There it is, all neatly stacked, shelved, contained, organized and at your fingertips. Behold the contents of the utility closet of your dreams. No longer just a dream, but very real and all yours. Does this sound too good to be true?
Whether you have a built-in utility closet or a freestanding unit, perfection is often sought, but is quite elusive. Just one worn mop head or a messy pile of questionably clean work rags and sticky rubber gloves with the handle of a mystery brush sticking out can zero out a utility closet’s usefulness.
If the thought of searching for something in your utility closet makes you want to do anything except clean, review this list of tips and ideas and schedule a quick hour or two to renew the fond friendship you once had with one of your home’s hardest working small spaces.
Take it out. Take it ALL out – Like any organizing project worth its time, the best start is a fresh start. Take everything out of your utility closet and make the classic three piles: keep, donate and discard. Keep a notepad and pen handy so you can make a list of the things you need to replace. If you do not use an item because it is too worn for effective cleaning, you should definitely plan to replace it.
This old rag? – How many work rags do you really use in a week? Many families generate a lot of rags, but you can only use so many and the extras are taking up valuable space. Many thrift stores accept clean rags, so put those in the donate pile. If the rag is terribly stained, just toss it out.
Toxic is as toxic does – Maybe you don’t have time to create your own cleaning solutions, but if you do, simply reach for vinegar, borax and baking soda as a start to all your cleaning needs. Those three bases can create window washing solution, a surface cleaner, a toilet bowl cleaner and more. If your current cleaning supplies do not do double (or triple duty) and you have more than three or four containers in your utility closet, you probably have too many products. And product that is not used up in a reasonable amount of time can become very toxic. Sort through your supplies and safely discard (contact your local waste management district for guidelines) any that have not been used recently.
Ask a pro. – At Garage Décor and More, we organize and stylize much more than garages! Your utility closet can be transformed into a sleek, systematic, cleaning command center. With quality products and expert design and installation, efficiency will take center stage while clutter gets cut from the cast. No space is too small or too large. If it is important to you, it is important to us.
For more tips on organizing your home and implementing smart storage solutions, check out the other articles on our blog. If you would like professional help with your organization projects, contact Garage Décor and More for a FREE consultation, or call 618-789-7969.