Taming the Linen Closet

At last count, I belive my mother had about 427 sets of sheets in her linen closet.  "Well, perhaps she runs a very large bed and breakfast", you may say.  Although that is a logical assumption, the reality is that she owns a four bedroom home that houses two queen sized beds and three twin sized beds.  In addition, as far as I'm aware, I'm the only person that has slept in that house in the past 15 years that doesn't also receive mail there.  So, why all the extra sets of sheets?  Mainly due to her fear of getting rid of anything and the fear of not having something when you need it.  Which I think most people with clutter issues deal with.  I myself (OCD and all) deal with this from time to time, and the linen closet just happens to be one of those areas. 

I have two queen sized beds in my home but recently discovered that I was hoarding about 10 sets of sheets.  When my fiance moved into my house, he brought along two or three sets of sheets and over the course of the years, I had obtained a number of sets at Christmas.  However I always used one of two sets on my master bed and one of two sets on my guest bed.  So, I cleared out the linen closet and donated the unused sets to one of our local charities (and saved a few as handy dandy drop cloths for painting projects). 

Instead of storing the backup set for each bed back in the area deemed my linen closet (which is in actuality a small cabinet in my oversized dresser), I found two lidded boxes at my local Michael's craft store (found here) and put one extra set in each box. 

I then stored one box under my master bed and the other under my guest bed.  Now, as soon as I strip the sheets off of a bed, I simply pull the box out from under the bed and immediately make the bed with a fresh set of sheets.  After I launder the dirty set, I fold them up and put them in the box and store it under the bed, ready to go when laundry time runs back around. 

(Oh, and good luck with folding that fitted one.  I've seen the links on Pinterest on how to do it; I am convinced they are using magic or sorcery.) 

Now I have gained my linen closet back for other storage (purses perhaps?) instead of wasting the space as a bedsheet graveyard.  If cutting your linen count down to two sets makes you a little nervous, cut it down to three and simply get a slightly larger box.  As far as the boxes go, I purchased cardboard boxes that are covered in decorative paper and have a hinged lid.  Since I don't access them on a daily basis and they are under the bed out of harm's way, these hold up fine.  You can also find plastic ones, fabric ones, or a lidded basket.  If you use a basket make sure to use one that is lined with fabric, otherwise you run the risk of having tiny splinters of the basket rub off on the sheets, making for a not so comfortable slumber.  Another tip is to make sure to get a lid, not just an open basket, for two reasons.  First, the lid will keep any dust out therefore keeping them clean and fresh.  Second, I like sticking a dryer sheet on the bottom of the box when I put a clean set of sheets in the box.  Having the lid keeps the sheets smelling 'straight-out-of-the-dryer' fresh the next time you use them.

Please let me know of ways in which you have tamed your linen closet in the comments section. And if you live in the Birmingham, Alabama area and could use my help in taming any organizational issue in your home, email me at TheNeatFreakOrganizer@gmail.com.