The broom closet is actually a project I wanted to do last October, but it was so messy the mere idea left me too overwhelmed to tackle it and too embarrassed to post pictures of it online. Since then I have purged and decluttered most of the house and somewhere along the way my dignity and pride ended up in a bag for Goodwill. I have no shame.
The broom closet is in the laundry room, across from the washer and dryer. That’s not really important, but I’m trying to set a scene. Picture it:
In the spring of 2005, I convinced my husband to consider looking at houses closer to my parents so that my mom could watch Mikey while I was at the office. I quickly found a house–our home now–that appeared perfect. I decided we should take a look; he wasn’t interested. Not in the least bit discouraged, I concocted a long chain of events that landed us in front of the house with a cell phone and the realtor’s phone number. It was Easter.
This isn’t even at full capacity. What’s missing is the vacuum, which I left in the bedroom as an art installation after vacuuming out my mom drawer. The broom closet has looked like a falling Jenga tower, since the day we moved in, but on the day we visited this house for the first time it was pristine and organized. I know this because the woman of the house, a tall, retired schoolmarm wearing culottes and Duo Sas sandals the color of boiled chicken, opened it with a flourish and said, “Look! You could have your very own broom closet. Not too many wives these days can say that these days, can they?”
Not too many wives these days can say they touch a broom with regularity, either, but I don’t hear them complaining. I should know; at the time I was one of those wives. (Probably still am, but that’s irrelevant to the story.)
I pushed my lips around in the shape of a smile and murmured something noncommittal. My husband, on the other hand, barely kept his laugh in check at the idea of me (1) having a broom closet and (2) using it.
True to form, I just tossed in things I thought belonged in a broom closet. Brooms, for one. Cleaning supplies. The vacuum. Other stuff. I didn’t stress too much about it, and when I needed a shelf (the previous owners opposed shelves for some reason) I was content with my husband installing a leftover shelf from our kitchen remodel.
I use the broom closet regularly now, but not the supplies on the shelf. It’s too crazy up there, and I’m short enough to avoid making eye contact. The cleaning supplies I do use I keep under the sink because they’re easier to find. (Telling.) Last week as I was pulling out the vacuum I noticed a strange, solid drip along the side wall that almost looked like battery acid. I followed it up and discovered something up on the shelf leaked at some point. I couldn’t avoid cleaning this mess any longer.
Whatever it was bubbled the wood veneer.
I took everything out and used the long handled blade to scrape off the dried chemicals from the wall and shelf. This worked really well. After that, I started tossing everything I didn’t need. That wallpaper remover was the first to go.
I put everything I used back on the shelf, but quickly realized I could do better.
I went out to the garage and put everything in an old basket from Mikey’s nursery. That gave me enough room to store our bucket up there, too.
I made quick work of the rest of the closet, and by the time I was done everything was in place and stationary. I’ll repaint the interior and replace the shelf soon, but for now there is enough open space for me to easily take out and put back the vacuum for regular housekeeping.
But let’s not get crazy.
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New here? For the next 31 days I�m living according to the famous William Morris quote, �Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.� You can learn more about the project here, and catch sneak peeks of my projects by following me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (I�m @pancakesfries).
Nice!!! We bought one of those wall-mounted broom/mop holders 11 months ago. It’s on top of the bookshelf in our kitchen. After seeing this I’ve got my husband convinced that its time to hang it. (All our walls are cement, so it’s never as easy as just hanging a nail- it’s all anchors and screws.)
Love this October series you’re doing. Although I haven’t joined in. We are in temporary accommodation whilst our bathroom is redone. I’m from the UK – we tend not to have master bathrooms. We are lucky to have one indoor toilet! But now I have 2 houses that are in need of attention, cleaning and decluttering. We move back in November so that’ll be my 30 days for sorting. You are tackling some good stuff – love the broom cupboard, Mom drawer, kitchen cabinets. I don’t even want to think about my kitchen. The workmen have used it as a prep room and it’s covered in dust. They have emptied out my broom cupboard though so that’s a start. Keep going! And writing so dang well while you do it. Now I want a Tuscan arch in my new bathroom.
So, you grabbed a basket. But then switched it to a bin/bucket? Why? I’m confused.
The after is very nice though, kudos. :)
Oh, that must be confusing. I edited the post, thank you. The bucket is there because the basket gave me enough room to store it up there (along with the basket).
Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks!
” . . . and somewhere along the way my dignity and pride ended up in a bag for Goodwill. I have no shame.” Awesome. You never cease to amaze in the way your can make the mundane entertaining! :)
And I’m just gonna go ahead and say it, “Looks great!” (it’s one of the reasons you get a reprieve during October. It’s like my ‘Love it!’ habit . . . only it’s ‘looks great!’ Because I do, and it does. But I get annoyed with even myself–so I try to keep it to myself every once in awhile.)
Nice job! ah…yes, those sandals, “boiled chicken” colored …LOL!! You painted the perfect picture. :)
You are a brave woman…I am steeling up my nerve to even open the broom closet/bottomless pit. Thanks for the inspiration!
Just found this! Giddy because I’m doing a similar project! Can’t wait to read all these posts—good luck!
My broom closet looks a lot like your before pictures. It was organized once, but it has deteriorated over time. The broom rack has fallen off the inside of the door (didn’t have the right anchors), the cleaning supply caddy is overflowing with empty bottles and things that don’t belong, and every time I open the door, I risk losing an eye from the falling debris. I’m going to go put “Clean out broom closet” on the next free space in my calendar. I’m having a hard time thanking you now (I’d rather go read Anna Karenina), but I’ll be grateful when it’s done. This stuff is so easy to overlook but it’s such an irritation when it’s out of order.
Now were talking! That closet is a den of disgusting and you totally made it your beeotch.
Also, SAS shoes better be in style when I’m 70.
“a tall, retired schoolmarm wearing culottes and Duo Sas sandals the color of boiled chicken,”
This right here tells me everything I need to know about this woman.
Also: I’m glad you’re still here today.
the woman of the house, a tall, retired schoolmarm wearing culottes and Duo Sas sandals the color of boiled chicken, opened it with a flourish and said, �Look! You could have your very own broom closet. Not too many wives these days can say that these days, can they?�
Not too many wives these days can say they touch a broom with regularity, either, but I don�t hear them complaining. I should know; at the time I was one of those wives. (Probably still am, but that�s irrelevant to the story.)
one of my fave things you have ever written!
I have a broom/mop claspie thingie in my pantry. I LOVE it. It keeps things off of the floor and I know exactly where my broom and mop belong. Pity they never makes it back there because it’s in a very awkward spot and I have to do this odd little lean and hang move to get to it. When I finally get around to reorganizing all of MY closets and storage spaces, it will get moved and I will once again be a happy girl.
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