Decluttering your closet is a huge task, we aren’t going to pretend it isn’t. Therefore, you’ve got to be in the right frame of mind to get it done, which means having plenty of time and energy to do so.
Take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to declutter your closet.
At A Glance
- Take everything out
- Get rid of anything broken stained, or ill-fitting
- Scale down your wardrobe
- Put everything back into categories and color code items
Empty Your Closet Out
This may sound extreme, but being able to actually SEE everything in your closet can make the decluttering process a lot easier. This also allows you to put everything back in a more organized manner for a truly sensational-looking closet.
The Important Questions
Ask yourself the following questions when decluttering:
- Does it fit you?
- Does it need repairing?
- Is there a stain you can’t get out?
- Is it too worn to give away?
Start With What You Don’t Wear
The golden rule in organizing, whatever it may be, is if you haven’t used it in the last year it’s time to get rid of it. Obviously, we’re not saying to chuck your priceless memories or your baby’s first soft toy.
When it comes to clothing, we can be a little more ruthless. Remove all the items in your wardrobe that you’ve not worn in the past year. Chances are there is a reason we’ve not worn something recently.
Create A Maybe Box
There might be some items that are a ‘maybe’ when you’re decluttering your closet for any number of reasons.
Getting a spare cardboard box or plastic container to put the items you aren’t sure about getting rid of allows you to come back to it later.
If in a few months’ time you decide you want to keep something then you’ll know it was the right decision. For those items that you forgot about, it will show you the item no longer serves a purpose in your life.
Split Your Clothes Into Categories
Once you’ve gotten rid of the dead weight so to speak, you can start to organize your clothes into categories. For example, gathering all your trousers into one pile or laying them out on the floor can help you to realize what you have.
Assessing The Categories
Do all of the trousers still fit you? If they do, then great. But, do you wear them or even like them still? If you think they ‘might come back into fashion’ then it’s probably time to get rid of them.
Although fashions do come back around, we never know when this is going to happen so they will take up valuable closet space in the meantime.
Then it’s time to be really ruthless, do you need 10 pairs of trousers? We often tend to buy similar items to ones we already know we like and that suit us which leaves us with duplicates.
However, these are only a certain amount of black trousers one person can own. Be realistic and think about how different the trousers are from one another and let some go.
Improving Upon The Categories
Once you’ve got some solid categories, you can also see what you’re missing from your wardrobe. Do you own 10 t-shirts but not one nice blouse? It’s time to change and make a more functional wardrobe.
If you see anything that you have too much of, thin it down. If you’re missing an essential piece, write it down. Then when you’re heading to the store next, you will be going with a specific purpose.
Re-organizing Your Closet
Now you’ve freed yourself from clutter and you’ve put that ‘maybe’ box out of sight, it’s time to put everything back. Hanging the clothes in categories and color coding them is a great way to keep everything visible and organized.
This will make it more likely that you keep track of what you own and actually wear your items more often!
Top tip: use the same kind of hanger for all your clothes as this will save space and make it look more aesthetically pleasing.
Adopt The One In One Out Policy
When you buy something new, get rid of something old. This is a great rule to keep in mind when you’ve finished the decluttering process and want your closet to stay that way.
What To Do With The Old Clothes
Now it’s time to figure out what to do with the clothes you no longer want or need. Split these into piles labeled sell, donate, and trash.
Sell
Second hand selling platforms have grown in popularity. These are fantastic for selling items that still have the tags on or are still really good quality.
Whether you’re selling your own clothes or your children’s there are multiple sites that are aimed at specific audiences, making the process even better.
Donate
Donating your old clothing is a great way to help out the community and give to the less fortunate. Charities, thrift stores, and homeless shelters are a good place to start when donating.
Calling ahead can avoid disappointment as some stores stop taking donations when they reach capacity.
Trash
Unfortunately, there are some items that are too worn out or broken to be able to donate or sell. Other items such as sleepwear and underwear aren’t always appropriate for those means, which just leaves you with the option of putting them in the trash.
The Bottom Line
Decluttering your closet is a hard task and one we usually put off doing. When we’ve finally tackled it, it leaves us feeling confident and organized. Plus we usually find some hidden gems we completely forgot about!
Keeping on top of your closet and the items you allow in it is the key to success in staying clutter-free in the future.
When I learned as a child that fashion and beauty go hand in hand with “suffering and pain”, I decided to make a difference.My love for animals is as important to me as my love for fashion.
That’s why I’m devoted to promoting cruelty free and vegan options for clothes, shoes, accessories and make-up.
I truly hope that my website inspires you to make wise choices when it comes to buying clothes or beauty products.When we all contribute a little, we can make the world a better place.
Love, Jessica
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