Linen Closet Reset and Inventory Update

Back in December 2025, I reset my linen closet and updated my inventory.

A lot of items were crossed off my inventory list, but most of them didn’t get used up. I took them to work and gave them away because they were opened products I knew I wouldn’t use or no longer wanted. Only a few were things I actually finished.

I had made good progress on my shampoo and conditioner stash. Lotions were another story, so I was trying to do better there. I even brought some to work to keep at my desk so I’d actually use them.

Other hair products, like detanglers and boosters, needed more attention too. Even using them as part of my Self-Care Sunday routine was a start.

I also went through my medications and vitamins, pulled out the expired ones, and took them to the medication disposal box at Walgreens.

Note: Walgreens no longer participates in the medicine take back program. Some CVS locations have a drop box inside near the pharmacy where you can bring expired medications and vitamins. Read the information posted on the drop box or ask the pharmacy for details.

One shelf of the linen closet holds boxes of cat toys, so I also rotated Pepper Jack’s toys to give him something different to play with.

I’m still working on using what I already have instead of letting things sit unused. It’s a work in progress, but that’s the point of these closet resets.

Why I Keep a Linen Closet Inventory

I keep inventories for other areas of my home, including my food pantry and the items I’m selling on eBay. This one is for my linen closet.

For the linen closet, I write down the products I have and how many of each. My food pantry inventory includes expiration dates to help me use things before they expire, but I haven’t added dates to my linen closet inventory.

One of the biggest benefits is knowing what I already have so I don’t overbuy like I used to. When something goes on sale, I can check my inventory to see whether I actually need it instead of buying more just because it’s a good deal.

It also helps me focus on using up what I already own. When I updated my inventory, I noticed that most of the items I crossed off were ones I gave away, not ones I actually used up.

I keep my inventory pages in the notes section of my Erin Condren planner. Instead of rewriting everything each year, I uncoil the pages from my current planner and coil them into the next year’s planner, so I can keep using the same pages.

As for finding everything, that’s where labeling my drawers comes in. The inventory tells me what I have and how much, and the labels help me find it.