Solution: Don’t put dirty rags back in the closet. It’s too hard to distinguish between clean and dirty ones. Launder them after use. Keep small clean rags in a hanging bag so you don’t have to worry about folding or stacking them. Larger towel rags can be stacked on a shelf. Solution: Position your vacuum cleaner front and center, so it’s easy in, easy out. Hang the hose on a hook to free up floor space and to keep from tripping over it. Solution: Keep the products you use most in a handled caddy. Store the rest in a spot that is accessible but not in the way. A lazy Susan makes infrequently used items, such as polishes and waxes, easy to find when you need them. Solution: Get a bucket that nests with your cleaning-supply caddy. (Try the Container Store’s caddy and bucket. Caddy, $6; bucket, $10: containerstore.com.) Solution: Glue clothespins to the inside of your broom closet or door, and clip the gloves by a fingertip to air-dry, open-side down. (If you don’t want the pins permanently affixed, try 3M’s removable Command Adhesive Spring Clips; $4, amazon.com.) Solution: Mount mop and broom holders on the back of the closet door. (Try the Crawford Spring Grip; $4, acehardware.com.) They’ll be out of the way and can air-dry. Even better, for ventilation, insert a screen panel on the lower half of the door.
