How to Organize a Springtime Clothing Rotation

Spring arrives on Wednesday, March 20. Is your closet ready for warmer weather?

Below are some tips to help you streamline your springtime clothing rotation:

Make time. Rotating your wardrobe is not a five-minute chore—switching out a seasonal wardrobe can be downright exhausting! Where possible, schedule an uninterrupted period of time to complete your clothing rotation or schedule a few hours over the course of several consecutive days.

Prepare a workspace. Identify a clear, flat surface or area to help you organize, sort and fold clothes. A freshly made bed, dresser or countertop will suffice. Clear a path to your closet, dresser and bedroom door by temporarily relocating non-clothing materials or items. You'll be busy sorting, prepping, packing and moving items and will want easy access to your clothes.

Identify an off-season storage area. Take a quick tour around your home and identify areas where you can store clothing off-season such as the attic, basement, spare room, closet or garage. The area should be easily accessible, but not in the direct line of your everyday activities. If you already have a dedicated storage space for off-season clothing, check to see that everything is in shipshape form and pull out your spring/summer clothes for rotation.

Gather storage containers. Proper storage containers are key when storing off-season clothing. Look for containers that can keep moisture, dirt, dust, bugs, fuzz and other undesirables out of your clothing. Large plastic containers and airtight zippered bags work well; sturdy garbage bags work well in a pinch too.

Tackle your wardrobe.

Start drawer by drawer in a dresser or from one direction in a closet to easily gauge your progress.

Sort items into one of the following piles: clothing ready for storage; clothing that needs to be washed, dry cleaned or mended (zippers, buttons, hemlines, etc.); clothing to give away.

Prepare clothing ready for storage:

Start placing winter/fall items into storage container(s). Keep similar items together (T-shirts with T-shirts, pants with pants, belts with belts). Fold or roll clothing to save storage space.

If you already have spring/summer clothing in containers, remove the items from these containers, set them aside on your workspace and place your autumn/winter clothes in the containers.

Start placing spring/summer items into your closet or dressers.

Repeat as necessary until you fill up all storage containers and your closet; place containers in dead storage.

Prepare clothing to be washed, dry cleaned or mended:
Set aside a spare storage container for items that will be washed, dry cleaned or mended.

Do a load of laundry and/or go to the dry cleaners. Mend clothing yourself or take it to a tailor.

Once everything is ready, pack up items in your designated container. Place the container into dead storage.

Prepare clothing to give away:
Set aside a give-away bag, container or box and fill up with clothes. Do a load of laundry, place items back into the container and donate.

Rashelle Isip is a blogger, time management and productivity consultant and professional organizer. She is founder of The Order Expert, a site featuring practical and creative organizing, time management, productivity tips, inspiration and much more. For more information visit: www.theorderexpert.com.