As the air gets chillier and the days get shorter… you know winter is on its way. And your wardrobe needs to keep up. As you transition from summer cardigans and sandals to sweaters and boots, a closet cleanout is in order.

Clearing out clothes that don’t fit or that you don’t like anymore will make it much easier to see what you have, identify gaps that you should fill (shopping, anyone?), and make the whole process of getting dressed in the morning much simpler.

But when was the last time you actually cleaned the closet itself? Don’t forget to give a little love to the place that houses your favorite jeans, sweaters, handbags and shoes.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Take everything out of the closet and put it on your bed or a hanging rack. (This will also help with the process of culling items.)
2. Wipe the walls, door and baseboards down with a damp microfiber cloth.
3. Use a long-handled duster to dust the ceiling, walls and door jamb.
4. Clean the light fixture in the closet.
5. If you store clothes or accessories in plastic bins, empty them and wipe them down as well. Make sure they are totally dry before you fill them again.
6. Vacuum the floor, including the corners and molding. If you have hard flooring, mop it.

OK, now that the closet is clean, you can fill it again.

You know the drill: separate clothes into piles to keep, alter, clean or donate. Be honest! If you are keeping items because of guilt or nostalgia – don’t! They’re using up space that could be taken up by stuff you’ll actually wear. Finally, move off-season clothes to storage or another closet.

Oh, and happy shopping!