Our clothing closets tend to be some of the messiest spaces in our homes, stressing us out first thing in the morning when we’re trying to get ready for the day. When clothing is hung haphazardly, getting dressed becomes a process instead of a pleasure. When there are dust bunnies living in every pair of shoes, and half the items hanging up need to be repaired or altered, your closet is not working for you. It’s working against you.
Keep a bin in the closet for the things that keep clothing in tip-top shape: safety pins, static cling reliever, deodorant mark remover, gel heel pads for shoes that are a little painful, and a lint brush. You might also want to keep the double-sided tape for fixing hems quickly and keeping straps and necklines in place. If you don’t already have a mirror in or near your closet, adding one will help you keep those items in the bin because you’ll be able to make those minor fixes right near the closet.Make sure you keep your laundry basket wherever you tend to ditch the day’s work clothes. That may be in the closet, bathroom, or laundry room. Find a laundry basket that suits the room’s aesthetic and keep it where you will actually use it.
When you have the room ready to go, make up a few of these closet basics so you have them at hand when you need them.
STATIC CLING RELIEVER SPRAY
We’ve all been there … about to head out the door and our clothing is being clingy and needy. In need of some static cling reliever spray, that is. If you keep this in your bin in the closet, you’ll be ready to tame the cling at a moment’s notice. This spray keeps indefinitely if you use distilled or boiled water.
• 4 ounces distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 4 ounces witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol
• 2 drops of your favorite essential oil
Mix together and funnel into an 8-ounce spray bottle. Shake before use. To use, spray liberally on clothing or upholstered furniture that is collecting static electricity. Do not use on silk.
DEODORANT MARK REMOVER
You’re all ready for the meeting, wearing your sharpest blue dress shirt and black blazer when that one last glance in the mirror shows you the dreaded white marks left by your deodorant.
Place a clean, fine-grained sponge inside the toe of an old pair of pantyhose. Tie a knot close to the sponge so it is fully encased in the pantyhose, then cut off the excess. When you get a deodorant mark on your clothing, simply use this to brush it off. You may need to brush in both directions to get the stain to fully disappear.
CRISP COLLARS LIQUID SPRAY STARCH
If you love the feel of crisp collars and sharp cuffs, you probably use spray starch when you iron your dress shirts. But spray starch from the shelves is—you guessed it—full of toxic and unnecessary chemicals. It is possible to mix up your own spray starch that keeps your clothing looking freshly ironed no matter how long it hangs in the closet before you wear it. If you find you prefer a stiffer starch, add a bit more cornstarch to your next batch.
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
Bring the water and cornstarch to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Once cool, stir in the lemon essential oil. Pour into a 16-ounce spray bottle.
To Use: Spray on damp laundry that you want to have a nice crisp finish. This is particularly popular for dress shirt collars, cuffs, and plackets, but you may also wish to starch dinner napkins, placemats, or even sheets for a hotel-style feel. Iron regularly.
LEATHER CLOTHING CLEANING AND CONDITIONING
Leather clothing and shoes require a different approach than upholstery leather. I recommend cleaning your leather coats and clothing once a year, say, at the end of a season of wear, or when you get a spot on them. There’s no need to do much maintenance other than that. Test any product you put on your leather, even this solution, on an inconspicuous spot such as the interior of a pocket or the lining before using it on the entire piece.
• 1 teaspoon castile soap
• Warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
Mix the soap with enough warm water to create a nice soapy solution. Use the edge of a rag dipped in the solution to gently clean the clothing item, using circular motions. Take another clean rag (or a clean corner of this one) and dampen it with clean water so it is wet but not soaking. Go over the item one more time to remove any soap residue. Then, dip your rag in the olive oil and buff it in gently and sparingly. You will likely not use the entire tablespoon of oil, so don’t worry about that. Let the oil soak in overnight, then buff again with a clean, soft cloth.
HAND-WASHING LIQUID FOR SILK AND WOOL
There are products on the market made just for washing wool and delicates, and they work great, but they’re not cost-effective or natural. In fact, they’re full of chemicals that shouldn’t be touching such delicate items that will then be touching our skin. Not to mention they have synthetic fragrances, which are irritating to the skin. If you’d like a scent, simply add a drop or two of essential oils to this mixture. Otherwise, the lanolin will coat and restore wool fibers and soften silk ones, while the soap attracts any dirt. Be sure to rinse well.
• 1 cup distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 1 teaspoon castile soap
• 2 teaspoons liquid lanolin
Mix the ingredients together in an 8-ounce bottle. Add ¼ cup to a basin of hand-washing clothes and fill with water. Swirl gently and let sit for 30 minutes. Then agitate gently again. Rinse several times to be sure the solution is out of the clothing items. Let dry.
WINTER BOOTS SALT STAIN REMOVER
Leather boots are great year-round, especially in winter, given their sleek look and naturally protective properties. But winter can get to even the best of leather boots because of the salt chemicals that are used to melt ice on sidewalks and roads. These leave unsightly white marks on boots. Try a bit of good old vinegar and some elbow grease. Don’t use too much vinegar because you don’t want to change the pH level of the leather, but shoe leather is sturdy enough to handle small amounts of vinegar.
• ½ cup of cold water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
Mix well in a small bowl.
To Use: Use a soft cloth to gently clean the leather with the mixture, being sure not to oversaturate the leather. Wipe dry, then let dry overnight naturally. Don’t place your shoes in front of a heater to dry, tempting as it is, as heat damages leather.
Extra Tip: This solution also works for wood and laminate floors with tracked-in salt spots. Use a rougher washcloth soaked in this mixture to clean the residue.
STINKY SHOE SOLVER SACHETS
Stinky shoes are just part of life. Summer flats, heels, boat shoes, sneakers … any shoe worn without socks (and those worn with socks for some sweaty activities and certain people, ahem) will naturally begin to stink. Don’t forget about winter shoes and boots, which can get stinky because of wool or heavy sock-wearing feet getting overheated. These little stinky shoe solvers are great because they are self-contained and can be tucked into any shoe that needs a little scent help, then passed along to the next pair. The charcoal powder is optional, but it helps absorb odors magnificently. Look for it in the bulk section of your local co-op; mine has it in the beauty section, too. Do not use these in damp shoes or boots; wait until the shoes are dry first.
• 12×12-inch fabric squares for regular shoes, 24x 24-inch fabric squares for boots
• Twine or ribbon
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder
• 1 teaspoon charcoal powder, optional
• Tea tree essential oil
Mix powders and oil together in a small bowl. Place 1 tablespoon in the center of each 12×12-inch fabric square, and 2 tablespoons in the larger squares. Gather up the edges to encase the powder and tie securely with twine or ribbon. I prefer twine because you can get it nice and tight. Place 2 drops of tea tree essential oil on the top of each sachet, then tuck them into your stinky shoes. Leave overnight. Super stinky shoes might require two sachets per shoe, one tucked into the toe and the other left in the heel.
Extra Tip: These also work in handbags to keep them fresh and moth-free when in storage.
CLOSET MOISTURE ABSORBER
Keeping moisture out of your closet will cut down on mildew scent in shoes and clothes, as well as add a light scent that gently refreshes clothes. For best results, hang this near a vent if there is one in the closet, or from the top-middle of the closet if there isn’t a vent. Using peppermint oil adds additional moth-repelling power to this little closet-cleaning bundle. You can make several of these and space them out if you have a large closet.
• 1 package white chalk sticks or 4 ounces ground chalk (if you have it handy)
• Peppermint essential oil
• Small muslin bag that closes
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