Putting clothes away so they come back out usable

Dust, light and coats that were wet

A clear vinyl cover stops the dust that settles on wool shoulders over four months. The vinyl lets you see which coat hangs underneath, but clear plastic does nothing against daylight that fades a sleeve. That is what the shut closet door does. The one mistake that ruins the coat is zipping the cover over wool that came in damp from sleet. The vinyl holds that damp right against the fabric. Give the coat two days on a wooden chair in an open room before the cover goes on, so the cloth is completely dry. Once the zipper closes, dust stays out until you unzip it.

Turning an awkward pair into a rectangle

Shoes stack badly on their own because heels catch and toes slide off leather soles. A clear shoe storage case turns an odd pair of oxfords or pumps into a flat rectangle with square corners. You can set four cases on top of each other without the pile sliding into the corner. A closet with one high shelf usually has two feet of empty air above it, which is wasted room. Snap together shelves build three layers inside that gap. The pieces push into corner joints by hand. They hold light things like folded sweaters, hats and storage cases off the floor.

The trade with space saving hangers

A metal hanger holder hangs six coats down from the space of one standard rod hook. It frees half a foot of closet rod in two seconds, and that is why people use them. The trade is plain. When six garments drop into one vertical line, the fabric presses tight together. You cannot see the front of the fourth shirt without lifting the two above it, and heavy wool jackets will bunch at the hem. Keep the holder for lightweight cotton blouses or dress shirts that you do not need to thumb through on a Tuesday morning.

A rolling cart and pants that dry flat

A collapsible laundry cart on wheels rolls wash out to the line or down the hall. The frame folds down flat when you push the sides in, but the cloth liner coming out is the part that does the work. You lift the liner out by its cloth handles and carry the dry wash right to the dresser. Nearby, the metal pants stretcher does an older job. The wire frames slip into each wet trouser leg after washing and push the wool flat. As the pants dry on the line, the wire keeps the front crease sharp without an iron.

Labels and the back of the closet

Clear magazine protectors keep old clippings flat on a shelf, and scented toilet roll holders keep the linen cupboard smelling clean. But any storage shelf falls apart when you pack things where you cannot reach them. The back of the rod belongs to the season you are not living in. Move wool overcoats to the rear wall in April and bring linen shirts to the front. Put winter blankets on the highest shelf and write the year and contents on a white card taped to the box. You will thank yourself when November comes back around.