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Maximize space for sheets, towels, and toiletries with these DIY hacks
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Are you tired of sorting through the clutter to find something every time you open your linen closet? While it's the perfect place for your bedding and bathroom supplies, taking the time to straighten it out will make it so much easier to access all of your items. If you’re ready to start tidying up your linen closet, you're in the right place. Keep reading for tons of helpful tips and tricks for arranging all of your supplies so your linen closet looks clean and aesthetically pleasing.

Things You Should Know

1

Toss out what you don’t want or need.

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  1. Start by taking everything out of your linen closet so you can see everything you’re storing inside it. Sort through any medications or toiletries, and throw away all of the ones past their expiration dates. Then, if you notice any ratty, scratchy, or old towels or linens you don’t use anymore, get rid of them so they aren’t taking up space in your closet. [1]
    • It’s a good idea to keep about 2–3 towels per person and an extra set just in case a guest stays over. Save at least 2 sets of sheets for your bed so you can cycle through them too.
    • Try to replace your towels every 2 years so they stay soft and absorbent. [2]
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2

Clean your shelves.

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  1. Start by vacuuming your shelves with a hose attachment to pick up any loose debris. Focus on the corners of your closet where dust builds up the most. Then, spray an all-purpose cleaner right onto your shelves and wipe them dry with a soft microfiber cloth to remove stubborn dirt. [3]
    • If you don’t have an all-purpose cleaner at home, just make your own by filling a spray bottle with warm tap water and adding a few drops of dish soap.
    • Want a pop of color on your shelves while protecting your items? Add liner paper to prevent wood or laminate from discoloring your sheets or towels. Attach the paper by peeling off the adhesive backing and pressing the sheet flat on the surface. [4]
4

Tuck sheets inside your pillowcases.

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6

Condense bulky bedding into vacuum bags.

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  1. Suck the air out of vacuum bags so they fit in tight places. If you have a comforter, duvet, or bulky blanket you aren’t using very often, place them into a vacuum space-saver bag . Attach your vacuum to the bag and suck out all the air from inside. That way, it’ll take up a fraction of the space when you organize your linen closet. [8]
    • If you don’t have space-saver bags, use the largest resealable bag you can find. Stick the end of your vacuum hose in the opening and seal the bag as much as possible. Turn on your vacuum to suck out as much air as possible before pulling out the hose and sealing the bag completely.
8

Sort similar items into bins or baskets.

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  1. Keep your shelves looking clean with storage bins and baskets . Look for decorative baskets or plastic storage bins that are large enough to hold all of your items. Separate your items into individual containers so you have one for towels, bed linens, cleaning supplies, medications, and whatever else you’re storing inside your closet. [10]
    • Try to get bins or baskets that match or have complementary colors since clashing designs may make your closet look messier than it actually is.
    • Choose a variety of sizes for your containers. Save larger baskets for bulky towels or bedding and smaller bins for pill bottles or toiletries.
13

Hang a door organizer.

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  1. Take advantage of the empty door space with a hanging organizers . Open your linen closet and hang the organizer on the inside of the door. Use the individual compartments in the organizer for bottles of cleaners, sponges, rags, small toiletries, and anything else that doesn’t fit onto your shelves. [15]
    • Try closing your closet door after putting the organizer up to make sure it shuts tightly. If the organizer bumps against your shelves and keeps the door open, then an organizer may not work.
    • Look for a door organizer specifically made to hold an iron and ironing board if you want to hide your laundry supplies inside.
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14

Hide items you don’t use in the back.

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  1. If you have items that you only bring out at certain times of the year, like holiday decorations, flannel sheets, or spare comforters, place them on a high shelf so they’re out of sight. If you have deep shelves in your linen closet, put those items back first so you’re able to stack items you use more often in the front. [16]
    • If you have multiples of the same item, place the newest ones in the back of your closet so you use the older ones before they expire or go bad.
15

Store what you use the most in front.

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  1. You’ll usually need items like medications, lotions, hand towels, and toilet paper more often, so keep them near the front edges of your shelves at a height that’s easy to reach. That way, you won’t have to dig through your linen closet to find them. [17]
    • If you find yourself using an item frequently but it’s stored at the back of the shelf, reposition it to the front. Then, move an item you haven’t used as much to the back to fill in the gap.
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17

Label your items.

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  1. Pull out a label maker and type out all of the items that are in a bin or specific storage area in your closet. Print out the label and attach it directly to the storage bin or on the edge of the shelf. That way, you’ll be able to see where everything is stored at a glance. [19]
    • Example : If you have a bin with medicine and bandages, your label may read “First Aid” or “Pain Relief/Allergy Meds/Bandages.”
    • When you make labels for sets of bed sheets, make sure to include their sizes like “Queen” or “Twin.”
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      Tips

      • Try to organize or declutter your linen closet once or twice a year so it never gets too out of hand.
      • Don’t hurry to buy baskets and organizers before you get rid of things you don’t need and can see clearly what exactly you need to organize. Oftentimes, you will be able to repurpose for storage some items that you already have.


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