Downsizing Boomers - FAQ 6. What can I do about my linen closet?

When going from the McMansion to the smaller home, the amount of space available in the linen closet (if you are lucky enough to have one) is going to be reduced from your current copious closet.  Here are some things to think about as you get ready to move:  

• What should be in the linen closet?
• How much room will I have at the new house?
• Is everything near where you use it?
• Have you got enough room in the linen closet to put in and take things out without an accident?

Towels

• People love buying towels – they are almost the first thing to sell in a yard sale.
• Guide – minimum is two complete sets of towels for each member of your household – one in the wash and the other on the rack.
• Special towels for sports (swimming, sweat towels etc)
• Do you need guest towels – two sets for each guest?
• Face clothes – how many do you need per person?  It is a shock to go to Europe and find that the trusty facecloth is not in common use.  
• Do not keep towels that are threadbare.
• Do not keep: ancient towels from another coloured bathroom, a carpet around your toilet; or, towels for a cottage that you have yet to buy. 

Toiletries and medicines

• Watch out for buying in bulk.  It is good to buy toilet paper in bulk BUT do you have the room?  Buy only what you can store. 
• Weed out the doubles of electronics such as electric razor or hair dryer or curling iron.  Each teenager and adult in the house needs to have baskets for their toiletries – one for storage of their supplies and one in the bathroom to contain the products they are currently using.
• Take your collection of hotel freebies to a senior’s home or a shelter.  

Sheets and pillowcases

• The standard (which I don’t follow) is three sets of sheets for every bed.   If you have to error – go for two sets.  
• Old sheets make excellent drop clothes but then so does plastic.  Don’t save old sheets for rags or drop clothes unless you plan to paint or move in the next 12 months and then away they go. 
• If you have almost no space in your linen closet – put the extra sheets and pillowcases between the mattress and the box spring OR buy an under the bed rolling storage container and store the sheets and extra blankets for the bed there.

Table clothes and placemats

• This really depends upon style.  I personally think the days of table clothes are over. 
• Have maybe one or two for the dining room table – if you actually dine on that table. 
• For the rest, buy some really nice place mats and a runner. 
• For the kitchen table, think good quality plastic placemats. 
• If you have to go fancy, use expensive paper serviettes. 
• If you have a special table cloth, you might want to hang it from a wide hanger in a closet. 

Other

• What else are you keeping in the linen closet?  Think:  Everything must have a home and only one home is best.
• Dog towels and toys - maybe there is another location and if the dog has passed on the dog shelter would love your stuff. 
• Pillows
• Christmas, Easter or Hanukah decorations and linens
• Table decorations
• Doilies – Get real!
• Games and old medicine and hot water bottles and heating pads

Keep just enough and not more.

Even if you are not a downsizing Boomer, these tips may come in handy when getting your home ready to sell.