How to Store Just About Anything in Your Closet

Chances are, you think you know how to store your clothing. Hang it up or fold it, easy peasy, right? Actually, many of us are storing our clothing and accessories improperly. While you may think it doesn’t matter, the truth is that it does: If you’re not storing things correctly, your items are at risk for damage. Even if they’re not getting damaged, they might be more likely to be wrinkled and unwearable without being ironed (or, at the very least, tossed in the dryer for a few minutes). Here’s your quick guide to storing your clothing and accessories the right way to help them live a good, long life.

When I was a child, I was admonished when I didn’t hang my sweaters neatly in the closet. Did you know, however, that you should never hang sweaters or other knits? This stretches them out and can cause fraying in the shoulders, even if you use padded hangers. Instead, fold them neatly and stack them in drawers or on a shelf.

How many of the ladies here hang their purses by their straps, either on hooks or on a spare hanger? This stresses the spot where the straps attach to the body of the purse. The best way to store purses is to loosely stuff them with tissue paper and to sit them on a shelf. The top shelf in your closet is a good place to keep them. You could also keep them behind the doors of an armoire or glass cabinets to keep them dust-free.

Keeping ties wrinkle- and tangle-free is easy when you use a dedicated tie rack. Simply loop the ties over the rack and they’ll always be there when you need them. If you don’t have the closet space for such a rack, you can store them in drawers, but don’t fold them; instead, roll them up loosely. This will keep the wrinkles at bay.

Buckling them and tossing them over a hanger is one way to end up with misshapen belts. Not only that, but it doesn’t look neat and they’re likely to end up on the floor of your closet. Instead, have a hook installed and hang them by their metal buckles or rings. Alternatively, you can do the same with them as you would with your ties and roll them to store in a drawer.

Many of us wait until the last minute to choose what to wear, so our morning routine is disrupted by standing in front of the closet in a towel, looking for the shirt that goes with that skirt, or not being able to find the shoes that we bought especially for the outfit that we’re hoping to wear. Instead of leaving these decisions to your coffee-deprived early mornings, set out the next day’s outfit the day before. Put together everything from undergarments and hosiery, to shoes and accessories, and place it with the clothing that you plan to wear. Hanging it on a valet rod in your closet or on a hook on the back of the bathroom door (while it’s still on the hanger) is a great way to keep it easily at hand and simple to locate, even with bleary eyes.