Wardrobe Week

Get out your high-heeled sneakers, Baby--it's time to think of holiday finery.  This week, our Housework focus will see us declutter, organize and clean clothing care areas and the clothes closets.

Will the family be able to strut their stuff all season long?  We'll do a family wardrobe check to make sure everybody's covered (literally) for the season's events.  Clothes closet decluttering helps us add needed clothing items to the gift list or shopping list in good time to replace worn or out-grown clothing--and we'll begin individual gift suggestion lists using the clothing sizes and preferences we discover.

Rounding out the week, we work on Christmas card chores, brainstorm ideas for Secret Santa celebrations and begin catalog or Internet shopping.

Ready? Time to get cracking ... on Wardrobe Week!

This Week's Focus: Clothing Care Areas and Clothes Closets

Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

• Into the clothes closet - page 130-138
  STOP clutter in the clothes closet, organize clothing, and plan seasonal clothing storage.  Don't miss tips for your clothes closet personality type!
• Create a laundry activity center - page 142
  Speed clothing care chores with an efficiently-organized laundry center.

Inspiration from the Web:

• Changing Seasons: Clothes Closet Declutter
• Lighten the Load: Laundry Systems Analysis 
• State of the Closet: Pre-Holiday Wardrobe Check!
• Three Tips for Catalog Shopping

This Week's Houseworks Checklist

• Tackle the clothes closet. With cooler weather on the way, a seasonal clothes closet declutter is in order. Make room for holiday finery as you sort and toss summer's stained garments. Dare to dump it!
• Declutter, clean and organize clothing care areas. From laundry room to sewing basket, it's time to make a clean sweep of clothing care areas. Declutter the laundry room, then clean and organize any other household area devoted to clothing care. Make it easy to do the wash, press a dress or sew on a button ... fast!

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist

• Family Wardrobe Check.  Time for a pre-holiday wardrobe check! Fill out the family wardrobe worksheet, and put any "To Buy" items on your shopping list.
• Plan photo wardrobes. Check condition and fit for family photo outfits. Save time and tears!
• Begin individual "gift suggestion" lists for each family member.  As you check wardrobes, record clothing sizes, colors and preferences on the Gift Idea Planner form. You'll know what to say when Grandma asks for gift suggestions!  
• Clear coat closets.  Colder weather plus holiday guests can mean stuffed quarters in the family coat closet.  Haul out the clutter, and add extra hangers for guests' coats.
• Brainstorm ideas for Secret Santa or 12 Days exchanges.  Workplace, school or social group gift exchanges should be small and sweet.  Come up with gift ideas for these informal exchanges now.
• Begin shopping catalogs or the Internet.  Ordering early really pays off if you shop online or through catalogs.  Begin now to spread the financial burden and build up reserves in the gift closet--and to be sure you receive gifts in good time.
• Divide the Christmas card list into five sections.  Complete one section this week.  Goal:  to be finished writing, signing and addressing cards by November 15.

This Week's Christmas Planner Pages to Print:

Wardrobe PlannerGift Ideas PlannerCatalog/Internet