Take Inventory of Your Closet Contents
Taking inventory of everything in your closet is the first step to decluttering.
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Go through each item in your closet and ask yourself “Have I worn this in the last year?” and “Does this still fit me properly?”. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself. If you haven’t worn it recently or it doesn’t fit, put it in a donate or sell pile.
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Group similar items together like pants, shirts, dresses, etc. This will help you see how many of each item you actually have and make it easier to purge duplicates.
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Check for items that need repair like missing buttons, ripped seams, or broken zippers. Decide if it’s worth fixing or time to let it go.
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Look for clutter culprits like single socks, unmatched hangers, empty garment bags, etc. Toss or reuse this unnecessary clutter.
Decide What to Toss, Donate or Sell
Once you’ve taken a thorough inventory, it’s time to make some decisions about what stays and what goes.
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Toss anything ripped, stained, or too worn out to donate. Recycle/upcycle if possible.
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Donate gently used clothes that don’t fit your lifestyle anymore. Find a local charity drop-off center.
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Sell designer and specialty items through consignment shops or apps like Poshmark. Price items reasonably to sell quickly.
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Let go of ill-fitting clothes, even if nearly new. You won’t wear them so they are just taking up space.
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Purge duplicate items you don’t need. Keep your favorites in each category and let the rest go.
Organize Your Closet into Categories
An organized closet should make it easy to find what you need quickly. Categorize your items.
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Group tops together – sweaters, t-shirts, blouses, etc. You can also subgroup by sleeve length.
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Hang pants and skirts together by length and color. This prevents a jumbled mess.
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Store delicate items like silks and cashmere separately to prevent snags. Use cloth garment bags.
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Hang accessories like belts, scarves and purses on hooks for easy access.
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Categorize by season – have sections for off-season clothes that you access only occasionally.
Utilize Closet Storage and Organization Tools
There are many products available to maximize your closet space and keep items tidy.
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Use shelving for folded items like sweaters and jeans. Label shelves clearly.
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Try a multi-level hanging rod to double your hanging space. Hang shorter items on the lower rod.
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Use hanging shoe racks on the back of closet doors to store shoes neatly.
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Add dividers or cubbies to separate types of clothes and make finding things fast.
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Get closet storage bins for accessories, underwear, socks, and off-season items. Use clear bins to easily see contents.
Maintain a Clutter-Free Closet
Follow these tips to keep your organized closet from lapsing back into disarray:
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Put clothes back properly after laundering – don’t just toss them in piles. Return them to their designated spots.
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Only buy new items as you wear and purge old ones. Don’t let your closet get overstuffed again.
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Do a quick straighten when you notice things looking messy. Don’t let it get out of control.
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Edit seasonally – remove off-season items twice a year and replace with current season clothes.
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Clean closet surfaces and vacuum the floor a few times a year to remove dust and lint.
Maintaining organization is easier than letting things get chaotic and having to declutter all over again. Take care of your tidy closet and it will take care of you!
