Closet clean out: Get your clothes in shape for summer

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Closet clean out: Get your clothes in shape for summer</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – The average closet offers a not-so-roomy 5-foot by 2-foot amount of space. And for average people, that is not a whole lot of room to work with when it comes to storing all their clothes, shoes and accessories.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Given changing fashion trends and seasons, closets can be some of the most cluttered spaces in the home. Summer is the ideal time to get yours clean, organized and ready for the season.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"The goal of an organized closet should center on the ability to open the door and, in one quick look, see everything you own," says Katie Baker Jones, fashion merchandising instructor at The Art Institutes International — Kansas City. "This makes that crucial decision of what to wear immensely easier."</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/13b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/13b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Fashion is meant to change, so embrace it," she adds. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Baker Jones advises getting rid of any articles of clothing that haven’t been worn in the past year. One option for letting go is to donate your clothes to local charities like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. If clothes are fairly aged, another option to consider is donating them to a college. Some colleges collect clothing pieces from past decades for fashion students to study and gain insight on fashion trends.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Another tip: if you are still using wire hangers, use plastic ones instead, as they are better for your clothes. Baker Jones explains that the soft curves of plastic hangers "ensure better draping of your garments." Using plastic hangers also gives your clothes some room to breathe, thus reducing wrinkles and making your garments easier to find. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Tired at the end of a long day? While flipping your shoes off may seem like the most convenient thing to do, don’t. "Adding a shoe rack to a door or the floor of a closet is another cheap way to utilize closet space while at the same time protecting your shoe investment," says Baker Jones. You can find shoe organizers for as little as $9 at discount stores.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve gone through your closet, gotten rid of unnecessary items and parted with your less than "in-style" pieces, it’s time to pack some of your winter clothes away. For short-term storage, plastic containers will do. "If you keep them in a relatively cool and dry location throughout the summer months, they should welcome you back in the wintertime unharmed," says Baker Jones.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">However, in some instances, you may want to consider leaving certain garments in your closet. "Never sprinkle moth balls directly into a box of unprotected clothing or allow textiles to come in direct contact with untreated wood. If you have the space, just keep your wool garments in your closet, but rotate them to the back," says Baker Jones. "Furs should never be stored in the house. The investment of professional, cold storage is well worth it."</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="280" height="430"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/13a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/13a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="280" height="430"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">One last thing before you start your closet makeover — avoid using chemicals when cleaning out any closet. Baker Jones says that any chemical you use has the potential to get on your clothing and either damage the textile or irritate your skin.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">By following these simple guidelines, cleaning out your closet will be as easy as a summer breeze. Soon you’ll be on your way to expanding your closet’s potential and protecting your wardrobe at the same time.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit <a href="http://www.artinstitutes.edu/nz" target="_blank">www.artinstitutes.edu/nz</a> .</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>