I haven't stored my sheets in my linen closet for years! Every bed has 2 sets of sheets. I fold the sheets as most everyone else seems to do, and fold the pillowcase around it (or you can slip the sheets into the pillowcase). Then I put the extra set between the mattresses of the bed it is for. I either slip them in at the foot of the bed, or the side - whichever is more convenient.
When we had babies in cribs, I folded the crib sheets, put them in a plastic bag, and slipped it between the mattress and springs. This way the sheets are handy and easy to get to when I want to change them, and it frees a tremendous amount of space in my linen closet for other things. This was really helpful when there were 6 of us in the house!
By Judy = Oklahoma from Oklahoma
I need some help organizing my linen closet. it is JAM PACKED full of blankets (most of which we use because of frequent guest). It is very small and had about five shelves in it. Any suggestions?
i organize my linen closet this way. i put all the sets that belongs toguether inside of one of the matching pillow cases, fold it and when you are looking for that set everything is neatly put inside ,you dont have to go crazy looking for all the matching pieces in different places.
How about getting some of those rubbermaid tubs or large plastic bags to store things in and put all the blankets in those? You could then store the containers somewhere else where you might have more room.
At work we put the blankets in a plastic (garbage) bag (be sure there are no holes) and use the vacuum to suck out all the air then tie the bag securely. Your blankets will be compressed so that they take up less space.
I keep only the linens in my closet that I am using for that season and put the others(already laundered) in a jumbo plastic tote that I keep in the attic. It saves me time when looking for what I need and at the end of the season, I just get the other linens out of the tote and they are ready to go.
You might camouflage some of your blankets by tucking them around a 'less than new' chair or loveseat, and covering with a nice afghan. Also, several of them could fit into a box kept under a bed or in a closet. You might consider storing them on the shelves of your guest room closet (if you have one) or folding them (the long way)and hanging on wooden hangers.
I find it helpful to just keep what I need on a daily basis in the linen closet. I store occasionally used things under my bed in containers. I use the bed lifts to create more room under the bed as well. We have a small house and I am always looking for ways to optimize my closets. Very interesting to read the responses.
If you have blankets and quilts that are in good condition you can incorporate some of them by hanging them over the back of your couch, loveseats, etc. I also take advantage of the very tops of my childrens' closets.
Place folded sheets and pillow case in one of matching pillow case. Saves space and is always together.
Lots of good ideas already, but if you're short on space you can store 2 blankets between the box springs and mattress. Fold the blanket in half or quarters and place it between the box spring and mattress on one side of the bed. Repeat on the other side of the bed and the mattress will still feel level. You can even store a sheet set this way.
You can even store blankes insinde the decorative Shams that come with your bedspread. Just fold the blanket and stuff inside the sham.
We've stored our extra blankets in cedar hope chest. These can be bought new, or from an estate auction/garage sale. If you don't mind the wood smell, it might be a good idea. We then use ours as a second coffee table in our living room.
Have you thought of reducing the number of blankets you need by replacing them with comforters? We use only one comforter per bed and store a summer cotton blanket for each bed in the closet. Comforters roll up like sleeping bags (I make straps to hold them out of 1" elastic). When we are using the summer blanket, we just roll up the comforter and store it under the bed, in that bedroom's closet, or sometimes just folded at the end of the bed in case it gets cold.
Vacuum sealing large comforters, blankets & pillows are a great space-saving idea. Plus, they are compact enough to store one on top of the other. Making sure they all are labeled & that if you have wire shelves, it is a good idea to put a towel down first. This makes it easy to take them on & off without pucturing the bag. The large garbage bags can easily be used with a vacuum to suck out the air & then using rubberbands to secure each bag. It will save you from buying the "Space Bags"
Recently my son decided he wanted fresh new white sheets and he did need a new comforter. Our sheets are old or hand-me-downs, so I thought it would be nice to give him some new items.
To keep table linens from creasing, install a rod just beneath a low shelf and hang the linens on hangers padded with paper towel tubes. Fold and store bed or bath linens by sets, not by size.
Simply fold towels together. While folding, fold one of the bath towels around the rest of the set, making it a size and shape that stacks nicely in your storage closet.
To prevent creases when hanging linens from wire hangers, take a cardboard tube from a used up roll of paper towels and cut lengthwise. Then slip it over the wire hanger and apply tape where you cut the tube.
Keep Bedding Sets Together. When I fold the sheets from the dryer, I always fold the fitted sheet and then I fold the pillowcases together and put both inside the fold of the top sheet.
After washing and drying your sheets, fold them and the pillowcases neatly and put them in one of the pillowcases and store them in the linen closet.
This tip will save you looking for a matching bottom and top sheet with matching pillowcases. Put folded sheets and one of the pillowcases inside the other pillowcase.
I make my linen area look really neat by taking sheet sets and pillowcases and tying them together with inexpensive colorful ribbon. I'm sure this would work with towel sets as well.
I like to keep sets together or sheets that I created sets out of by folding them, along with one pillowcase, and putting the entire set into the other pillowcase. This way, you have a neat sheet section in your closet or drawer, and they fit together better too.
I "try" to keep my linen closet organized using a few tricks. I don't fold my sheets and pillowcases together in sets because I intermingle the top/bottom sheets and pillow cases.
I organize my sheet sets by folding the sheets and placing them in the matching pillowcase. I also organize my sheet sets by having a shelf for each size; such as the queen size on one shelf, and the twins on another, etc.