GET ORGANIZED

By Esti Ostrovitsky

Pesach is coming! I know, I know – it’s only January. But with all these long winter days, it’s the perfect time of year to begin the process of decluttering. I don’t know about you, but when I want to clean, the job is quick and painless when it’s an organized space. If you find yourself with a half-hour or hour to spare, use the time to tackle small areas. I’m excited to bring you a three-part series that will help you get things under control in ways that won’t overwhelm you. In this first part, we’ll start with the bedroom, bathroom, and linen closets. Closets are a great place to start because they can stay organized more easily than other areas of the house, and chametz is less likely to find its way into them. I’ve broken things down into small steps and helpful tips to keep things simple and easy. With a few minutes here and there, your house can be transformed! 

To keep things quick, you can focus on just one shelf or one section at a time. 

THE BEDROOM CLOSET 

Ask yourself: 

Do I love it?

Do I wear it?

Does it fit?

Is it comfortable?

Is it in good condition?

ACESSORIES

Try to keep the jewelry in categories so they don’t get tangled and so they’ll be easy to find. If you own a lot of bags, you can place them one into the other with the handles sticking out or on a shelf with vertical dividers.

CREATE EXTRA SPACE

If you are short on space you may want to utilize the closet door for shoe storage or hooks for belts, scarves, ties, or accessories.

SHOES

Use shelf racks or keep in labeled boxes on the floor.

HANGING CLOTHES

Hang by season, length, and color. Use slim hangers to maximize your space.

SHELVES

Keep the items you use most often at eye level. This may take advance planning, but bins make a big difference. Measure your shelves to make sure you are purchasing the correct size. 

DRESSER DRAWERS

To keep your clothes neat and tidy, use drawer dividers and file fold (vertically) based on categories and colors.

NIGHTSTAND 

Try to keep the bare minimum in the top drawer. Keep the things you need in small clear trays so they are visible, easily accessible, and easy to put back. 

THE BATHROOM 

Ask yourself: 

Do I still use/need it? 

Is it past the expiration date? 

Does it belong in the bathroom? 

 Get rid of expired items and items you no longer need.

Group like with like: first aid, oral care, hair products, eye care. Put everything back in categories so it will be easy to find and replace.

Relocate the stuff that belongs in other places in the house.

THE LINEN CLOSET 

Ask yourself: 

Do I use it? 

Is it in good condition? 

Wipe down each shelf before replacing the items.

Place back on shelves in piles or bins, depending on the space available in your closet.

Separate by category and color. 

You can place the sheet and duvet cover in the pillowcase to keep the set together or in a regular pile or a bin.

If you don’t have a linen closet the file folding method (folding the items vertically) will work in drawers to keep your linen organized.

Keep extra blankets in vacuum-sealed bags to maximize space. 

Extra toiletries can be kept in this closet in closed bins.

If you’re overwhelmed or need a helping hand please feel free to reach out to me @easyorganizingbyesti!