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Is there a season for publishing lingerie-organization articles in magazines and on websites or is it just coincidence that they pop up each January? Actually, it's common sense. You put Victoria's Secret panties, bras and teddies on your Christmas wish list and they land under your tree. But when you go to stow your new duds, drawers filled with tangled bra straps and ratty panties greet you. Your lingerie deserves better. Time to declare war on the drawer and establish a storage system that ends the clutter once and for all.
Get Thee to a Storage Place
Not a rental-storage facility, silly -- unless you own a ton of lingerie. You need a shop that sells storage containers. Whether you're a purist and require Container Store dividers, baskets, trays and bins -- or a frugalista confident that Home Depot, IKEA, Target, Walmart and discounters like Big Lots has what you need, pick up at least one drawer divider with 6-inch sections. If other drawer organization products appeal to you, grab them. Keep the receipt. Return anything that doesn't work for you.
Clear Out Closet Space
Slips, chemises, teddies, bustiers and other delicate garments have no business being stuffed into drawers with sports bras and granny pants. Instead, hang them in your closet, reserving precious drawer space for basics: hose, panties and bras. One errant bra hook is all it takes to put a hole in your gauzy teddy -- so protect anything that's in danger of being mangled, wrinkled and generally smashed together; relegate these delicate garments to your closet.
Purge and Organize
So you were ruthless about purging your lingerie drawer. You trashed stretched-out stuff, along with what's been around for a decade and the panties that feel great but would embarrass you if a paramedic saw the bleach stains. Oh, and you gave away the bustier that leaves purple imprints on your flesh to a friend. Into your empty drawer, place your dividers. Hook together all your bras, and then fold and stack 'em like chips in a Pringles container so cups keep their shape. Earmark other slots in the storage organizer for briefs, bikinis and thongs for fast identification. Reserve one section for shapewear that's not closet-appropriate.
What About Hose?
Invest in a sock or hose keeper if you live in a world that requires the wearing of stockings. These storage must-haves look like the honeycombs in a beehive, allowing you to sequester one pair of hose per pocket. As you did with your other undergarments, divide your hose into two groups: panty hose and stockings. Roll each pair into a ball (you hung your garter belts in the closet, right?) and stow in a compartment. Think of this as a prison for stockings: each pair has its own little cell and they don't co-mingle, so it's a no-tangle zone.
Take the Pledge
You've done a fabulous job of segregating your lingerie and creating photo-worthy drawers, so it's time to raise your hand and take the pledge: "I, (fill in your name), hereby promise to respect my lingerie and maintain my storage system so I no longer have to hide my dirty little secret: a wasteland of neglected undergarments." Seal the pledge with a little recreational shopping at your favorite lingerie emporium.
