Taming the Closet Monster   by Lisa A. Koosis

You open the door just a crack, peering in warily, ready to slam the door shut at the first sign of attack. When nothing happens, you begin to open the door a little at the time. Inch by inch you pull it open, feeling more confident with every inch gained. And then it happens -- the attack of the closet monster.

You know what I mean. You open up the door to your closet and everything falls out, an avalanche of clothes and hangers, board games and books, boxes of photographs and keepsakes and assorted other clutter.

Closets are fickle beasts and we are their even more fickle keepers. The truth is that even the most organized households have at least one closet that could stand to be tamed. It's the nature of the beast. When unexpected company comes, or you don't know where else to put the clutter, into the closet it goes, because after all, you can shut the door to a closet. Nobody can see inside.

Every now and then it's time to tame that beast of our own creation, the closet monster. So what's the best way to undertake such a daunting task? Here are a few suggestions:

- Be merciless. If you're feeling nostalgic or sentimental, perhaps it isn't the best time to clean out your closets. Instead, clean out your closets when you're feeling merciless, when your need for organization outweighs your desire to hoard.

- Don't attach too much significance to objects. They're just things. Your childhood board games don't represent your childhood. If you throw them out, you aren't throwing away memories. You're just throwing out stuff.

- Buy plastic storage containers. Often what seems to be an overwhelming amount of belongings is actually a reasonable amount of belongings that need to be better organized. By packing belongings into plastic totes or containers, it's easier to organize what you own and, consequently, easier to find what you need when you need it.

- Categorize. Put holiday decorations all together. Do the same with board games or books or seasonal clothes.

- Give away. If you haven't used it, worn it or thought about it in a year, it's time for it to go. With the exception of prized keepsakes and mementos, don't hesitate to put together a bag for your favorite charity. Or consider having a yard sale. Turn your discards into cash.

Getting organized is a great feeling, and with a little effort and a couple of garbage bags, taming the closet monster is easier than it looks. What's better, the next time you open up the closet, you won't need a crash helmet or other protective gear.

About the Author

Lisa is in the process of taming several closet monsters. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Poetry.

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