Handy Tips for a Forage-Free (and Fragrant) Linen Cupboard
Turn your linen storage from lucky dip to time-saving winner with some tidy tips
There’s probably a good reason why most linen cupboards have doors. Behind many of them lurks a chaotic world of randomly crammed-in sheets, yellowing pillowcases, tatty towels and musty blankets. After a recent fruitless fossick for a pair of single sheets for a visiting child, I was forced to confront the shambles that was my linen storage, and I resolved to do something about it. If yours is a symphony of crisp folded sheets and pristine colour-coded towels in neat labelled stacks, smelling faintly of lavender or jasmine, then well done, you. Others, make the move from havoc to handy with some guiding strategies.
Clear the decks
Drastic though it sounds, empty all your linen storage from a central cupboard, bathroom baskets and anywhere you have stashed it. Then, build a big not-so-beautiful linen mountain. Include kitchen linen – tea towels can multiply like rabbits in kitchen drawers. Inspect ruthlessly and start a reject pile of frayed, dingy towels and sorry-stained threadbare sheets. Sort the remainder into bedlinen, towels and other.
When cupboards, shelves and drawers are empty, dust and wipe clean. You might also like to line them with fragrant liners.
Drastic though it sounds, empty all your linen storage from a central cupboard, bathroom baskets and anywhere you have stashed it. Then, build a big not-so-beautiful linen mountain. Include kitchen linen – tea towels can multiply like rabbits in kitchen drawers. Inspect ruthlessly and start a reject pile of frayed, dingy towels and sorry-stained threadbare sheets. Sort the remainder into bedlinen, towels and other.
When cupboards, shelves and drawers are empty, dust and wipe clean. You might also like to line them with fragrant liners.
Do the numbers
There’s a mathematical formula for almost anything and linen storage is no exception. Work on two to three towels per person, two sets of sheets/pillowcases per bed, three to four hand towels and washers per bathroom, plus ‘best’ guest linen according to your average number of guests. Add a supply of beach towels if you live or holiday at the beach, or have a pool. Keep a spare quilt, doona cover and pillow per bed. A stock of 12 to 15 tea towels should handle a busy kitchen for a week or so. Factor in anything waiting to be laundered. Put any items surplus to these numbers with the rejects.
TIP: You can always adjust this supply if you find it doesn’t suit your turnover rate, but start lean and mean. You may even be able to downsize!
There’s a mathematical formula for almost anything and linen storage is no exception. Work on two to three towels per person, two sets of sheets/pillowcases per bed, three to four hand towels and washers per bathroom, plus ‘best’ guest linen according to your average number of guests. Add a supply of beach towels if you live or holiday at the beach, or have a pool. Keep a spare quilt, doona cover and pillow per bed. A stock of 12 to 15 tea towels should handle a busy kitchen for a week or so. Factor in anything waiting to be laundered. Put any items surplus to these numbers with the rejects.
TIP: You can always adjust this supply if you find it doesn’t suit your turnover rate, but start lean and mean. You may even be able to downsize!
Deal with the rejects
If you can’t see over your reject pile, get it sorted. Put a few towels aside for drying wet pets and mopping up spills in the car, and chop one up to use as cleaning cloths. Keep a sheet or two for painting dropcloths if needed. If you sew and craft, hold some items for satisfying rejuvenation as cushions, patchwork squares, or napkins. Weaving rag rugs is a dying art, but is easy and wonderfully rewarding. Check the internet for how to.
Take the rest to a local charity. They redistribute usable linen to needy families, or sell past-it stuff to textile recyclers, who turn it into industrial rags or textile by-products.
TIP: Respect charities and recyclers by putting your unwanted items through a quick wash. There is a chance your rejects will be rejected if they are too nasty.
If you can’t see over your reject pile, get it sorted. Put a few towels aside for drying wet pets and mopping up spills in the car, and chop one up to use as cleaning cloths. Keep a sheet or two for painting dropcloths if needed. If you sew and craft, hold some items for satisfying rejuvenation as cushions, patchwork squares, or napkins. Weaving rag rugs is a dying art, but is easy and wonderfully rewarding. Check the internet for how to.
Take the rest to a local charity. They redistribute usable linen to needy families, or sell past-it stuff to textile recyclers, who turn it into industrial rags or textile by-products.
TIP: Respect charities and recyclers by putting your unwanted items through a quick wash. There is a chance your rejects will be rejected if they are too nasty.
Divide and conquer
Put sheets in sets with their pillowcases, or separate into sizes – flat, fitted, single, queen, etc. If you have decided on multiple storage stations, take appropriate stacks to the rooms where they are to be used.
TIP: Sheet sets are easy to pluck when tucked into a pillowcase from the set. Another idea is to tie each set with a wide ribbon.
Put sheets in sets with their pillowcases, or separate into sizes – flat, fitted, single, queen, etc. If you have decided on multiple storage stations, take appropriate stacks to the rooms where they are to be used.
TIP: Sheet sets are easy to pluck when tucked into a pillowcase from the set. Another idea is to tie each set with a wide ribbon.
Allow room to breathe
Before re-stacking, make sure that items will have air. Circulating air reduces mustiness, moisture and dust. This will be much easier with a pared-down supply as opposed to crammed shelves and drawers that are bursting. Mesh shelves, fabric bags and low-fronted drawers allow ventilation, or simply arrange in tidy piles with space between on open shelves.
Before re-stacking, make sure that items will have air. Circulating air reduces mustiness, moisture and dust. This will be much easier with a pared-down supply as opposed to crammed shelves and drawers that are bursting. Mesh shelves, fabric bags and low-fronted drawers allow ventilation, or simply arrange in tidy piles with space between on open shelves.
Bravo for the basket! Versatile, breathable cane baskets make cheap and attractive storage. This practical style has short legs to maintain air flow around the shelves.
TIP: Breathing space is especially important in humid climates. Dehumidifying crystals help, but change them frequently. Borrow a tip from the tropics: a small low-wattage fluorescent tube installed at floor level at the back base of the cupboard. It puts out just enough warmth to reduce humidity.
TIP: Breathing space is especially important in humid climates. Dehumidifying crystals help, but change them frequently. Borrow a tip from the tropics: a small low-wattage fluorescent tube installed at floor level at the back base of the cupboard. It puts out just enough warmth to reduce humidity.
Give your linen aromatherapy
Apart from scenting your linen, some aromas, like lavender, repel moths and other insects. Hang a posy of lavender, rosemary and bay leaves or tuck fragrance sachets between sheets and towels.
If you iron pillowcases – I do – spritz on some linen water. Be sparing with it and ensure fabric is thoroughly dry before storing. I was getting horrible spotting on my pillowcases until I read that some synthetics react to linen water, so it’s best used on natural fibres.
Make your own with 3 cups distilled water, 1/4 cup vodka and 1 teaspoon lavender (or your favourite) essential oil. Shake hard in a jar and fill a fine spray bottle. Substitute a dash of perfume for oil if you like – how delicious to have Chanel No 5 –scented pillowcases!
Apart from scenting your linen, some aromas, like lavender, repel moths and other insects. Hang a posy of lavender, rosemary and bay leaves or tuck fragrance sachets between sheets and towels.
If you iron pillowcases – I do – spritz on some linen water. Be sparing with it and ensure fabric is thoroughly dry before storing. I was getting horrible spotting on my pillowcases until I read that some synthetics react to linen water, so it’s best used on natural fibres.
Make your own with 3 cups distilled water, 1/4 cup vodka and 1 teaspoon lavender (or your favourite) essential oil. Shake hard in a jar and fill a fine spray bottle. Substitute a dash of perfume for oil if you like – how delicious to have Chanel No 5 –scented pillowcases!
Label for grab-and-go
This is a once-only job and is worth it to maintain organisation past your first laundry day. There are many options. Here, chalkboard paint turns cupboard doors into a handy linen map and is easily updated if anything changes.
This is a once-only job and is worth it to maintain organisation past your first laundry day. There are many options. Here, chalkboard paint turns cupboard doors into a handy linen map and is easily updated if anything changes.
Cardboard price tags are sold in stationery and shop supply outlets. Tie them on with string or ribbon. Luggage or key tags fit the bill, too.
TIP: Position most-used items on central shelves, kids’ towels at reachable kiddy height, and low-usage things up high or down low.
TIP: Position most-used items on central shelves, kids’ towels at reachable kiddy height, and low-usage things up high or down low.
It’s a shame to shut the door on something this shipshape – I’d leave it wide open so all my friends could hate me!
Max your storage
Still a bit tight on space? Create extra storage easily with rails inside closet doors. Free up kitchen drawer space with the same idea for storing your clean tea towels.
TIP: If you are short on shelf and drawer space but have surplus hanging space in your wardrobe, clip folded sheets onto trouser hangers and hang.
Still a bit tight on space? Create extra storage easily with rails inside closet doors. Free up kitchen drawer space with the same idea for storing your clean tea towels.
TIP: If you are short on shelf and drawer space but have surplus hanging space in your wardrobe, clip folded sheets onto trouser hangers and hang.
Save steps by utilising under-bed space for bedlinen. If your ensuite is a bit squeezy, keep a towel supply as well under the bed in drawers or baskets.
Think outside the built-in
Although a beautiful time-worn piece adapted for linen storage looks fabulous, give it the sniff test before committing sheets and towels to it. Old furniture odours can hang around and will penetrate linen, especially pillows and blankets. Don’t put sheets and towels directly onto timber shelves – line with perfumed drawer liners or clean cotton runners.
Tips for eliminating unwanted whiffs in vintage luggage
Although a beautiful time-worn piece adapted for linen storage looks fabulous, give it the sniff test before committing sheets and towels to it. Old furniture odours can hang around and will penetrate linen, especially pillows and blankets. Don’t put sheets and towels directly onto timber shelves – line with perfumed drawer liners or clean cotton runners.
Tips for eliminating unwanted whiffs in vintage luggage
Space, awkward ceiling structure, budget or style preference sometimes rule out built-in storage. This attic bedroom sports white cane storage baskets and trays – love the look!
An end-of-bed trunk is a practical option for bedlinen and an extra cover and pillow. If you have a vintage piece, don’t fill it until all odours have been banished, and don’t overstuff it.
Stick to the in-out rule
Can’t resist those on-sale towels and sheets? Bring them home, and replace an older set. This revolving-door strategy is still one of the best clutter-busting methods and helps manage an out-of-control wardrobe, too.
Can’t resist those on-sale towels and sheets? Bring them home, and replace an older set. This revolving-door strategy is still one of the best clutter-busting methods and helps manage an out-of-control wardrobe, too.
Hang it all
Don’t overlook the trick of storing linen in full sight. A display of yummy towels is a luxurious bathroom look, saves space in bathroom storage and keeps kids’ towels in easy reach.
See how to care for your towels
Don’t overlook the trick of storing linen in full sight. A display of yummy towels is a luxurious bathroom look, saves space in bathroom storage and keeps kids’ towels in easy reach.
See how to care for your towels
An antique-style wrought iron rack takes centre stage in this traditional bathroom and stores several towels as well.
If you live at the beach and storage space is at a premium, display beach towels on pegs, inside or out, for convenience and to get you in a happy holiday mood.
A lemon wall, a tree wall decal, some strategically placed hooks – here’s towel storage with attitude, right out in the open!
TELL US
What’s your best linen organising or recycling trick?Share it with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Storage Dilemma: Where Do I Stash the Linens?
TELL US
What’s your best linen organising or recycling trick?Share it with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Storage Dilemma: Where Do I Stash the Linens?
Is one large closet, ‘Linen Central’, the repository for the whole household’s bed, bath and table linen? This works well in a compact house, but means trekking back and forth in a spacious one. Multiple linen stations might be a better solution for your household. Consider storing items close to where they are used: towels in or near bathrooms, bedlinens convenient to bedrooms, table linen in the dining area. Size up available storage and pick your strategy.