I've managed to accomplish the nearly (or not so nearly) impossible task of cleaning out my linen closet. This project started when I was awed by the pristine sight of my DIL's closet in her Dallas home. She claims it was just recently organized, but even that is a failed feat for me. Cleaning and keeping clean usually lasts about 2 hours before the old flotsam and jetsam start creeping back into my life.
OK - from the beginning - This is the only major closet designated for linens that came with the house. I have found other storage areas that would boggle your mind, but this is the first place someone would look for the towels, sheets and other Martha Stewart stuff a home is supposed to have. Well, the mother of all invention managed to cram all sorts of things into this little space and now was the time to find out what's really a can't live without and what's just a wannabe.
First, everything was pulled out - and it was no surprise to find that I had enough Ace bandages, heating pads and boxes of bandaids and antibiotic ointments to supply the local hospital. My husband is an enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer and the bathroom is the ER of the house. Next came the full sized sewing machine and all sorts of basic pillows etc. that will someday be used in a room make-over project. I also found spare curling irons and hairdryers (designated as back-ups to a completely necessary pull-together effort) and also jars and tubes of disliked gels, sprays and other girly things. The top shelf was kept for table linens and placemats, napkins and tea towels. But the real puzzler was how I managed to cram in layers of serving dishes and trays - each one having to be removed in order to use the one underneath it. (The top one is never the one you want!) I put all of these in the adjoining bedroom and began the cleaning process. Next, what stays and what goes...decision time of the greatest magnitude. Linens stay, of course, and also the ER equipment (in an emergency you don't want to take a memory test as to where things went - at least not in my house. I mean really, do you know how many special needs bandaid products are out there?) The sewing machine looked like a keeper because there literally is no place left in the house large enough to store it, especially in lieu of the fact that it is the third machine I own and used only for upholstery projects, of which I have none. I parted with the extra hair products, electrical and gooey, since I'm moving toward the more natural look but the table linens and Martha things did deserve their own shelf, so they got the nods up.
From there, it just became a matter of putting everything back into its new place. Did I mention that this closet is only 30" wide with 4 shelves? No problem - (my old husband used to say that I could hide anything as long as it went someplace with a door on it...Did I also mention that he wasn't much fun?)
Well, it's done and I only wish I could send a picture along with this article because Martha S. would be so impressed - assuming she admits to reading by blog. Take my word for it, this closet is a thing of beauty and it has been this way for a week. I feel as if my work here on earth is finished - except -
All of the things no longer being stored in the linen closet are now resting under my bed, sewing project supplies and faux crystal serving pieces. It's like sleeping in Macy's inventory basement at night! So, my next project.....