job, the closet, be ready to make a real plan. Don’t just go out and buy a bunch of baskets and bins without planning for the space that you have available. Sort out and separate everything that you have in your closet. Get rid of what you can, and then plan on which containers will work best for you.

Arrange things according to how often they are used. The things that you need the most often need to be easily accessible. If they’re not, you’ll end up keeping them in a more convenient spot, eventually. You want to make it easy to keep things where they go. Get some high quality clothes hangers, like a good wood hanger or coat hanger for your dress clothes. You may decide to go with some space saving hangers or specialty hangers to help improve the organization of the space. Home organization is an ongoing process, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get it right.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Use Specialty Hangers

2010-03-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Specialty hangers are great for getting your closet organized and helping keep it that way. They can help to make sure that everything has its place. They can also be used to hang garments that you normally would not, like scarves and bathing suits. Specialty wood hangers, like coat hangers, can help your coats and suits keep their intended shape. You can use cascading hangers to save a lot of space and get your closet organized.

Pincher hangers have clamps or clips on each end. These are great for hanging shorts, skirts, shirts with straps, and other small items. In general, you want to get smaller ones for small items and longer ones for bigger items. You don’t want the garment to sag in the middle. It should be taught and held securely by the clips or clamps.

Pants hangers come in a few different styles. Some have non-slip grip vinyl sleeves or plastic coatings. Some pants hangers clamp all the way across. The newer styles of pants hangers are open on one end. You simply reach over and pull the pants out. You don’t even have to take the hanger off the bar. It makes it easier to hang the pants without creasing them by threading them through a standard hanger. Nobody wants to start over with their ironing because they creased and crumpled their pants just trying to get them on the hanger.

There are a few different styles of tie and scarf hangers to choose from that can help you get some of those smaller items under control in your closet. Some hang vertically, some arrange things horizontally. You can get ones that are made out of a cedar block to keep your ties and scarves fresh year round. A scarf hanger has holes all the way across for threading scarves through. However, you can use a tie hanger for scarves if you like.

Cascading hangers are wonderful space savers. Some hangers have attachments, or loops, that hang over the neck of the hanger. This allows you to coordinate outfits and save space by hanging another garment off of the first hanger. Some cascading hangers are designed with a series of bars or bars with clips for hanging multiple pairs of pants, skirts, or shorts from one hanger. The newest cascading hanger is called the “Wonder” hanger. This is essentially a bar with notches for a few hangers. There is a hook at each end. You hang your hangers in the center and then you can lower one of the hooks. A lot of hangers can hang from one “Wonder” hanger, making a lot of space in your closet.

Specialty clothes hangers are essential for getting a closet thoroughly organized. Plus, they are made for hanging certain types of clothing and can help protect your wardrobe from wrinkling, stretching, and tearing. Shop around and imagine all the possibilities for your closet while you consider all the different types of hangers that there are to buy.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Update Closet Style

2010-03-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

Does your closet make you say, “Blech”? It’s time for a closet make-over. Organizing and making space for your stuff is one thing, but updating your closet to make it a place you’ll love is another. You can make your closet reflect your personal style, without sacrificing space, usability, or breaking the bank.

Start by surfing around and taking note of closet styles that you like. Pay particular attention to certain aspects of certain closets that interest you. Narrow your search by looking for closets that accommodate the types of items that you have. If you own a lot of purses or shoes, check out celebrity closet designs and see if you can incorporate their ideas into your own closet. You don’t have to spend 100K to create a shelf with dividers for storing purses, or a cubby system that goes up the wall to store your favorite shoes.

You can install shelving, drawers, cabinets and more in your closet. You will want to empty it out to decide how to most effectively use the space. Efficiency is key. You don’t want deep drawers to store loads of junk. Compartments make better use of small spaces and help you to keep organized.

Here are some ideas for making an inexpensive project look like a professional job. If all you can afford is wire shelving but you’re not crazy about the industrial look and feel, consider making it look more inviting by disguising the wire.

You can cover the wire shelves with interesting fabric to really make your closet your own. You can look into building a wooden casing for the shelves so that your closet has a wooden cabinetry look with the wire shelving inside. You can take attention away from the wire by using high-end accessories. There are now baskets and drawers that fit into the wire systems, giving them a warmer and more appealing look. A good wood hanger or coat hanger will draw attention away from the wire and toward the sleek organized look of your hanging clothes.

While we’re on the subject of clothes hangers, think about this. Using space saving hangers or high-end specialty hangers will give you more ways to organize than building a lot of shelves, cabinets and drawers. Tie hangers, scarf hangers, cascading hangers, suit hangers, and hangers with clips all give you options for hanging things that would normally need a special place to go. Hangers that allow you to cascade items or hang multiple garments on one hanger will free up even more space for you, opening up your options and budget for some of those high-end accessories that will make your closet special.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Use the Right Hangers

2010-03-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Getting your closet organized has a lot to do with the style of hanger that you choose. You should consider style, cost, functionality, durability, and many other factors when choosing the right hanger for your closet. Use this guide to help you decide which type of hanger you’ll be happiest with before you buy.

1) Wooden hangers, or coat hangers, are by far the most popular hanger on the market. They come in a variety of different finishes to satisfy your desire to make your closet look good. But wooden hangers are good for more than just looks. They are very durable and come in a lot of different styles.

Some have notches or rubber grips to keep your clothes from slipping. Some have a pants bar, either stationary or removable, to help you hang suits or coordinate outfits together. Others come with useful clips or non-slip bar covers to suit your needs. Wooden hangers can be purchased in bulk or wholesale to help cut down on costs without sacrificing quality. You can even get specialty hangers made from renewable bamboo or cedar to extend the life of your wardrobe.

2) Velvet hangers are really popular right now. These hangers are really strong, yet ultra-thin to help you save space. People really like the velvet coating that helps their clothing stay put on the hanger. It feels nice, prevents slippage, and comes in a lot of different colors and designs to keep your closet looking great.

Velvet hangers fit closely together to save space, but you can also get cascading hooks or specialty velvet hangers to make even more space. Cascading hooks simply slip over the top of the hanger and give the next hanger a notch to hang from. By doubling up hangers like this, you can get outfits ready to wear and save space at the same time. The new “Z-Hangers” patented design has an extended hook that allows you to hang shirts without unbuttoning the top button or stretching the neck to get it hung.

3) Metal hangers are a lot different than the old wire hangers. Wire hangers bend, snag clothes, and get crossed up on the bar. The newer designed metal hangers are a heavy gauge metal that is molded into one continuous piece. No more snags at that annoying twist around the neck. Metal hangers come in stylish finishes, like chrome or nickel to compliment the décor of your home. They fit closely together on the bar, saving precious space, and they don’t get crossed over each other and bent like the old style wire clothes hangers.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Custom Closet Organizers

2010-03-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

The need for closet organization is high for most people. It can seem impossible to get things in order if your closet doesn’t work with you. Everyone has different needs and no organizer has a one-size-fits-all design. Utilizing custom closet organizers can give you the versatility that you need to truly make your closet your own.

There are a few ways to go about customizing your closet. First, you really need to take an objective look at what types of storage you need. Some people can get away with a hanging rod and a shoe rack, but most people have more specific things that they need to store and organize in their closets.

Narrow down what you want to keep by giving clothing and other household items to charity. You may want to have a yard sale to make money for investing back into your closet. Most of us have way too many clothes that we seldom or never wear. By narrowing the field, you can get a clearer view of what you actually need to do with the closet organizer.

Once you’ve determined what you will keep, imagine the ideal storage and location for each category of clothing. The things that you wear or use most might be best off in the center of the closet. Things that you don’t use often can go further back. Things that you are storing for an entire season can go up high on a shelf.

Next consider what type of container or apparatus would best house the items that you need to organize. Would you rather have your socks in a drawer or a basket? Do you want to hang your t-shirts or stack them on shelves? Do you have room for a tie rack or hat rack on the wall of the closet, or would you rather just use a specialty tie hanger or hat hanger for these items? Take a look at your shoes, too. Do you want all of your shoes front and center, or just the ones that you use the most?

Customizing the closet will help you to use it more efficiently and more consistently. Staying organized is sometimes the hardest part. With the closet set up to meet your specific needs, you are more likely to keep it up.

After you have your design, think about the other seasons of the year. Does your winter wardrobe work as well with the system as your summer wardrobe? Don’t forget that you might need to make more space or provide different storage once the seasons change. Invest a little in some high end clothes hangers that can be used for multiple types of items. Not only will nice hangers make your closet look great, but something like a wood hanger or coat hanger can keep your coats and suits from ending up on the floor.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Tidy Your Closet

2010-03-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Closets can get to be a real mess. Having the right arrangement of shelving paired with the right closet accessories can help you to get your closet straight. If you are starting from scratch, then there are really a lot of things you can do. Use these tips to determine which steps should work best for your wardrobe and your closet.

1) A system that consists of different shelf levels, bars, cubbies, and hooks is generally most useful. Smaller spaces mean that you will be able to categorize items into smaller and smaller piles, making it less likely that you will end up with one giant heap on a shelf. Keeping the spaces small is key. You may need to categorize your clothes and measure how much space you would like for each category before you begin. Varying the heights of the shelves and bars will actually make your closet appear neater. Not only does it break up the lines, but it keeps varying sizes of piles from looking like they should be uniform, making the look more solid.

2) Don’t forget to account for your out-of-season wardrobe. If you arrange your closet system to be perfect for your summer clothing, you may be terribly disappointed when the time comes for winter clothes. If your space isn’t accommodating enough to leave both wardrobes out year-round, then you will need to make sure that it works for all seasons.

3) If you have a reach-in closet, here’s an idea that you may not have considered. You can buy organization systems consisting of shelves and rods that are mounted on casters. You can roll the entire system into and out of the closet. Before you start thinking that this is a silly idea, consider this; you can load one system with your summer wardrobe and one with your winter wardrobe. When it’s time to make the switch, simply roll the current one out, place a cover, like a garment rack cover, over it and store it in a spare room or corner of the room that you don’t use. Roll the next on in and you’re done!

4) The right closet accessories can make your closet look great, but it can make it more usable, too. Once you have the baskets, shoe rack, hooks and racks that you need installed in the closet, take a look at your clothes hangers. Most people have a varying assortment of wire and plastic hangers that just look terrible. You can make your closet look great with a nice wood hanger or sturdy coat hanger. When your closet is done, you’ll be so happy that you decided to make this change! An organized closet makes for a happy owner.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Bathroom Spa Closet

2010-03-03T09:51:00.001-08:00

Most bathrooms do not have a closet that is usable for clothing. If your bathroom does have a closet, it is probably small and only holds linens. Really, we need room in the closet for holding clothes, towels, dirty clothes, and other things that we use in the bathroom every day. Creating a “spa closet” or locker area can provide you with the storage and accessible space that you need for getting ready in the bathroom.

1) You can create an instant towel or robe warming area by building a wood box with slats on the bottom. A vented bottom will allow heat to enter the box when you place it near or over a heater vent in the bathroom floor. You don’t want to block the vent completely, so make sure that your warming box has short legs to keep it about one or two inches off the floor. This will allow heat to enter the room, but your towels and robe can be warming up at the same time.

2) The same concept can be used to give you a good place for wet clothes, bath mats, and towels to dry. This hamper can offer a ventilated, yet attractive, place to put your dirty clothes when you are changing or showering. You can use a cushion with a washable terry cloth cover on top of the box to give yourself somewhere to sit while you’re getting ready.

3) Install a hanging bar in your bathroom so that you have a good place to hang your clothes while you’re showering and getting ready. Some bars come on a bracket, like ones that you see when you enter restaurants or offices. These are really useful in the bathroom. You can hang your clothes and let the steam from the shower release wrinkles while you get ready. This can save you time on ironing and keep your clothes close at hand.

4) The top of the hanging bar usually will have a shelf where you can stack clean towels and wash cloths. You may want to install some corner shelves or a small cubby shelf in the bathroom to hold other items that you need while getting ready. You can discretely store your underwear, socks, panty hose, and other items that you will use after a shower and while getting ready for work or a night out. Having these things close at hand instead of buried in a drawer somewhere will be very convenient and save you time.

5) Make your bathroom spa area attractive so that it is a place you will be happy to use. Choose clothes hangers that compliment the décor in the bathroom. A coat hanger or wood hanger is best for hanging heavy robes to dry. Wood hangers are also very attractive and you can get ones that match the wood accents in your bathroom.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Lifestyle Changes for an Organized Home

2010-02-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

Keeping your home organized can seem like an insurmountable task. Most people acquire junk piles all over the house, all while feeling like they didn’t do anything to make it happen. There are a few ways to get your home organized, but keeping it that way is the trick. Use these simple organization tips and hints on how to keep the home organized to get control of your life.

Create drawer organization systems that work for what you need. Do you have a junk drawer in your dresser or kitchen? Most people do. Quick clean-up jobs can quickly turn your pot holder and dish towel drawer into a place for anything and everything. Reclaim it by using small boxes or drawer organizer that only allows you to put what goes in the drawer in there. Try to get rid of the junk that ends up in the junk drawer. If you notice that some things really do need a place to go, then make sure that they have a place. Otherwise, they’ll constantly end up being raked into a drawer last minute.

Use wall space to organize your computer desk. Desks are notoriously messy, holding everything from your lunch dishes to your cough lozenges. Utilize the wall space around you and make a place for all of these little things. There’s more to working at a desk than pencils, books and paper. You will probably notice that certain things always end up on your desk. Make spaces for the things that you use while you’re working. You may need space for toothpicks, lip balm, your cell phone, or your fingernail file.

Getting the kids’ rooms organized is another big problem. You can spend hours in there rearranging and organizing toys, only to see it destroyed again an hour later. You may have to put this one in your children’s hands. It can be nearly impossible to keep things straight, so you need a plan. Offer rewards for cleaning. Add five minutes of picking things up and putting them away to your child’s bedtime routine. Tell them that five minutes can earn them fifteen minutes of video game time. If you notice that they did a really good job, give them a double reward, like thirty minutes of extra time. This can be extremely motivating, much more so than threatening to take away privileges if they don’t clean up.

Getting your laundry under control can save you from many days of battling the laundry mountain. Most families can make a load of laundry every day, even if it might be a small load. Make it part of your daily routine to spend a few minutes loading and unloading the wash. Getting your closets in order can help you to keep up with the laundry without wearing yourself out.

It may help to install a hanging bar near the washer and dryer. You can take clothes straight from the dryer and put them directly on hangers. You can use a wood hanger, like a coat hanger, for hanging heavier objects, or clothing that needs to be hang dried. Take the clothes hangers to the closets in one trip every day or two.

Getting your home in order and adjusting your lifestyle can help you stay organized forever!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Gain Control with Home Organization

2010-02-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Keeping your home in order can be like a full-time job. However, you can get it done over time by spending only a few minutes each day organizing and cleaning. Set goals for yourself and schedule out times that you will spend tackling one project at a time. Following this strategy can help you to seamlessly transition from a cluttered messy house to an organized, manageable home.

Scheduling things helps you to gain control, mentally and physically, of the tasks that need completing. If you constantly feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things that must be accomplished, then this system will help you. You should only have to worry about the very next thing on your list, not a house full of chores that you never seem to have time to tackle. The mental load is lifted and things seem much more manageable.

Start by figuring out what you really have to do daily. This is usually something like laundry and dishes. You have to eat, and you have to have clothes to wear. So, put these down as your first priority. You may also want to add in other things that need to be done around your home, like get the kids’ backpacks ready for school, fix lunches, or other things that occur daily. Set certain times to do these things each day.

Example: Fold clothes and put them away at 7:45AM. Move wet clothes to the dryer and start the next load washing. Leave for work, 8:00AM.

Scheduling in this way will help you realize how little time it actually takes to accomplish the task. Don’t worry about the laundry mountain that you haven’t conquered yet, do the one load that you have scheduled and move on. You can schedule another fifteen minutes before bed if you feel behind. Don’t try to do it all at once, or you’ll get exhausted and feel pressured to finish. If you’re really motivated, go ahead. But, it will eventually get caught up and your daily routine will get easier and easier to manage.

The next thing to put on your list is your long-term goals. Is there an area of your home that just constantly gets cluttered? You may want to put it as a top priority. People usually have a flat surface, like a table, desk or countertop that just constantly piles up. Papers, mail, magazines, school work, keys, cell phones, wallets, and more can be piled in one place daily by your family. Come up with an organization system for these things so that they have somewhere specific to go.

Further down your list will come monthly chores. Organizing your closet is a great thing to put here. The first time you do it, you will probably want to schedule a full hour. Then, schedule a quick five to ten minute straighten-up session once a month after that.

Start by getting some good clothes hangers, like a wood hanger or coat hanger that is sturdy enough to hold your heaviest clothes. Specialty hangers can help you save space and keep the closet more organized. Buckets and bins can be used for smaller items, and don’t forget to use the space on the back of the closet door. Making a place for everything will make your monthly organization task simple.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Organize in a Jiffy

2010-02-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

Getting your home organized can be a quick and easy process if you follow these simple steps. Learn how to take care of problem areas, get an easy to follow system going, and keep your home organized. People that are notoriously organized usually do a little bit at a time on a regular basis.

1) Set an easy goal. Give yourself five or ten minutes to work on a problem area and see how much you can get done. Start with five minutes on the kitchen counter, then the entrance to your house, the bathroom counters, and your table tops. Next, move on to making the beds, doing one load of laundry, straightening your living room, and so on. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done in five minutes and what a difference it will make in your home and in your view of housekeeping.

2) As you go, plan on getting rid of excess junk. Carry a bag with you around the house and throw away whatever you can for ten minutes. If you do this once a week, your home will stay less cluttered and the things that you need to keep will be easier to keep up with.

3) Go to problem areas and organize them one at a time. One day you can tackle your computer desk. The next day, go for the entertainment center. Work your way around the house spending just a few minutes in each area. Designate a time or a spot each day that you will get organized. Go ahead and spend more time if you’re motivated. Otherwise, set a timer and only do the designated item for that set amount of time.

4) As you go, you’ll determine what areas are problems and ways to figure them out. You may decide to make a monthly or daily schedule for yourself so that you can keep up with the things that need to be done regularly without getting that overwhelming feeling that everything needs to be done.

5) Getting the daily tasks in order will help you stay on top of things. Laundry is a big one. If you can wash, dry, fold and put away one load of laundry each night as part of your bedtime routine, it will seem easy and like less of a hassle than normal. If you dread this job, time it and see how long it actually takes. Most people can fold a load of laundry in five to ten minutes. When you see how quickly it can be done, it seems like less of a chore.

6) Getting your closets organized will make the task of putting laundry away a lot easier. You can even use a hanging bar and hangers in the laundry area for drying and hanging clothes as they come out of the dryer. Use some sturdy clothes hangers, like a good wood hanger or coat hanger, for drying items that may be heavy as they come out. Getting your house in order will get easier and easier as you follow your schedule.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

DIY Kid Friendly Home Solutions

2010-02-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

Keeping your home in order can be especially difficult once children enter the picture. Whether you have babies or school-aged children, it translates into needing more storage, and needing to stay more organized. Keeping track of all your kids’ things is essential if you are to keep up with their lives and yours.

Start by assessing your everyday problems. Do they come home from school and immediately destroy your house with school work, coats, shoes, socks, back packs and hats? Finding ways to easily organize your kids’ things can help you to keep your house straight, cut down on frustrations and avoid losing things that you need as they’re running out the door in the morning.

Building lockers for the kids’ things can be extremely helpful. You can encourage them to use them by making them easy to access. Put them right inside the front door or mudroom, where ever they normally enter the house. Think of clever ways to make it work. For example, you can put a bench seat there for them to sit and remove their shoes. Shoe cubbies are great for drying out wet shoes and keeping them in a good place for morning.

Coat hooks, or hanging bars are essential for keeping your home decluttered. Once they throw those coats on the chair, it becomes a logical place for them to throw everything else. Encourage them to hang their coats on the hook or hanger as soon as they enter the house.

You will need another hook or large cubby for backpacks. You may decide to put another shelf there for important things like extra pens and pencils, other school supplies, their lunch money, lunch boxes, or other items that you don’t want them to forget in the morning. This little step will reduce clutter on your countertops, coffee table, end tables, and other flat surfaces in the home. Plus, it will make school mornings easier to manage and everything will have a place.

In the summer, you can use the cubbies to keep pool toys, towels, sunscreen, sports equipment, and other summer fun items organized. You are sure to find a plethora of uses for your cubby locker system.

If you have a baby in the home, having a locker system can help you keep all of those necessities organized. Extra diapers, wipes, blankets, changing pads, and clothes can be kept right by the door. Baskets can help you to disguise these items so that they don’t make the room look tacky. Diaper bags can be kept by the door so that you can grab them at a moment’s notice.

Make sure that everything coming into your house has a place. Wastebaskets, camera chargers, key hooks, and a coat closet with plenty of clothes hangers or coat hangers can help you stay organized. Make a point of having a place for everything and your life and the lives of your children will surely run more smoothly.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Home Wardrobes and Other Closet Solutions

2010-02-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

There are many closet designs for walk-in closets and reach-in closets. But sometimes it’s just not enough. A home wardrobe or “closet outside of the closet” can help you to create extra storage and give you the versatility that you need.

Keeping your closet organized becomes a lot easier if you don’t have to switch out summer and winter wardrobes. Using a stand-alone or built-in wardrobe closet can help you to do that. You can keep summer clothes in one and winter clothes in the other. Never having to move anything around eliminates your need to rearrange the closet every few months.

Changing out wardrobes for the season rarely goes as smoothly as it sounds. You will usually need to get out your winter clothes in the fall when you start needing jackets and long-sleeved shirts at night. Then you’re back to your summer clothes during the day. What this does, is it creates a need to have both wardrobes available for a few weeks. The closet gets crammed and disorganized pretty quickly.

More and more people are turning to exterior home wardrobes to take care of this problem. You can alternate between the wardrobe and your closet from season to season, like we mentioned above, or you can use the wardrobe to store your out of season clothing. By using a wardrobe instead of boxes, you keep the clothes neatly hung and folded. So, when those in-between seasons like spring and fall sneak up on you, you can simply go to the wardrobe and get what you need.

Not having boxes to deal with not only frees up storage space in your home, but also eliminates the need to wash, iron and hang everything that comes out of storage. Sometimes clothes in storage will get a musty smell. That is actually mold that you are smelling. Even if you can’t see it yet, it’s there. You can help to eliminate mold and mildew in stored clothing by using cedar sachets or other cedar products.

In a wardrobe, your clothes won’t get as musty and wrinkled. However, if the wardrobe will be closed for an entire season, you will want to use cedar products anyway, just to be safe. You can hang the clothes inside on cedar hangers to eliminate odors, protect the clothes from pests, and to eliminate moisture.

Your clothes hangers can help you to keep things from getting wrinkled and they can also help you to make the most of the space in the wardrobe or in your closet. A good wood hanger or coat hanger can help coats and suits keep their shape. Then, you can use slim hangers that are designed to save space for the rest of your clothing.

Selecting the right hangers and storage space for you is essential in keeping a closet organized. If it holds the things that you need it to hold, it can be one of your greatest assets.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

DIY Closet Techniques

2010-01-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

There are millions of ways to organize a closet. Everyone is different, owns different things, and has different needs. We can look at the different closet plans that are out there for days without seeing the same thing twice. So, if you want to organize your closet, doing it yourself is the way to go. Only you know your tastes and how you would prefer things to be stored. Use these organizational ideas to help you decide which closet storage techniques will best fit your style and your closet.

1) Baskets are very useful for most people. They hold little things, keep them organized, and eliminate the need to install drawers. Baskets, buckets, and bins are great places to keep socks, underwear, mittens, books, camera equipment, mementos, and more. They give the closet more texture and break up the monotonous look of ordinary closets. They help you to stay organized while making things look nice and neat.

2) Special compartments can be put in your closet to hold things that need somewhere to go. You may want to store a laptop, some tall boots, your manicure/pedicure supplies, your child’s schoolwork, or a multitude of other things. Creating little spaces in the closet that are designated for these things will help you to keep your whole house in order.

3) Shelves are really useful. They allow you to fold some of your clothes instead of hanging everything. You can fold sweaters and t-shirts to leave room on the hanging bar for bulkier clothes, such as coats and suits. Shelves can sometimes help you to make better use of the space in the closet and give you storage areas as well.

4) Storage is important in any closet. A high shelf that goes all the way around the closet can be really useful. You can keep luggage, out of season clothing, purses, sports equipment and more on a high shelf so that it is safely stored away.

5) Specialty racks for shoes or baseball caps can keep the clutter to a minimum. Use the back of the closet door to keep the bulk of the closet area clear. You may decide to move your hanging bar up so that you have more room underneath for shoes or laundry baskets. A tie rack, belt rack, scarf hanger, and some heavy duty hooks can help you keep your closet organized.

6) Hangers make all the difference in a closet. There’s nothing worse than having your clothes ruined by a shotty hanger. Use high quality hangers, such as a wood hanger or coat hanger. Another option is to go with some sturdy clothes hangers that maximize space. These can double or triple the space that you have on the bar!

Getting your closet organized and keeping it that way is a snap when you use the techniques that work for you and your closet.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

DIY Closet Organization Ideas

2010-01-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

Many people realize that their closet isn’t working when it gets overcrowded and disorganized. Closets that make insufficient use of space can be frustrating and overwhelming. Use these ideas to get your closet under control and your home back in order.

1) Lots of people are turning away from bulky, expensive furniture for clothes storage and vamping up their closets instead. Storing everything in drawers can cause them to become wrinkled. You have to cram things in once the drawer is full. Then, you have to rummage through, unfolding and wrinkling items in order to find what you’re looking for. Having everything out in front of you in a closet is a great way to make managing your wardrobe more efficient and effective.

2) Take a look at how you do things. Do you fold your t-shirts? Hang only button-down shirts and sweaters? Do you keep your socks in your closet? Your personal needs should be considered before you design a closet system. Using shelves is one way to make room for winter and summer clothes, so that you don’t have to switch out wardrobes when the seasons change. This can significantly cut down on the labor and storage space that it takes to swap out clothing every few months.

3) Here’s an example of a closet that holds winter and summer clothes. Start with two hanging bars on one side. This will be where all of your pants, long sleeved shirts, dresses, suits, and coats will go. On the other side of the closet, you can install all shelves. Fold and stack all of your t-shirts on one shelf. If you share a closet with someone, divide the shelf so that it can keep your shirts separate. Now, use the next shelf for shorts and sportswear. Use baskets and bins for socks, underwear, swimwear, gloves, hats, or whatever else you have that needs to be separated.

4) Continue organizing by making space for all of the little things that you keep in your closet. Use hooks for things like robes, baseball caps, and purses. Use specialty hangers for scarves, belts, ties, and skirts. Your clothes hangers can make a big difference in how much you are able to keep in your closet. A sturdy wood hanger or coat hanger should be used for heavier coats and suits. However, you can use hangers that save more space, like cascading hangers or slim hangers. With the right arrangement and the right closet accessories, you can have the organized space that you dream of!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Top DIY Projects: Storage

2010-01-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more rewarding than doing a job well and doing it yourself. Do it yourself projects have become increasingly popular over the last few years. This isn’t only because it generally costs less to do the job yourself, but because it gives you a great sense of accomplishment and pride to complete a task yourself. Not only that, but you can get away from the cookie-cutter world of manufactured products and really personalize your home.

Every family has different needs and every home is unique. One glaring problem with homes that is consistent across the board is storage. Homes are built with just a few cabinets and a few small closets. However, the amount of possessions that we have can be staggering. We don’t want everything out in the open because it makes our house look cluttered. When you can’t find places to put things, they end up in boxes or out where they can get mixed up with other things. Finding what you need and keeping your house clean can seem impossible if you don’t have enough storage space.

There are many DIY projects that can help you make the most of the space that you have. You can organize living room areas by installing some shelves. Some people even put shelves up high by the ceiling or over doors to hold books and things that they don’t use very often. Mementos and other decorative items can be kept out of children’s reach while giving the room texture and depth, much like crown moulding does.

Another place in the home that is generally lacking in storage is the kitchen. It’s not so much that the space isn’t there as it is that the space inside the cabinets is wasted. Many kitchens have blind corner cabinets where they wrap around a corner. Sometimes there is only one door to this corner, leaving a lot of the space in there empty, because you can’t see what you need in there or you simply can’t reach it. Blind corners can be conquered with sliding shelves or a lazy suzan addition. Other cabinets, especially bottom cabinets, could usually use some extra shelves or sliding drawers to utilize the space more efficiently.

The last areas of the home that need to be more efficiently designed are the closets. Closets are notorious for wasting valuable storage space in the home. There are usually a few feet unused at the top and front sides of the closet. Creating a useful and personalized design for your closet can make a huge difference. Many people choose the closet for their DIY project because it’s generally easy, incredibly useful, and really rewarding. When you’re done, make your new closet look great by investing a little in some quality clothes hangers.
Hangers really finish out the closet. A quality wood hanger or coat hanger can add a lot of style and luxury to your closet.

DIY projects that create storage can make your whole house seem more inviting and useful. Get started on yours today!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Protect Clothes in the Closet

2010-01-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

You may think that your clothes will stay clean and protected in the closet, but there are many things that can damage your clothing. Use these tips and preparations to make sure that your clothes don’t smell musty, sustain insect damage, get molded or mildewed, or get misshapen by below-par hangers. Don’t risk one of your biggest investments by leaving your wardrobe’s protection up to chance. Follow these steps to ensure their safe storage.

1) Most people will notice a musty smell on their clothes if they sit in storage for too long. This smell is actually mold growing on the clothes. Fabrics can absorb moisture from the air. When we seal them up, the moisture can grow into mold and mildew. To sidestep this problem, you should store your clothes with cedar hangers or cedar accessories. Cedar absorbs moisture and keeps clothes smelling fresh. You can use dryer sheets for freshness. Just make sure that they don’t actually touch your clothes because they can leave a waxy deposit.

2) Insect damage to clothing is more common than you might think. Most people associate moth damage with old closet full of wool clothing. However, there are many fabrics that moths can eat. It is actually your body oil that they are attracted to. If you wear a suit, sweater, dress or coat and then hang it back on the hanger, moths will be attracted to the smell. They will lay their eggs there and disappear. So, even though you may not see any moths, the larvae will be there, feeding on your clothes. Cedar helps repel moths. Having clothing cleaned before you put it back in the closet is a good idea too.

3) Many people use those old wire hangers because it’s what they got at the cleaners, or they’re trying to save space and money. However, those old hangers have edges and points that snag and tear clothes. They get all crossed up on the bar and even bend to let your heavier items end up on the floor. They also cause the shoulders of your coats and suits to lose their shape and look shabby. Investing in some nicer clothes hangers will save you money in the long run. A nice wood hanger or coat hanger will help your clothes to keep their shape. They will also help your clothes to stay slightly separated on the bar so that they don’t get wrinkled or crossed up. Sturdy clothes hangers also make your closet look spectacular. You can save space by using suit hangers or other specialty clothes hangers that allow you to hang more than one item on each hanger.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Home Organization Closets

2010-01-14T08:39:00.001-08:00

Anytime you’re looking to organize your home, the closet is a great place to start. There are a lot of options when it comes to closet organization. Depending on the space that you have and your budget, you could make great use of hooks, shelves, drawers, additional hanging bars, and cabinets. Additionally, you can create extra space or spruce up the look of your closet by investing a little in high quality hangers.

You may be surprised about what all you can do with your space, even if it is small. Closets can get crammed full and make you feel like the space is inadequate. However, if you take a few steps towards getting the junk cleared and installing some helpful additions, your closet could become a space that you are thankful to have.

Closet organization specialists strive to make the most of the available space. Vertical space is often ignored or wasted in traditional closets. You will need to empty your closet to assess the area and decide which closet arrangement will work best for you.

First you need to remove clutter and go through storage boxes. We usually need our closets to store our out of season clothing, but end up using them to store everything from tax paperwork to extra light bulbs. By clearing everything out, you’ll be able to determine just what you want to keep in the closet and what you can afford to get rid of. Finding new spaces for these extra items can be challenging, but don’t worry.

You can store out of season clothing elsewhere if you really don’t have anywhere else to keep your extra household supplies. Most people utilize the space underneath the bed to store their extra clothes. You can buy shallow, yet large, containers that fit this space perfectly. You can use bed risers to make even more hidden space in your bedroom. Other options include rolling garment racks or armoires to store extra clothing.

To utilize wasted space, consider adding another shelf up high in the closet for rarely used items. If you move your shelves upward, you might make room for an extra hanging bar. Extra bars or shelves can be installed on either side of the closet as well. Moving the bars back closer to the back wall can reveal hidden space at the front of the closet.

When you get the arrangement that you want, be selective about what you put back in. Give as much as possible to charity. If you still need to save space, invest in hangers that help you to do so. Slim or flat hangers work great. Other specialty hangers will give you special places to keep ties, belts, skirts, and lingerie. Your clothes hangers may be your greatest closet investment. A nice wood hanger makes your closet look sophisticated while adding style and longevity to your investment. Remember to use a coat hanger for your coats and suits so that they don’t get misshapen at the shoulders.

When your closet is updated to accommodate the things that you use most, you’ll be on your way to a more organized and efficient home.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Instant Closet Storage

2010-01-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

Creating closet storage is a great way to get your home organized and even add selling value to your home. Most people have things stored that they haven’t used or even looked at in years. Decluttering is the first step to organizing your closet and creating extra space for the things that you actually need to store.

Take an objective look at your closet contents and start to analyze what you actually need. Empty the closet and categorize each group of items. You can use your bed or floor to make space for the organization project. Make one group of things items that you know you need and use. You may have a lot of stuff that you know you want to keep but you realize that it is taking up too much room. Separate these things into another pile and set it aside for later.

When you’re going through your clothes and shoes, get rid of ones that you haven’t worn in a year. Shoes may be hard to get rid of, but go ahead and ditch them if they are scuffed, too tight, are out of style, or you just never seem to wear them. Clothing can go out of style so quickly that you may have lots of usable clothes that you are never in the mood to wear.

Do a little research and find a consignment shop or resale shop in your area that may want to buy these usable items from you. You may be able to sell large lots of clothes or name brand items online. Anything that doesn’t sell can be given away or donated to a charity. You may even decide to have a garage sale and use the money to update your closet storage.

You can now take a look at the pile of things that you have been storing that may not belong in the closet. Old paperwork, statements, photo albums, and sports equipment can be kept elsewhere. Go through those old boxes and be selective about what you keep. You may want to invest in a bookshelf for books, files, and photos. Other things can be kept in the attic, garage, or basement, freeing up lots of storage space in your closet.

The next step is to develop a closet system that accommodates what you have left. Consider little space saving options that will actually give you more room than you need. For example, if you move your hanging bar up, you may have room for a double shoe rack underneath, instead of a single one, doubling your shoe storage. You can install wire shelving that allows you to hang clothing from anywhere. You can double up your hanging space and shelf space by using a simple closet system that utilizes vertical space and the depth of your closet.

Update the closet with hooks for robes, purses, and tote bags. Install a hat rack, use scarf, belt, and tie hangers. Make a place for everything. You can even use clothes hangers that save space by allowing you to hang multiple items on each hanger. Use a nice wood hanger or coat hanger for nicer clothes that need to keep their shape at the shoulders. When your closet is organized and has more usable storage space, you can store your out of season clothing with ease, making it easier to stay organized once you get that way.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Closet Design Ideas

2009-12-31T13:25:00.000-08:00

Cluttered closets can really start to weigh on you. With all the options available today, there is bound to be a closet design that will work for you. Whether you have a walk-in or a reach-in closet, you can use your imagination to create the closet of your dreams. Custom closets are all the rage. With a little creativity, you can create your own custom closet design that meets your needs.

Walk-in closets are really the easiest to tackle. You have the space that you need to utilize drawers, shelves, bars and racks. Take advantage of the space that you have by designing a usable closet that accommodates your specific needs.

Start with your most basic need. Would you like your dress clothes, work wardrobe, and casual clothes separated? Or would you rather have a his and hers set-up? You can actually combine these options and organize each side of the closet separately. You can use the back wall of a walk-in closet for shoes, shelves, cabinets, laundry or basic storage.

A reach-in closet is more challenging, but can actually offer as much space as a walk-in closet. You’ll need to utilize the vertical space and the depth that you have available. Too many reach-in closets have shelves and bars positioned in the center of the closet. If you move them back, you can reveal a lot of space towards the front of the closet. Many people choose to install shelving or side bars in these areas. You can give yourself a lot of storage space in an area that you didn’t even consider a possibility before.

Vertical space is also often ignored. Moving the top shelf up higher will allow you to add extra shelves or even extra bars underneath. You can divide bars of clothes with a shelf containing shallow drawers. They only take up inches of space, but give you tons of storage for smaller items like jewelry, socks, underwear, stockings, ties and belts.

Whichever type of closet you have, you can always add hooks, bins and baskets to help keep things organized. If you’re still low on space, consider clothes hangers that have special purposes. Skirt hangers, cascading hangers, and scarf hangers can save you tons of room. You can further upgrade your closet by selecting a nice wood hanger that comes in a lot of different styles to accommodate your wardrobe. A sturdy coat hanger can be used for suits, coats, robes, or any other heavy items that need to be hung. You’ll be surprised how much space you can make by simply rearranging shelves and updating your hangers!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.