It’s March already, which means that we are so, so close to finally getting to spring — and for many of us, it means we’re just about ready to dig in to some good old-fashioned spring cleaning. It must be biological, because every year at this time, without fail, we get that creeping feeling that we need to organize all the things. Luckily, many of us spent this past winter binging Get Organized With The Home Edit on Netflix and became BFFs with founders Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin.
Clea and Joanna are our new cleaning hack heroes — and for good reason. Have a cluttered closet? Clea and Joanna have a system for that. Can’t stand the pantry? Don’t worry, a turntable is the solution to getting all of the loose odds and ends organized. And what about the playroom? Well, don’t worry, The Home Edit team has a plan for that, too. We decided to compile some of the best tips from The Home Edit and now we all can go into spring cleaning with a better, more organized plan.
Store Those Boots
Tall boots can be such a hassle to store, but the hack for keeping them in tip-top shape is using boots inserts to prevent them from slouching. Another tip: Put them in clear, stackable bins if laid flat.
Optimize Space in Kids' Closets
There is a true benefit to those teeny, tiny baby clothes — besides the fact that they are super cute. Small clothes mean more closet space, which means that there’s more room for baskets and bins to store odds and ends.
Label Everything
A big part of Clea and Joanna’s methods are to label your baskets and bins so there's a clear system in place. It doesn’t matter what that system is. All that matters is that things are sorted and put in their right place.
Containers, Containers, Containers
For all those loose toys that just seem to constantly be scattered all over the carpet, containers are a busy mom’s best friend. Sort toys by size and then label each container before tucking them away and off the floor.
Usable Space
Yes, we all love bulk warehouse shopping, but the problem is where to put all those rolls of toilet paper? The ladies recommend looking above and below your shelving for extra space.
The Cleaning Zone
Part of organization is giving everything a place to live. Meaning, when grouping toys, blocks go with blocks, play pretend clothes go with play pretend clothes, and stuffed animals go with stuffed animals. Pretty simple, right?
Get Granular
So we talked about the big systems — pairing like things with like — but small systems matter, too. The fridge is the perfect example of a small space that gets a huge benefit from plastic bins and dividers.
Size Matters
Another note about systems — store things based on size! And then take those items and store them in the proper container. This is good advice for those itty bitty toys parts that need to go somewhere.
Label, Label, Label
Now that things have been sorted, we need to know where to find them. It might sound obvious, but labeling bins and containers is the only way to remember what’s what.
ROYGBIV
Still struggling on how to organize things like cleaning supplies or the pantry? Why not allow color to be the guide? Just organize by the colors of the rainbow that will also give any space some pop.
Seasonal Swaps
If closet space seems to be an issue and things are bursting at the seams, the ladies of The Home Edit suggest finding storage containers where clothes can be tucked away when they are not in season.
Turn It Around
Anyone who’s seen the Netflix show knows that these ladies have one true love — turntables. That’s because turntables not only allow for things like spices or jars to be stored more easily, but they also provide easy access.
Moving On Up
Kids grow like weeds, but parents might not be ready to toss their teeny tiny baby clothes the second they grow out of them. If that’s the case, the ladies suggest containers that are labeled with both past and future age ranges — after all, one never know when they’ll need hand-me-downs.
Doors
When in doubt, head to the door. Doors are sneaky ways to add extra storage space in tight spaces like closets and pantries. An over-the-door storage system means no extra bulk either.
Risers FTW
Clear plastic containers aren’t for everyone, but storing shoes is a must, no matter what. Instead of messy shoe racks, try risers, which can still help keep things organized but are less bulky and can keep things more streamlined.
Stick to the Shelves
If plastic containers don’t work in the space, then at least make sure to label shelves based on season or zones. There are so many cute and simple ways to do this — just make sure to use good handwriting.
Keep Drawers De-Cluttered
Everyone has a drawer in their house that they’d never show another living soul — but an expandable drawer divider can help keep things orderly. No more looking for that lost pizza cutter again.
Matchy-Matchy
When working on a closet, the easiest way to make things look pulled together is to make things match. Color coordinate hangers and storage containers or buy all storage containers in the same style.
Out of Sight
Keep those odds and ends up, up, and away by storing them on the highest shelving. This includes things that aren’t in use everyday or anything that’s out of season — or anything that is on display.
Set It Up
We’ve talked about systems, but what is the right way to organize a pantry? According to Cleo and Joanna, six starter zones are breakfast, dinner, snacks, sweets, cooking, and baking — but the possibilities are endless.
