WICHITA, Kan. – Crowding a closet with unused clothing can mean that freshly laundered, cleaned or pressed items will wrinkle before wearing, said Denise Dias, K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences agent in Sedgwick County, Kan.

When hanging clothes in a closet, allow two-to-three inches of breathing room between items to maintain their fresh, ready-to-wear appearance, she said.

To clean a clothes closet, Dias recommends discarding:

* Clothing with a stain, hole, tear, missing buttons, damaged zipper or other closures that cannot be restored or repaired;

* Lingerie, other undergarments and socks that have worn thin or lost elasticity;

* Shoes that are worn and cannot be repaired or renewed; and,

* Worn-out weekend or chore clothes ready for the rag basket.

Donate:

* Clean clothing in good condition that is no longer your size or to your taste.

* Accessories such as belts, purses or hats that are no longer used.

* A coat or coats that no longer fit (or will not fit over other clothing), and are not worn.

* Impulse purchases or sale items that don’t work well with your wardrobe.

To further relieve crowding in closets, Dias recommended looking for other areas in the home (an un-used closet, utility room or storage containers designed to fit under the bed) to store out-of-season clothing.

Consulting home design books and browsing in container or storage departments can be a source of ideas, said Dias, who suggested storing belts, scarves or men’s ties on a mug rack or towel bar attached to a closet wall or the back-side of the door.

More information about basic home management also is available at K-State Research and extension offices throughout the state and online.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by: Nancy Peterson
nancyp@ksu.edu
K-State Research & Extension News

Denise Dias is at 316-660-0100 ext. 0116