Do you want 2015 to be your best year yet? As a professional organizer trainee I am a firm believer that when your home is organized and you are in control of your surroundings, other good things happen in life.

If you are ready to finally get your home organized and keep it that way, the very best way to do so is with some tried and true strategies taught by my mentor, Vicki Winterton, a trained and experienced professional home organizer.

For the past six years Vicki has offered her annual January Clutter Cure Class for Utah Valley residents held at both the Provo and Orem City libraries. Read on to learn how you can attend this class free of charge. Now, back to organizing your closets.

Household closets are known as the vertical junk drawers of the home. Closets are storage areas and we should use them that way.

Unfortunately, most people use the “open-throw-shut” method when dealing with the items stored in their home closets: open the door, throw something in, and shut the door before anything escapes.

However, what most individuals don’t realize is that having an organized closet will actually grow home storage space. Follow these five steps to maximize storage and clear out the closet clutter.

1. Empty the closet. Clean it out as if you were moving. Take everything out and put it on a sheet covering your floor. Nothing left but shelves and hooks. Then wipe it down and vacuum it out.

2. Sort through the contents of the closet. Make four piles. The first is a trash pile. The second contains things to donate. The third includes items that belong elsewhere in your home. The fourth is what you’ll put back in the closet.

EXPERT TIP: Each item that you put back in the closet should pass the three statement test: It’s not trash. I still use it. This is the best place to store it.

3. Maximize your storage space. Think about what you are putting back into the closet and decide if you need more or less shelves, hooks or rods.

EXPERT TIP: Items that are used daily should be stored on hooks instead of hangers. Hangers take more time and effort than hooks. Use the backside of the closet door to put hooks, racks, or even some narrow shelving to enhance every inch of closet space.

4. Reassemble the closet. Adjust the shelves so larger items like a vacuum can be stored without wasting space. Small things like toys, art supplies or accessories should be placed in labeled containers. Clothing and linens should be folded or hung.

EXPERT TIP: When storing sheets, put the fitted and top sheets in the matching pillowcase. Next time you have to make a bed just grab the pillow-cased set.

5. Give everyone a tour of the closet. Show off the closet to everyone else living in the home to make sure they understand your organization system. Give each person their own hook or a shelf section so everyone shares the responsibility of keeping the closet clean.

EXPERT TIP: If you’ve got little children in your home make sure they can reach the things they need access to.

Organizing Challenge: If you’re like most, you probably have more than one messy closet. Pick one closet this week and follow these steps until that closet is clean and organized. Repeat the process next week.

Like these suggestions? Visit www.organize-utah.com/closet-organizing/ to print your own copy of our free closet inventory checklist, weekly outfit planner and cute container labels.

Need professional organizing help with your home trouble spots? Be sure to attend one of the two free classes Vicki is offering this month. She will display actual before and after photos so you can see the difference that her 5-step organizing formula can make in decluttering your own home.

Free Class: Get Rid of Home Clutter Forever

What: A free home organization class presented by Utah County professional organizer, Vicki Winterton

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.

Where: Provo City Library, 550 N. University Ave. on Jan. 15 and the Orem City Library, 58 N. State St., on Jan. 22.

Info: www.organize-utah.com/get-organzied-classes/

More: Bring a friend for a chance to win one of two prize packages!