Cleaning isn’t just for spring. Fall has arrived, and with it arrives the need for a freshly organized closet. With a few simple steps, you can feel inspired by your clean closet and rid yourself of unnecessary clutter.

Cleaning out your closet can be overwhelming — believe me, I know.

For me, starting with an empty closet is the best way to begin. Remove all clothing, shoes, belts, and other items and evaluate each piece. As you decide what to return to your closet, ask yourself, “If I were in a store, would I buy that?” If yes, the piece goes in. If no, stick it in a bag for Goodwill. If you haven’t worn a piece in a year or more, toss it.

As you put clothing back, realize you are more likely to wear something if you can see it. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind” is especially true when it comes to your closet. Do yourself a favor: Store out-of-season clothing under your bed in a labeled container to create more room for your current clothes.

I’m a firm believer in keeping a few spare hangers in case you come home with some new garb. Having these readily accessible will allow easy cleanup. Make sure your garments are in place daily, and you’ll be much less overwhelmed in the future.

Round up various baskets for your organizational journey. On the top shelf in my closet, I have two deep bins, one for undergarments and the other for socks.

Organizing your jewelry with smaller boxes can also come in handy. This will free up space in your chest of drawers, giving you more room to store bulkier clothing.

Shoes can be pesky items to organize. Whether you store them on your closet floor, on shelves or on a hanging shoe rack, pick a plan and stick with it.

Organization is your friend! Once you’ve begun, you might not want to stop. If you are consistent, keeping your closet clean will be a breeze.