How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro (2024)

How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro (1)

It's funny how things work out. You invest in expensive cleaning gadgets, collect every product that promises to eliminate all traces of dirt and grime, and hoard every tool from scrubbing brushes to microfiber towels, all in an effort to keep your home spic and span. But, turns out, you inadvertently end up with a super cluttered cleaning closet.

A clean and organized home starts with your utility closet. Jamie Hord, the founder ofHorderly,shares with us that, "Organizing your cleaning and utility closet is ideal for making your weekly, monthly, and seasonal cleaning routines more manageable."

She adds that having an organized space not only makes these tasks easier, but saves you time in the long run. Ahead are her best tips for keeping your cleaning closet, well, clean.

Meet the Expert

Jamie Hord is the co-founder ofHorderly, a team of expert organizers based in New York. Their services include everything from organizing offices to bringing order to every room in the home.

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Declutter

How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro (2)


You can't organize a room or closet until you've at least gotten your stash under control. "Before organizing your space, review what you have," Hord says. "Take all items out of drawers and cabinets and decide what to keep, toss, or donate."

Separate your things into clear piles or boxes, and remove 'toss' and 'donate' items from your workspace before moving on to the next step.

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Check Expiration Dates

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Yes, cleaning products have expiration dates, just like the items in your pantry. "Cleaning products lose potency and lose effectiveness after a while, so check expiration dates on all of your items before putting them away," Hord says.

She also suggests tossing anything expired (after checking labels for safe disposal) and adding replacements to your grocery shopping list if you need to more.

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Pair Like Items

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Hord tells us the best way to store items is by category. For instance, if storage and layout options allow, store bathroom cleaning products in one bin, kitchen cleaning in another, and laundry detergents and liquids in another.

Grouping items this way makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. Plus, it saves so much time when you can grab a single container that has everything you need together when you need to clean a specific room.

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Use Clear Bins

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Clear bins not only look nice and uniform in a closet, but they work wonders for separating and containing items. "Clear bins make it easier for you to find what you're looking for and take inventory of what you need to replace," Hord says. There's nothing worse than mustering up the energy to clean, only to realize you're all out of your favorite cleaning solution, right?

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Use the Back of the Door

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We allknowthe back-of-the-door trick, but few of us actually utilize this space. Hord agrees this is the perfect place to hang taller, more compact items like brooms or mops.

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Use Broom Hooks

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Hord admits that tall brooms and mops are sometimes awkward to store, so she recommends picking up a broom holder stat.

"Broom hooks are a great option (especially for renters) who want to get their brooms and mops off the floor and keep them tidy," she says.

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Use Lazy Susans

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We love a lazy Susan, but truthfully, we've only used them in the kitchen space. However, Hord tells us they're actually perfect for very low cabinets or eye-level cabinets in your utility closet.

"The spinning function allows you to swipe to find what you need versus digging in the back of cabinets to reach a specific product," she notes. Now we get why they call it a lazy Susan.

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Add Shelving

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A cleaning or utility closet most often looks like an empty box. You'd be surprised what some shelving could do for your cleaning stash, and the best part is this can be as affordable or as custom as you want.

Invest in built-in shelves or slide in a cubby-style cabinet to house all your best supplies.

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Schedule Regular Maintenance

How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro (10)

As much as we'd like for the cleaning closet to magically remain clean at all times, the truth is, just like any other room in your home, this space requires regular cleaning too. Hord recommends reviewing your products to check for newly-expired items or taking inventory of what's running low at least once every month.

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Label Everything

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While this may seem time-consuming, labels will make a huge difference in time management down the road. "Once you decide where your products and utility items will be living, label each drawer, cabinet, or getbin clip labelsto mark everything," Hord says.

This doesn't just make you personally accountable (think of it as a hand-written guilt trip) when you try to shove things in places they don't belong; it also makes it easy for the whole family to find what they're looking for easily—and of course, put it back in its proper place.

15 Linen Closet Organization Ideas That Will Declutter Your Life

How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro (2024)

FAQs

How to Eliminate Clutter from Your Cleaning Closet, According to a Pro? ›

A: The most efficient way to organize a closet is to pull everything out; sort items into specific categories; declutter what you don't use, need, or want; and then put everything back in a way that allows you to find what you're looking for quickly and easily.

How to make a closet look less cluttered? ›

A: The most efficient way to organize a closet is to pull everything out; sort items into specific categories; declutter what you don't use, need, or want; and then put everything back in a way that allows you to find what you're looking for quickly and easily.

How do professionals organize their closet? ›

Once your bins and baskets are neatly arranged in your closet, take your organization one step further and label everything clearly. “While we don't often label our shoe shelves, we do often label storage bins and drawers. It's immensely helpful so all people in the home know where things belong,” says Maiocco.

How does Marie Kondo organize her closet? ›

The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.

What is the declutter rule for clothes? ›

Use the "one in, one out" rule: Once you've decluttered, commit to only bringing new items into your closet when you're willing to get rid of something else. Remember, being ruthless doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything. Keep the items that you truly love and wear, and let go of the rest. Happy decluttering!

What is the 2 minute cleaning rule? ›

In a nutshell, this rule states that if you face a task that can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately rather than postponing it or adding it to your to-do list.

What is the 5 minute cleaning rule? ›

What is the 5-minute cleaning rule? The 5-minute cleaning rule is a strategy that involves dedicating 5 minutes of every hour to cleaning.

What is the rule of 3 for cleaning closets? ›

I combat those thoughts by enacting a rule that is resolute—meaning that if a piece of clothing doesn't fit the rule, it's out. No questions. I call it the “Rule of 3," and the guideline goes as follows: If I cannot visually imagine how I would realistically wear the clothing piece in three ways, it's out.

What is the core 4 method of decluttering? ›

The Core 4 Organizing Method, created by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly, breaks down the daunting task of decluttering and organizing into 4 simple steps: Clear Out, Categorize, Cut Out, and Contain.

What is the golden rule of decluttering? ›

Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.

What is the 20 minute declutter method? ›

The 20-Minute Rule is a decluttering method that involves dedicating just 20 minutes each day to organizing and clearing out clutter. This approach breaks down the overwhelming task of decluttering into manageable, daily chunks to make it less intimidating and more achievable.

How do I organize my housekeeping closet? ›

Space-Efficient Cleaning Closet

Arrange items like a collapsible bucket, a folding stool, and a floor sweeper on the inside of your cabinet door, then hang low-profile hooks to hold each item. Store supplies like mop pads and cleaning solutions on nearby shelves to make everything easy to retrieve.

How often should you declutter your closet? ›

As a general rule, regular decluttering typically involves a major declutter done twice a year. HOW DO YOU DECLUTTER? Many individuals fear the chore of decluttering. They will occasionally postpone until they run out of open storage space and their house is in disarray.

How do you organize an overwhelming closet? ›

Think vertical. Canvas organizers work well as instant hanging shelves to house everything, from sweaters to purses. Small baskets slotted into the compartments can store scarves and socks. Use vertical skirt hangers with clips that hold five or six skirts, as well as tiered shirt hangers that hold several at once.

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