Have hats, gloves, coats, and boots taken over your entryway? Despite what the groundhog said, there’s likely more winter ahead of us. Take this opportunity to get organized and find a system that will work for you and your family this winter and beyond.

1. Take inventory. Do you really need all those scarves and gloves? Are there orphan mittens that need to be separated from the pack? Set them aside and if their mates don’t show up by the end of the season, toss them away. Hint: if you have children, visit the lost-and-found box at their school. You may be astounded at what you find!
2. Get a peg up. Getting kids to hang their coats in the closet can be a losing battle. Plus, you don’t want wet coats crammed in next to dry ones. Pegs are easy for everyone to use and provide space for garments to air out and thoroughly dry. Be sure some of the pegs are installed at child-friendly heights.
3. Divide and conquer. Do everyone’s winter accessories get all jumbled together? How about some canvas bags, one for each family member and clearly labeled with their name? Hang the bags on pegs. If they’re wet, hats and scarves can hang on the peg until dry; then it’s into their owner’s bag. Mittens and gloves too!
4. Bin there. Bins are another way to store gloves, scarves and hats. People are more likely to use them if there’s no lid to open and close. Clear plastic bins or wire baskets let you easily see what’s inside – particularly useful when you have to grab and go!
5. Clean up. Hats, mittens and carves should be washed frequently during the season. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the care labels. If the care labels have disappeared (as frequently happens on mittens), machine wash in cold water on the gentle cycle and line dry.
6. Coat check. For coats and jackets, a mid-season cleaning is a good idea, even if you can’t see the dirt. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the care labels. “Dry clean only” garments go to the drycleaners. For washable garments, check the pockets, zip the zippers and close the hook-and-loop fasteners so they don’t catch bits of lint and thread during laundering – or snag other fabrics.
7. Boot camp. A boot scraper by the door prevents dirt and grime from being tracked inside. A boot tray is a good way to give wet boots a place to dry without having water puddle on the floor.