Closet Clear-Out: Declutter Like a Pro

The changing of seasons provides a perfect opportunity to declutter your closet. As the seasons change, so does our wardrobe. It's that time of year again to bid farewell to lighter layers and breezy outfits and make room for cozy sweaters and winter coats. Cleaning out your closet might seem daunting, but it's also incredibly liberating. Not only does it clear physical space, but it also clears mental space, allowing you to curate a wardrobe that truly reflects your style and makes getting dressed a joy. It may sound simple and straightforward, but did you know there's actually a method to effectively cleaning out your closet?

In this blog, we will explore five effective tips to help you tackle the closet clean-out process smoothly and efficiently, along with a printable guide for your convenience.

As with any good process, you first need to start with a plan. Before you jump into cleaning out your closet, take a moment to strategize. Set aside dedicated time for the task and create a checklist or plan of action. You can sort your items by categories like tops, bottoms, dresses, etc., or by seasonality. Having a plan will keep you focused and make the process smoother.

Next, is what we call the Wear, Share, Store Method. You will need to get four boxes and label as follows to sort your items:  

1. Keep: These are items that will find their way back into your closet, ones that you regularly wear and love.
2. Donate/Sell: Here’s where you put pieces you haven’t worn in over a year and probably won’t wear again. Just make sure they’re in decent shape for someone else to enjoy.
3. Store: This box is for anything you haven’t worn in a couple of seasons but can’t bear to part with. These pieces can be safely tucked away in storage.

Now comes the hard part. Pull every single item out of your closet- this includes belts, hats, scarves, shoes, etc...𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆.

As you begin to sort, do a quality check to assess the condition of your clothes - check for stains, holes, or items that need repair. Decide if the item is worth fixing or if it's time to say goodbye. Items that are damaged beyond repair go into a DISCARD pile.

Now, it’s time to be real with yourself about what you actually wear and what doesn’t fit your style anymore. If it hasn’t seen the light of day in the past year, it might be best to say goodbye. 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 ensures that what remains in your closet is wearable and enjoyable.

Find a category (from above) for each piece. Questions you can ask yourself as you categorize:

1. Have I worn it in the past year?
2. Is a classic piece that never will go out of style? Think trench coat, white button down shirt, LBD, good quality jeans, etc.
3. Is it still in good condition?
4. Is it versatile? Meaning, can it be paired with multiple pieces?
5. Do I feel good when I wear it?
6. Does it fit? Boy, this is a tough one…. it’s understandable to want to hold onto clothing that doesn't currently fit but consider whether keeping it aligns with your present needs and self-care goals.
7. Would you buy this piece again?

If you answered no to one or more of the questions, it’s probably not a 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧. While you can store it away, try not to make a habit of stashing every piece in the STORAGE category.

After deciding what to keep, it’s time to organize that KEEP box. Organize your closet in a way that makes sense to you. Arrange items by type, color, or season to make it easier to find what you need. As an example, here is how I've got my closet set: dressy or button-down tops are hung by color, pants are hung and sorted by color, graphic tees have their own spot away from other tops (𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕! 𝑳𝑶𝑳!) and folded so the graphic shows for easy selection, casual tops and sweaters are also grouped by color, purses are organized by color, dresses are arranged from dressy to casual and then by color, and blazers and jackets are also by color. Invest in storage solutions like bins and baskets, quality hangers, accessory organizers for scarves and belts or over-the-door organizers to maximize space and keep everything neat.

Once your closet is decluttered and organized, take a moment to celebrate your accomplishment. Treat yourself to a little something special for your closet like a cute rug, fun wall decals, stylish mirror, fun decorative hooks, or aromatic sachets or just enjoy the feeling of having everything in order. To keep your closet organized, try following a “𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩" rule when buying new items. Also, make it a habit to do seasonal clean-outs to stay on top of things and maintain that sense of order.

Cleaning out your closet isn't just about creating physical space; it's about 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒋𝒐𝒚. Embrace the changing seasons as an opportunity to refresh your style and streamline your daily routine. By following these tips and committing to regular closet maintenance, you'll find that 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔-𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆, your closet is filled with pieces that you love and that reflect your unique style and personality. It not only boosts confidence but also allows you to 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚! Happy cleaning and happy styling!

Thank you for sticking with us until the end! As a token of our appreciation for reading our blogs, enjoy a 15% discount on your next purchase with the code THANKYOU15 (code expires 1/1/2025). Happy shopping!

 Printable: CLOSET CLEAN OUT GUIDE

𝑿𝑿𝑶𝑶,   𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒂, 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒆 & 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊

Continue shopping