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Anyone Got Suggestions For Organizing Cleaning Supply/Coat Closet

peabody1
9 years ago

My dear friend wanted me to post this for her. Hoping someone can offer her some suggestions.

My coat closet doubles as my cleaning supplies closet. No place else to put these things. I'm hoping you all have some great ideas for helping me organize it better. It looks a mess.

On the top shelf on the left is a few cleaning rags and on the right a box containing gloves/winter hats.

On the hanging rack is coats/jackets and two bags on a hanger containing cleaning rags. I am wanting to put them in sort of cute container and put on the shelf instead of hanging.

On the floor I have a couple extension feather-like dusters, a stick-type vacuum, 2 steam mops, a little wire shelf with filters and parts for my sweeper and steam mop under it and my cleaning supply tote on top, a long squeegie for windows.

The space is limited and I've got a lot of "stuff" in there. Suggestions for organizing it better?

Comments (12)

  • graywings123
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Is it possible to hang the dusters, the stick-vacuum, the steam mops and the squeegee on the side walls on nails or hooks so they don't take up floor space?

    Can you eliminate any of the coats and jackets?

    Is there room above the top shelf for another shelf? It doesn't have to be as deep as the one that's there.

    Can you hang things on the inside of the door?

  • cupofkindness
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm wondering why your friend has two steam mops, plus more than one feather duster. Any duplicates should be eliminated.

    Myself, I would store chemical-type cleaners and rags under a sink, and only store tools in the closet. Look into buying a door organizer/hook system that will hold either tools or clothing.

    Consider mounting a small, narrow shelf at the bottom of the closet, say 6-8" wide that can store things without taking up too much space in the bottom of the closet. This would replace the shelf/cart unit that takes up so much space.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Tool Holder

  • camlan
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I like the tote for the cleaning supplies. That a) contains them neatly and b) makes it easy to take them to where you are going to use them.

    One solution would be to get a closet organizing system, like Elfa, and redo the closet completely, probably with a little less hanging space, and more shelves/drawer units.

    But if that's not a possibility, there are still options.

    One rule of organizing is that the things that you use the most should be in the most accessible storage spots. Another rule is to store like things together.

    Your easiest-to-access spots in the closet are probably the hanging rod and the closet shelf, plus the inside of the closet door.

    Could you put an over-the-door shoe organizer that would hold the hats and gloves?

    That would free up the closet shelf for the cleaning rags and the tote with cleaning supplies.

    About the cleaning rags--you have some on the shelf and two bags hanging from the rod? Weed out the worst ones and get one container for the shelf for the rest. That frees up some hanging space for you.

    Then, as suggested, weed out a steam mop and feather duster and hang as many of the remaining tools from the walls as you can.

    While I think the bottom of the closet is a good place for the filters and things you don't use to often, because it is an awkward place to get to, I don't think the wire shelf is working very well. Get the cleaning tote up on the closet shelf and then rethink the filter/part storage.

    Maybe a small box/bin/basket for the filters. I'm not sure what the parts are. Could they go in another box/bin/basket? Or put them all on a small rolling cart that just fits under the jackets. It's easier to get at things if you can roll them out of the closet to pick the one you want.

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Myself, I would store chemical-type cleaners and rags under a sink, and only store tools in the closet. Look into buying a door organizer/hook system that will hold either tools or clothing.

    Well, things you use together should be stored together, so you don't have to go to two places to get started.

    Here are some random thoughts

    • eliminate duplicates (or, store them in opposite parts of the house if that stores them *near where you use them*)

    • I like totes to corral.

    • Hang stuff on the side walls or inside of the door. (You can put bottles of cleaning solution in shoe pockets

    • Consider sectioning off a small vertical section of the coat closet to create shelving. You don't have to do construction; just a tall skinny shelf (like a CD tower, or something else sort of narrow.

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Another idea: get some of those Sterilite plastic drawers, and stack them on one side of the closet. That'll "partition off" one small section to be for cleaning supplies.
    And a drawer will help you access the deepness of the storage space, bcs it'll pull things forward.

    The one drawback to those is that they're sort of short; most bottles won't fit in them standing up. But there are taller versions.

    Or, try this "laundry tower" concept--a tall, skinny cabinet w/ compartments; it would interrupt the shelf and hanging bar, so maybe not the best.
    http://www.improvementscatalog.com/imp/290307?cm_mmc=GooglePLA--LaundryRoom--2014-_-437559&mr:trackingCode=0B124480-8F0B-E311-9612-001B21BCC0BC&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=98946355732&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&code-macs=MP4XW091&mr:ad=43916408932&mr:device=c&mr:match=&SourceCode=MP4XW091&mr:adType=pla&mr:keyword=&redirect=y

    But this sort of cabinet, designed to go between washer and dryer, might be great (this one isn't available anymore, but this is the general idea). The drawers are tall enough for bottles, and it's skinny and short.

    http://www.lowes.com/pd_172508-46-WVP5000SQ_4294857913+8+4294965476_?productId=1043069

    http://www.shopgetorganized.com/item/WICKER_BETWEEN_WASHER_DRYER_DRAWERS/24415?src=GOSHPZLA&utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=24415&close_prompt=1

    My favorite idea is the kinds of unit w/ different heights of drawers--IF the largest drawer is tall enough.
    http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-5-drawer-storage-cart/-/A-13794467#prodSlot=medium_5_9&term=drawer

    Because some things are tall and some are short, and tall drawers are really bad for little things.

    http://www.amazon.com/SEI-Iron-Wicker-Five-Drawer/dp/B000X09XGE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X75NQ44TWHDJY5ME354

    Even a filing cabinet could work.
    http://www.target.com/p/hirsh-3-drawer-file-cabinet-steel/-/A-14796066#prodSlot=medium_2_23&term=drawer

    This one looks really good--that bottom drawer is as tall as a file drawer, so maybe it would hold cleaning bottles standing upright.
    http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=677&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=188&section=1

    This one is nice and narrow--but I don't know how tall the drawers are; they look kind of short.
    http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=405&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1

    This one also, I'm not sure how tall the drawers are.
    http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=406&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1

    Then again, you could just store the tall bottles in a caddy on top.
    HOWEVER, and this might be true always anyway--you should probably store -only- one bottle of what you truly use. The extras should go somewhere else, like in the garage or under the sink, if at all possible. (Or if you're like me and live in an apt., don't buy extras--practice "just-in-time inventory.")


    If you got something like this, you could just take out one drawer to make the drawer below it taller (and you could access it more easily as well); I've done that w/ a shallow drawer unit.
    Because I *think* this one doesn't have bars across the front, just supports along the sides.
    http://www.amazon.com/4D-Concepts-Corner-Clear-Silver/dp/B0006TXDSG/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1413299007&sr=1-2&keywords=utility+drawers

    And you could set your "daily use" caddy on the top of such a drawer unit; it'd be handy to grab the caddy itself, or just the window cleaner/whatever. Because the caddy would work as an organizer that would keep your most-used items from falling over.
    And you might be able to put -all- the cleaning solutions in the caddy, which would ease the pressure on having a tall drawer.

    There are lots of carts for this space, but you have to pull the whole cart out instead of just a drawer. But it's an idea--you could put it on the open side of the closet, and pull it out to get to stuff. And hang shorter jackets above it.

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Regarding the "partitioning off" idea--I posted some links on another thread here.

    http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organ/msg051428364432.html


    See how these are partitioned off?
    http://www.marthastewart.com/267639/kids-closets
    http://www.marthastewart.com/272404/tame-the-broom-closet
    If you took some of the shelves out, or made shallower shelves, maybe the tall tools would fit inside, and you could have the rest of the closet free for hanging coats. (and maybe make your bookcase narrower)


    And, there are bunch of examples of partitioning off part of a closet.

    This post was edited by talley_sue_nyc on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 11:50

  • peabody1
    Original Author
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My friend has another question, but first wanted to say thank you for the great suggestions. This question may seem dumb, but none of us have any handyman tendencies. LOL Wanting to possibly hang the stick vac and steam mop on the wall, but not sure how to do it. We do not have wood studs. We have flimsy metal studs. Not sure how to go about attaching something to the wall to hang these items so that the wall will hold the weight. Ideas?

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Use a Command hook. They'll hold a lot, actually.

    Or, the other way to hang heavy-ish things is to use a wall anchor.

    A wall anchor is a (usually) plastic sleeve that goes snugly into the wall (straight into the plaster or drywall--no need to find the stuf), and then the screw gets screwed into it, expanding it. This presses the wall anchor more firmly against the side of the hole, and often it also splits apart at the very end, inside the wall, so it can't pull back out.

    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plastic_screw_anchor-animation.ogv

    Usually the that hole is made with a drill. And any local handyman, or anyone from your church/work/neighborhood who has a drill can do it easy-peasy.

    HOWEVER, there are anchors that you can put in without a drill, and they'll work just fine. You hammer point in, then screw them in. (But it's probably best to make a small starter hole--use a big nail, an awl, or maybe even an ice pick.)

    The screw-in kind will work just fine for your friend.

    Here's a page of info--it all looks good.
    http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffastener/infanchor/infanchor.html

    So you can put up:
    - just a screw, and use it as a hook (not my recommended; I like those screw to be snug against the wall, usually)
    - a hook that is attached to the wall w/ a screw (tons of those around)
    - a piece of wood with multiple hooks (depending on how much space is there, and how much stuff she wants to hang, this might be faster and better looking
    - any of the "broom organizer" hanging strips (with clips, hooks, etc), some of which have shelves or baskets (handy!)

    Or, hooks that are -just- high enough to keep the tools from touch the floor, and then baskets, etc., above it.

    Here is a link that might be useful: a really good video (But I think you don't need to make such a big hole)

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Here's another way to partition off some cubbies--a hanging shoe shelf.

    It's not the most "maximizing space" solution, bcs there's space behind it (you could put seldom-accessed stuff there, if you find boxes shallow enough).

    But it creates a skinny stack of cubbies that you can just stuff things into.

    And there are various widths available--sweater shelves.

    Even this one, which has a mix of sizes!

    http://www.amazon.com/Household-Essentials-Hanging-Storage-Organizer/dp/B0044SIPAQ

    My DD uses a shoe one at college to put things like her knitting project, the packing tape, etc.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Hanging shoe shelf, at Target

  • emma
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I would go with the bar minimum of cleaning supplies and put them under the sinks. I don't use any specialty cleaners, mostly soap and water. Most of my floors are carpeted and I do the bathroom and laundry floors on my knees, don't even have a mop. I would keep the coats in the reg closets or keep the cleaning supplies in the garage if you have one. If you use a mop or dust mop hang them on the garage wall.

  • talley_sue_nyc
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I can't keep cleaning supplies under my sinks--other stuff is already there.

    But I'm with you on the "bare minimum" idea.

    The folks with The Clean Team use two: red juice and blue juice.

  • violetwest
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    thanks for posting that video Tally Sue. Thank goodness for YouTube!