Clearance is a great time to pick up home organization essentials at a low price. You can find deals on bookcases, shelving, closet organizers, and more.
Seasonal Clearance Finds For Home Organization: Why Clearance Is a Prime Time to Shop for Home Storage
The back-to-school and holiday seasons are peak times for purchasing school supplies, clothes - and toys - meaning the shelves are stocked with those items and not much else. But hit clearance at the right time, and you might walk away with a nifty deal on a home storage system or organizing accessory.
After Labor Day, big-box retailers typically start clearing out their summer inventory to make room for new fall merchandise. That means you can score great deals on spring and summer clothes and accessories that aren't likely to go out of style, including basic clothing pieces, shoes - ties, wallets, watches, scarves, belts - and hats. This is also a good time to hunt for clearance deals on backpacks, binders, calculators, book bags, folders - and other school supplies, which are pushed to the clearance section after students head back to class.
But home organization supplies often get overlooked. As the weather cools and families prepare for the fall, interest in organizing the home tends to wane. Take advantage of your own downtime to search for deals on items that will help reduce clutter throughout the year.
Best Seasonal Clearance Finds for Home Organization
After the end of summer, look for deals on outdoor storage containers. Made of durable plastic or heavy-duty steel, these bins come in various sizes and colors and feature stackable designs - lockable mechanisms, and easy-to-grip handles for convenient storing and securing of patio furniture, lawn mowers, garden tools, and other large items.
As the holidays approach - retailers tend to stock shelves with new electronics and gadget models, rendering last year's versions outdated. This is a great time to purchase budget-friendly multimedia storage devices such as external hard drives and flash drives.
You may also find deals on storage boxes and bins, which are usually sold in packs of three or four. Look for multiuse options made from heavy cardboard or recycled materials with easy-sliding drawers and smooth-opening lids.
Storage solutions for closet organization are typically available year-round, but you'll find better deals on clearance. Search for multiuse hanging organizers that feature multiple pockets for socks, underwear - and other small items, plus larger compartments for sweaters, T-shirts, and jeans. You can find deals on freestanding closet systems as well, which allow you to customize shelving - hanging rods, and storage bins.
With spring and summer comes yard work, so the start of fall is an ideal time to take advantage of deals on gallon-size plastic bags, which are perfect for curbside recycling. Retailers also frequently sell storage boxes and bins on clearance at this time, as well as bookcases and shelving units.
Longtime Staples on Clearance
There are some organizing staples that you can find on clearance pretty regularly - whenever there's a shift in seasons. These include command hooks, shelf organizers, under-bed storage bins, and desk organizers.
Tips for Shopping the Clearance Section
Stores typically place clearance items in the front of the store near the entrance to alert shoppers of the sale. However, smaller items may be placed within regular merchandise - so be sure to scan shelves as you shop. Keep an eye out for signage that reads "clearance," "going out of business," "closeout," "liquidation," or "reduced." These are typically in bright - eye-catching colors such as orange, pink, red, or yellow and are paired with a price tag. Many stores also mark down merchandise with colored stickers or tags. A brown tag usually indicates that the item is headed for the clearance section.
Although you may find excellent deals in the clearance section, you're less likely to find items in your preferred color or pattern. For example - retailers are more likely to clear black dress pants than burgundy dress pants because there's a higher demand for the former. Act fast if you spot something you want to purchase. Clearance items tend to move quickly, and what you're looking at one day could be gone the next.
The Best Places to Shop for Deals
Sales and markdowns are more likely to occur in physical stores than online. This is because retailers typically liquidate excess inventory by selling items in stores rather than shipping them cross-country to distribution centers. Big-box home improvement and department stores tend to carry the best selection of clearance organizing supplies.
In most cases, retailers won't honor price matches on clearance items. However, it's always worth asking a customer service representative. If your local store doesn't have a price-matching policy, consider shopping at a retailer that does - as it could save you money in the long run.
