Clean the Storage Spaces with Me!

You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her Podcast

A real estate broker asked a young woman if she was thinking about buying a house. 

“Why would I need a house?” she answered. “I was born in a hospital, educated in a college, courted in a car, married in a church. I eat my meals in restaurants and spend my evening in the movies. When I die, I’ll be buried from a mortuary. I don’t need a house; all I need is a garage.” 

To that I would answer – Oh, but a home is a haven from this world where we foster love for God and people. It’s where we are nourished, rested and strengthened to go back into the world. All that is made easier and more welcoming in a home that is clean and organized. 

This is episode five in our Clean with Me series. We’ve hit most all the main rooms of the house – the bathroom, bedroom, living room, and kitchen. How’s it going for you? Remember, we’re not out for perfection, but progress! Keep at it, and little by little you will get there! 

There are still two areas that need our attention. The one we’ll address today is our storage spaces. That could mean closets or attics or any other place that might be “hidden” from view, but has gotten crowded or out of control! 

Let’s discuss three things:

1. Easy Tips to organize a closet  

2. My favorite tools to help calm the clutter in storage areas 

3. How to KEEP it clean! 

The starting point for your hidden spaces is to snap a picture of it exactly as it is. It’s embarrassing how bad some of my storage spaces had gotten! But I’m equally happy about the end result! 

Here’s what you need to get started: 

1. Three bags – throw away, give away and keep. More than any other room, I needed my these! 

2. Vacuum/mop depending on the flooring 

3. Dusting rag 

1. Either remove everything from the closet at once, or at least one shelf/rack at a time.  

2. Sift through and put each item in those bags.  

1. Get serious about asking yourself if you’ve used each of those possessions in the last year. My coat closet was full. I went through and removed coats that were only worn a couple of times this past year. If I have another suitable one for that temperature, I don’t need two. 

2. Purge, purge, purge. It’s so good to have extra space on those shelves or racks! 

3. Dust the shelves in the closet and also the walls and corners. 

4. Vacuum/Mop the floor 

5. Only put back what truly should be in that closet. 

1. If you’re hanging things in a closet, one way to make it look more organized is to use the same color/type of hangers. In clothes closets, put like-colored clothing together. 

2. Bins are helpful for corraling small items like mittens, or purses. In a child’s room or toy closet, use a different bin (but use the same color for a cohesive look) for each type of toy. Legos, Puzzles, Games, etc. 
   I read a sign that said, “My house isn’t  messy, it’s custom designed by a three year old! When we have many people sharing our homes, it can be difficult to keep it like we wish, but it is possible to keep things in order. Giving everything a home is the best way to do that. Training your children to put away the item they’re playing with before they take out something else, is going to be so helpful to them in the long run. As the woman in the home, we need to set the example by doing the same thing ourselves. 

3. Shoe organizers, Belt rings, hooks, file folders, are a few of the creative ways to organize our things in closets. 

4. Installing puck lighting inside a closet can be helpful to see the things that are hiding in the back corners, and ultimately help everyone keep it organized. 

5. If you have large, open shelves, consider using bins from the Dollar tree. They have the canvas bins that are pretty, but are not sturdy by themselves. Purchase the plastic bins to go inside and firm them up. For $2.50 you have a pretty and durable storage container. Use all the same color to make it attractive. Remove TP or paper towels from their packaging and store them in the bins. Labeling the bins will help everyone know where to put things back, or where to find things. 

6. I love to add the fragrance beads in our closets to keep them smelling fresh. 

The closet should be in good shape now! Take a picture and post your before and after on social media!!! Would you rag me when you do that? Or leave a comment here!

Now that it’s clean, how will you keep it this way?  

1. Don’t put things down, put them away. 

2. Every week give that space a look. Straighten it up. 

3. Every month go over shelves with a dust rag and vacuum or mop the flooring. 

Your choices and decisions are a reflection of how well you’ve set and followed your priorities.” 
― Elizabeth George, A Woman’s Daily Walk with God 

Not only are closets hidden spaces, so are our hearts. Our choices and decisions are also reflections of our spiritual priorities. Are you keeping your heart clean? Are you spending regular time in God’s Word and prayer? Are you asking Him to reveal any hidden sin or habit that is keeping you from growing in Christ?  

Ps. 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

“It’s one thing to have a goal, but it’s quite another thing to actually accept the challenge, develop a strategy to press for the goal, make the sacrifices, pay the price to move forward, and blessing of blessing, to realize some part of it.” 
― Elizabeth George, A Woman After God’s Own Heart 

Let’s set the goal of getting our closets and storage spaces in order, but let’s do the greater spiritual work that is eternal! 

Refresh your closets; refresh your heart!