Cleaning out my closet ~ What to Keep, Throw & Other Big Decisions!

Well, you cannot do a series on cleaning out your closet without facing the biggest part of reorganizing your wardrobe ~ getting rid of clothes you do not wear. 

I always have a huge dilemma trying to decide what and when I should purge the clothes in my closet.  It is not that I particularly want to hang on to everything, it is more that I am petrified that as soon as I throw a piece of clothing away I am going to want it again!

That being the case I love hearing other people’s ideas on what to keep and what to throw/give away, so I thought I would compile a few ideas for anyone else out there in the same boat as me.

Generally, the suggestion is to choose a specific time and set aside a few hours to do the job.  I would do it at all at once because I hate stretching a job like this out.  However, I do think that if you did not have the time to get through the entire job, do not just put it off but section your wardrobe into categories and work on each category as you have time.   For instance, you could divide your wardrobe by tops, bottoms, dresses, outer wear, under wear, etc., whatever works  best for you.

The other thing you can do is schedule this clean out at the same time as you change your summer/winter wardrobe over.  You may only want to do a tossing clean out once a year, rather than bi~annually.   I have been rather remiss, and have not done one through go through of my wardrobe in years{!}, but I have one scheduled for this seasonal swap over. 

So on to the big decisions ~ how do you decide what you keep, toss and donate?

Keeping Clothes ·

Besides the obvious pieces you wear all the time, there are often other items in your wardrobe that you might want to hold on to.  Remember that even if you do not wear something, it does not means it has be thrown away or donated ~ storage is a great option to clear out some more space.  Just remember if you store things there will be a time when you have to move them and/or sort them again so think hard about it before you choose to store.

When to keep an item:

• You still really love it and cannot bear to let it go; but it is out of date.  I would put these pieces away in storage if you have the room, because what goes around comes around.   All fashions refilter in some way, and even you do not use them again, maybe someone else would, like a daughter or niece.   
  
• If it is a high quality, basic item such as a blazer, suit or shoes {only keep the shoes if they are in excellent condition though!}.  Again these can go away in storage, but really think about these items.   If you really just do not want them; sell them!  Ebay is a great source of a bit of extra cash for that new jacket or pair of shoes that you will really love.  
  
• If it is a unique item such as a beaded top or special occasion dress.  You may not wear these items that often, but remember you do not go to those special events that often, so keep them for later.


• If you want to upcycle or repurpose an item.  DIYs and crafty people are generally always on the look out for supplies and materials, if you think you could use the clothing in another  project, put it in your supplies stash.   The other idea is that if you are handy with a sewing machine {or even just scissors and safety pins!} you can always recreate the garment into something new.  
  

Tossing or Donating Clothes

When you make up your toss/donate pile it is important to consider the last time you wore the item.  Some experts say that if you have not worn something within 6 months to a year, you should get rid of it, but personally the best time frame I have used was two years. 

The other trick I have used is to down grade the item ~ so if I used to wear it out, but am not sure that I want to any more, I use it for around the house clothing, doing chores, painting, gardening ~ that sort of thing.  If you find you do not care what happens to it, then you have made the right choice.  If you hesitate wearing the item because you do not want to ruin it, then you might need to upgrade back to ordinary wardrobe wear, or just simply donate it.  The same principle of down grading can apply for ‘special’ outfits ~ although extremely formal wear usually does not work as everyday wear!

Also, it is a good idea when you downgrade to throw out a piece of around the house clothing, working with a replacement system so that you do not collect too many old tops/pants/etc.   You do not need more than two or three old tops to do the dishes in!

When to toss/donate an item:

• If something is ripped, stained or worn out; throw it out.  If it just has a little hole in it, it is more than likely that someone else may still find the garment useful, so you can donate it.  Just use your discretion ~ if you think it is ruined, there is a good chance that someone else would too.
  
• If you are only holding onto it for sentimental reasons.  With this tip I think there is definitely leeway as long as you have the space!  For instance, keeping your wedding gown, or perhaps your prom dress.   You cannot keep everything; but that does not mean you have to throw everything out either.   That denim jacket from high school may come into style again ~ so if you have the room you can hang on to it. 
  
  However, do not hang on to sentimental items that you cannot wear again ~ like your lucky socks that are in holes.   Unless you plan to cut them up and use them elsewhere, like in a quilt or something, do yourself a favour and toss them!
  
• If something noticeably does not fit you.  Again, there are exceptions ~ you might like oversized t~shirts or sweaters, and belting a dress can often take it from a tent to looking completely new and completely cute.  It is harder to get away with pants and jeans that are too big, so use your discretion here.
  
  On the other end of the scale, too tight clothing is really not a good look, so toss or donate anything that is straining at the seams, popping buttons/zips or bunching awkwardly.   If you want to keep a special dress or garment for weight loss inspiration ~ I say go for it!  But you do not need a whole ‘weight loss inspiration wardrobe’.   Chances are that once you reach the size you want to be, you will also want to celebrate with new clothes, so hang on to one or two items, but get rid of the rest. 
  
  And maternity clothes do not count unless you have decided that your family is large enough, in which case there may be a mother~to~be that is grateful for your donation to help with the budget costs of babies! 
  
• If you do not love it anymore.   This can be a little hard with basic items, because you do not always ‘love’ these pieces, but if you wear them a lot than that’s a good indicator that you need to hang on to them.

I hope you find these guidelines helpful for the next time you are cleaning out your closet ~ do let me know if you have any other tips and hints that you have found helpful.  I love hearing your ideas too!  ^ u ^

xox,

bonita