Find out how to declutter your clothes and keep your closet clutter free with these simple decluttering tips.
Do you still have that ugly sweater your aunt Betty gave you for Christmas 4 years ago?
Are you still hanging onto those parachute pants from the 1980s believing they are going to come back into style any day now? If so then it’s long past time that you declutter your clothing.
Decluttering your clothing can be a big and time consuming task, but once you have finished you will be pleasantly surprised at how much more space you have in your closet and how easy it will be to find the outfit you want for every occasion.
(You may also want to read this article on how to keep clothes smelling fresh in drawers and closets.)
5 Simple Steps to Decluttering Your Clothes
#1. Start by Gathering All of Your Clothing
In order to declutter your clothing, you need to gather all of your clothes in one location. Start with emptying out your closet and bedroom dressers and pile the clothing on the bed.
Then gather up the rest of your clothing from the laundry, your coat closet and other places. Make sure you include the following:
- Coats, jackets and other outerwear
- Uniforms
- Pajamas and loungewear
- Out of season clothing
- Fashion scarves
- Costumes
- Shoes and Boots
Once you have all of your clothes together you are ready to sort through your clothes. Your goal should be to get rid of 1/3 to ½ of all the clothing you own.
You are going to want to sort your clothing into three different piles the “keep” pile, the “Maybe” pile and the “Donate or Sell” pile.
#2. Check your Clothing One Item at a Time
Pick up each item of clothing one at a time and decide which pile the clothing should go in.
If you are not sure whether to keep an article of clothing or not, ask yourself the following two questions:
- Do I love this piece of clothing?
- Have I worn it in the last 6 months?
If you can’t answer yes to both of those questions then place that article of clothing in either the “donate/sell” pile or the maybe pile.
Items you are definitely going to get rid of should be neatly folded and placed in a box to save you time later.
When you get to clothing such as socks, first divide them into pairs disposing of any single sock that you can’t pair up. Then keep the best of the rest of the socks and place all other pairs into the “donate/Sell” box.
When it comes to bras and panties get rid of anything that is stretched out, that the elastic has come loose or that you simply don’t feel comfortable wearing.
Remember that most undies have a shelf life and there is no sense in keeping items that are not comfortable or no longer wearable.
#3. Organize and Put Away All of Those Clothes You Are Keeping
Once you have sorted through all of your clothing, then go through your “keep pile” and organize the items and put them away in the proper places.
Keep in mind that you are better off keeping a few basic items (skirt, slacks, jeans, white shirt, white tee, blazer, and little black dress) and a few additional items that you can mix and match easily with the various pieces of your basic wardrobe.
Make sure you keep a few special pieces for those dinners out and special events and occasions.
You may also want to read this article to learn the different dimensions of clothes hangers to help you choose the right hangers for hanging and organizing your clothes.
#4. Tackling that “Maybe Pile”
Now you should have nothing left except for your “maybe pile”.
The best way to decide if an item of clothing in the “maybe pile” should be kept or not is to try on each and look at yourself in a full length mirror.
If you don’t feel beautiful or comfortable when you put on the item then don’t keep it. In addition, if you already have a similar item, then it is best if you don’t keep this item since you really don’t need repeated items in your wardrobe.
#5. Organize as You Declutter
Decluttering your clothing is the perfect time to organize your closet and dresser so that everything will be easy to find and within easy reach.
Once your closet and dresser is empty it will be easier to install drawer dividers and baskets on those closet shelves so that when you replace your clothing everything is neat and tidy.
How Often Should I Declutter My Clothing
If you are an organized person then you may only need to do a major decluttering of your clothing once a year.
Then at the beginning of every season, you can simply go through your clothing for the season and sort out those you intend to keep and those you need to give away or discard.
Keep a list of any items that have worn out that you need to replace. By doing this you will always have everything you need for each new season and still be able to keep your closet and drawers orderly and looking their best.
Related Decluttering Articles:
Marge
Thursday 8th of April 2021
I hang everything with the hangar backwards. It goes in frontwards after worn. At the end of the season you can see what hasn’t been worn hence easy now to get rid of. I have been know to occasionally turn an item even if it had not been worn.