I'm cleaning my closet at this very moment... so I figured it would be a perfect chance to blog about it. This way 1. I'll remember how to adequately clean it out again next time, and 2. I can't break my own rules if I'm sharing them with all of you :)
Okay so to start.. make sure you have a cleaned off surface to sort out your clothes. Your bed is the best place, because it's probably cleaner than the floor, and gives you plenty of flat space to fold and organize. You can also use a dresser, a chair, or if all else fails, the floor.
SORT
Sort your clothes section by section. I tend to have my clothes organized by category, such as jeans, sweatpants, sweaters/cardigans, tanks, tees, long-sleeved, etc....
Do each section separately and within that section sort them in pile, by KEEP, or GET RID OF/NOT SURE.
Fold your keep clothes neatly and put them back in your closet, moving on to the next section.
Make yourself a deal that you have to get rid of X number of items, or fill X number of bags if you are really trying to de-clutter your life.
HOW TO GET RID OF STUFF
Get a few large bags or boxes to use for unwanted clothes. I usually throw all of my clothes that I know I don't want, and that I am not sure of, into one big pile and try them all on at the end to designate if they are definitely get rid of clothes or keep. Remember that if you were unsure about something in the first place, it's usually best to get rid of it because you most likely won't wear it again.
The rule of thumb is to get rid of clothes that
- don't fit you (do NOT save clothes that you one day hope you can fit into, or you think you will alter one day when you know you really won't)
- clothes that are too old and worn out to wear (have holes, rips, stains)
- clothes you have not worn in the past year. I personally tend to be a violator of that rule and keep clothes year after year that I never wear thinking " I didn't get a chance to wear this this year, but I know I will plan to wear it soon!" and then 5 years later, I still didn't wear it and have to get rid of it anyway. Save yourself the hassle and remove it from your closet now.
Once you decide to get rid of clothes, you have to categorize them into a few separate bags or boxes:
Consign: clothes that are in new condition, have no holes or stains, and are still in style or a popular brand. There is a chance a store like Plato's Closet, or the local thrift or consignment store will buy them from you if they know they can sell them. The key here is to be prepared for them to turn away some or all of your offers, and at that point, you cannot put these items back into your closet. You must consider those clothing items for one of the following options.
Hand-me-overs: clothes you think someone you know may appreciate having. If you are getting rid of a bunch of jeans that are your best friend's size, save them for her! Have an old band tee that reminds you of your cousin, shoes that would fit your mom, or that shirt your sister is always stealing from your closet anyway? Consider these "hand-me-overs" to those you care about, and it will make it easier to dispose of them knowing they will get a new "closet" to live in.
Craft: If you're a crafter then you can read this, but if you know you're not, move onto the next option. Crafters; if you love the fabric on that old dress you never wear but keep it because you love the colors in it, reuse the fabric for something new! Make a tote bag, pillow, shirt, or something cool out of it. If you craft often, just keep it for scrap fabric in the future. Love that shirt but hate the sleeves? Cut them off to make it a tank, or cut off the top and make it into a mini skirt. If you can't sew, you can DIY it with safety pins as long as they are hidden.
Host a Clothes Swap Party! This option is the most fun. Plan a party with friends and family, and require everyone to bring a certain amount of clothing and accessory items they no longer want, that are in good condition. Give them a ticket for each item they "swap", display all the clothing in a room of your place like it's in a store, and let everyone go at it! Provide floor length mirrors and dressing areas for trying things on. They can "purchase" the same number of items they brought to share. All unwanted clothes at the end will get donated.
Donate: clothes that don't really fit into any of the above categories... donating will put them in the hands of people who really need them, and you won't feel guilty about "throwing them away" or "wasting" clothes. If you don't need them, you should NOT keep them in your closet because they will waste valuable space and make you feel overwhelmed every time you open your closer. Drop them off at those goodwill bins next time you pass one. Some non-profit organizations will even come pick them up from your house if you have a lot of donations.
*DO NOT be a hoarder. If you know in your heart you won't wear it and don't need it, it's gotta go. Clothes don't have feelings. But you do, and the stress that having too much stuff can cause is unhealthy.
*Don't be sentimental about everything. Keeping an old wedding gown or prom dress is understandable, but if you are the type that doesn't need to keep anything then send it to consignment. Let a new bride or high school girl appreciate and make new memories of their own in your gown. If you decide to keep it, keep it preserved and hung properly in a part of your closet you don't use so it won't take up space. Or better yet, snip a piece of the fabric and put it in a scrapbook to always cherish the dress but be able to part with it. Prom gowns can sometimes be worn again (if it still fits)- keep it with your other evening dresses and find an occasion to wear it. If you keep a clothing item, it should certainly be worn more than once if possible. It's okay to make new memories in an outfit, and trust me, no one really cares if they have seen you wearing it in a Facebook photo last year. Other sentimental clothing items just need to go, unless you plan on wearing them again or have a real purpose of keeping them. Keep a picture or fabric swatch of it to remember why it is so meaningful.
*Don't keep things you don't need. If you have 85 pairs of sneakers and don't have a purpose for keeping each pair, get rid of them. Many shoes need to be replaced often to keep the comfort and benefits, especially when it comes to running and work-out sneakers. If you've had an old pair for multiple years- try to part with it. If those heels that hurt your feel stay in your closet strictly for show, get rid of them. If you have 20 bikinis but hate the way you look in a swimsuit be realistic, get rid of them if you know you're not wearing them.
*Don't keep something because it was expensive or still has the tags on it. If you're an impulse buyer, you may have many new clothes in your closet that you never wore, and know deep down you never will wear but keep them because of the guilt. If you bought it recently, try to return it or get store credit if you don't have the receipt. Or consign it; consignment stores and thrift stores love new clothing with tags because they are more likely to sell it when it's new, and if you bought it recently then it is still a popular style. If you don't want to loose money on the $30 shirt you bought and never wore, decide, is $30 worth the space it takes up in your closet, or can you think of that money just going towards your closet cleaning? Just learn your lesson, and think twice before buying next time.
* Don't forget the accessories! If you're like me and have 800 handbags, you may find the space they take up valuable for other crucial fashion items. Same rules go- if you haven't used the bag in the past year, put it into one of the get rid of categories. Consignment stores are big on bags and wallets especially if they are designer brands. If not, you may be able to think of a friend who would love it. Same goes for belts, scarves, shoes, etc. sort them all!
And lastly...
ORGANIZE
When you put the clothes you're keeping back in your closet, do it neatly or else there was no point in reorganizing in the first place! Everything should be folded or hung, and everything should be easy to access when you need to wear it. Organizing by color does nothing, unless you are the type that will look for an outfit to wear by it's color. I tend to keep things organized by what type of clothing it is, making things easier to find. My favorite type of closet organizers are those hanging shelf/cubbies that hang from your closet rod. For a small narrow piece of closet space, you can fit about 15-20 shirts in each cubby when folded! Takes up much less space than hanging everything, and they are very inexpensive.
I am no expert but as a border-line hoarder myself, these tips seem to work for me. I hope they work for you too!
No comments:
Post a Comment