Is your entrance closet so full that you have to push the stuff back inside to keep it from falling out while you close the door? When is the last time you cleaned it out? Many entry closets become a quick place to put stuff that you really don’t have a place for anywhere else. The first step in getting that closet clean is to learn about tackling closet clutter.

It’s best to tackle clutter, when you are sick and tired of it, and would be willing to throw everything out. Otherwise, it is too easy to get sentimental over junk that has no value. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become addicted to clutter?

Before you start, get two medium size totes and one trash bag. Label one tote “keep” and the other one “give”. The trash bag is for anything that can be thrown away. Open the door of the closet, and start with the stuff that is at the front ready to fall out.

As you look at each item ask yourself when you used it last, when you will use it again, what value it has to you and how it would affect your life if you never saw it again. According to how you answered those questions, determine whether or not it is worth keeping. If not, decide whether or not it is nice enough that someone else could use it or if it just needs to be thrown away.

Go through everything in the closet that way. Once you have it sorted, put the trash bag with your other garbage. Put the things you plan to keep where they really go in the house, or in their proper place inside of the closet. Make plans to give the things in the “give” tote away as soon as possible.

Once you finish tackling closet clutter, step back and look at how nice it looks. Two or three times a week, check the closet again, and put anything out of place back in its special spot. Challenge yourself to see how long you can keep it looking orderly and neat.