We have all been there - standing in the doorway of our closet, determined to get rid of the things we no longer wear. Somewhere around 10 minutes into the process you find yourself trying on a shirt you haven't worn in years, telling yourself you don't have to let it go, you WILL wear it. Soon. Promise. It is a slippery slope. Before you know it, you are going over all of the possible scenarios where you will wear items x, y and z and decide it is better to keep them "for now", but tell yourself the next time you decide to go through your closet you WILL get rid of everything you still haven't worn (ha ha).
I am not immune to the pressures of going through my own closet. Sure, I can be ruthless in pretty much every other area of my home, but there really is something about the wardrobe. I think for many of us, it has a lot to do with the memories of the clothing.
The thing is, when something hangs in your closet day after day (year after year) and you don't reach for it, chances are you really don't need to keep holding on to it. We wear what makes us feel happy. Be it for comfort, confidence or favoritism, we want to feel good in what we are wearing.
There is a saying in the world of organizing: We wear 20% of our closet 80% of the time. I completely agree with this statement.
If you are looking for guidance to successfully tackle this project, I have put together my criteria for decision-making when going through clothing.
It All Comes Out
You must completely empty the space in order to have the most success.
As you are emptying your closet of it's contents, you need to do your first round of decision-making. Any clothing item that is damaged, too small or you know without thinking you will never wear it again, needs to be placed to the side (for donation/resell/etc.).
So you don't become completely overwhelmed by all that you own, I suggest using 66 gallon totes (or larger) to sort each category of clothing. This way the top of your bed stays clear, the floor doesn't become a land mine and you are not dealing with one giant pile of clothing.
Now that the closest is emptied, dispose of all broken hangers and dry cleaning hangers, empty shoe boxes, bags and general trash. Use a clean cloth to wipe down of all of the shelves, clothing rods, baseboards and the floor.
Gather Your Supplies
Take inventory on the quality and condition of your hangers and any containers you were using to store your clothing and accessories. Do you have a mish mash of hangers - all different sizes and colors?
I strongly suggest using only one type/color of hanger. This will bring a level of uniformity to your closet. All clothes will hang in the same, even line and the hangers will blend into the background allowing your clothes to take center stage.
Is it time to upgrade or replace your laundry hamper? What sort of shoe storage would you like to employ? Your goal should be to maximize the wall, shelf and door space and keep the floor of your closet free and clear. You want to make maintaining this space effortless. It will be easier to keep clean if you do not use the floor for storage.
Less is More
Remind yourself of this mantra as you are culling though each category within your closet. You will save yourself time getting dressed if you have pared down to just your favorites. Don't be afraid of letting go. If your spring closet cleaning efforts are effective, you will find you won't be presented with this huge task each year.
Quality Over Quantity
Have you come across the "same" black shirt 3 times over? Or do the "same" pair of dark wash skinny jeans or straight leg khakis appear to be multiplying?
We have a tendency to migrate towards the same style when out shopping for new items. This often leads to a closet filled with the same clothes, just different brands. What it also means is that while you have 5 very similar navy blue, button-down shirts, you most likely wear one of them more frequently than all of the rest.
Don't allow the "same" style shirt, in the same color, just different brands, to take over your closet. Determine the reason you choose one out of all of these the most. Is it because it is more comfortable? Is the material a better quality than the others? Is it the perfect length? Be honest with yourself - why are you holding on to multiples of a very similar shirt when you really only wear the one? Pick your favorite (two max!) and eliminate the rest.
Don't Get Hung Up on Sunk Costs
Do not let yourself get caught up on what you spent on the item. Costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered are referred to as "sunk costs". As you go through the items in your closet, most should be considered sunk costs. Since you cannot get the money back that you spent on the item, you should only think about the value that it can add to your wardrobe in the future.
Evaluate the Quality of Duplicates
If you have a favorite t-shirt or jean in multiples, it is fine to hold on to all of these. Wear, tear and stains happen over the course of time. Owning duplicates of your favorite clothing essentials, will make it easier for you to let go of one when it becomes too worn or stained.
However, if you are planning on holding on to more than 1 of the exact same item, you need to be sure all duplicates are in excellent condition. Retire those that are worse for the wear.
Make a TBD Pile
Be swift with your decision-making. Quiet the voices in your head and follow your gut.
Do you know the last time you wore it?
Was it at least within the past year?
Did you put it on and then take it off less than 10 minutes later and haven't worn it since?
Does it fit properly?
Do you still like this style of clothing?
If your closet was a store, would you buy this item right now?
If you have asked yourself all of the above questions and are still on the fence about the item, move it into your To Be Determined pile. You will come back to these items one more time before putting your closet back together.
Keep Trying on Clothes to a Minimum
I strongly suggest holding off trying on any clothes until you evaluate your TBD pile. The more you try on, the longer the process takes. Not only does it add time to your overall project, it also pulls on your emotional ties to the clothing.
Special Occasion Clothing
We all have clothes reserved for special occasions. These may be things you haven't worn in the past few years, but still don't want to let go. That is ok. The goal for your special occasion clothing should be to eliminate anything that is worse for the wear, no longer fits or you just don't love it.
Evaluate Your TBD Pile
Now that you have gone through every item in your closet, it is time to come back to your TBD pile and make final cuts. How big is this pile? If it contains more than 10 items, your goal should be to cut it down to just 10 things. Remember that percentage from the beginning - we typically only wear 20% of our closet 80% of the time. Try not to hold on to things that are just going to continue to take up space in your closet.
For the things that you really just can't let go of right now, I challenge you to wear them over the coming weeks. If that pair of flats gives you blisters by the end of the day, let them go. This is a great way to guarantee that you will not only get use out of the items you chose to hold on to, but it is also a way to ensure you are keeping them because they add value to your wardrobe.
Turn Hangers to Face Out
As you are putting your closet back together, hang each item on a hanger that is turned out. Once you wear an item and wash it, return it to your closet on a hanger that turns in. This way, when it comes time for you reevaluate your closet's contents, you will quickly be able to take inventory on what you have worn vs. not worn since the last time you edited your wardrobe.
Color Coordinate & Categorize
Think of your closet as your favorite boutique. Group similar items together and color coordinate within those categories.
Not only will your closet be more visually appealing to you, but it will make putting together the perfect outfit much easier.
And I dare you to not feel inspired by your wardrobe once you have it set up like your favorite shop.
Happy Spring Closet Cleaning!
Feel free to share your favorite closet editing tips or if you found mine helpful!
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