CLOSET CLEANSE

As the general population shelters to help mitigate the coronavirus spread, some are bonding with family or reading a good book or starting a new TV series. Me? I’m doing all the above and kicking off the spring season with a major closet clean! If you’re on the same page as me, I’ve got a few tips that go beyond just the usual techniques of getting your space in tip-top shape. So take a break from fighting germs (I’m loving elizabeth W’s new clean hand spray and Cabinet’s instant hand cleaner as sanitary indulgences, by the way!) and start creating a healthy haven in your home. 

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Disinfect and Sanitize -- There's no time like the present to really get in there and clean every single crevice of your closet. Start by removing every single item in your closet. Give the space a good dusting and then use a cleaning product to make it sparkle. Wipe down the hanging racks (you’re going to be surprised by how dirty those are!). If you have carpet, be sure to vacuum. I would normally recommend starting here; but, given the current state of the coronavirus, this initial step feels more important than ever. 

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Purge -- Before you place items back into your beautiful new dressing room, take the time to purge. We accumulate so many “things” over time and it’s important to take stock of what pieces you’re actually using and enjoying versus what’s cluttering your closet and your mind, and taking up valuable space. Evaluate each and every piece and ask yourself if you’ve worn it in the past year, if it fits, and if it’s still in style. If the answer to any of these is “no” it’s time to send it packing with coronavirus. Make two piles: one for selling (try Tradesy and The RealReal for designer duds) and one for donating to Goodwill or another organization you like. Giving your items a little extra room will be a breath of fresh air every time you go to get dressed!

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Sort  -- Now, as you start to place pieces back into your closet, think about an organization system that’s really going to work for your lifestyle. Some ways to sort are by garment type, color, occasion or season. Arrange your closet in a way that is logical to you and how you live your life. This is the perfect time to take care of those items that need to be washed, dry-cleaned, or tailored. Don’t put anything back into your closet that isn’t ready to wear! Wipe down your bags and shoes to remove any lingering dust, debris, or germs, to ensure that this newly sorted space is a healthy place for you to be! 

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Storage Solutions -- Properly and systematically storing pieces is one of my favorite secret weapons. Nothing feels better than when everything has its perfect place! Invest in items like storage boxes to hold off-season garments, acrylic trays to sort jewelry and sunglasses and drawer inserts to separate items like socks and undergarments. Creating separation between items in your closet in this way not only helps to protect against unwanted scrapes and scuffs, but also against the transfer of dirt and germs from one item to the next!

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New Age Additions -- If you’re ready to take your closet to the next level, but aren’t quite ready for a fully custom dressing room, there are some exciting new, state-of-the-art products on the market I'm recommending to clients. The Samsung AirDresser, which launched earlier this year, could be the wave of the future. The sleek machine removes odors and wrinkles, offering an unprecedented at-home laundry solution that doesn’t involve washing! Another revolutionary product is a UV sanitizing light.  I’m working with clients to build these into a charging drawer to sanitize electronics while they power up. Talk about products we never knew we really needed until now!

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Happy, healthy cleaning!