4 quick pointers for organizing your linen closet

From the towels you use every day to the family quilt you've been working on for years, linens are important. These 4 quick pointers will help you keep your linens safe, well organized, and clutter-free.

It's easy to customize a closet for the storage of all your household linens. Here are standard space requirements for a linen closet:

• Bath towels need a shelf 40 to 60 centimeters (16 to 24 inches) deep and at least 35 centimeters (14 inches) high.
• Sheets need 15 to 60 centimeters (6 to 24 inches) of depth and an area 30 centimeters (12 inches) high.
• Put your most-used linens within easy reach, seasonal items on the next level and infrequently-used linens on the highest shelves.

• To keep bed linens and towels smelling fresh, store them in a well-ventilated place.
• Coated wire shelves and louvred closet doors will keep air circulating around your linens.
• Avoid overcrowding by getting rid of unused items.
• When you add clean towels, sheets, or pillowcases to the linen closet, put them at the bottom of the pile. As you use these items, take them from the top so that they'll rotate evenly in use and wear.

• Hang your blankets up instead of jamming bulky, folded blankets into the linen closet.
• A free-standing quilt rack can be useful to hang your blankets.  Put it in an unobtrusive corner or in the spare space of a closet.
• Another solution is to build a blanket-hanging rack attached to a closet door. Your closet's doors should be solid - not hollow-core - to support the rack. Cut holes for dowels (at least 1.5 centimeters or 3/4 inch in diameter) in two 2x4s. Cut the 2x4s to fit lengthwise on the inside of the closet door (1.2 metres/4 feet). Insert the dowels and attach the unit to the door. You can hang up as many blankets as you have dowel room.

• Roll old quilts and antique linens before storing. If you must fold them, refold them often to avoid crease marks.
• Wrap or cover old linens to keep out dust and bright light, which can cause deterioration, fading and yellowing. Good wrappings and coverings include acid-free boxes or tissue paper and old cotton sheets.
• Store in a well-ventilated place.

These tips will keep your linens looking and smelling fresh and will open up some extra storage space in your home.  And don't worry: we won't tell anyone about those superhero bedsheets.