Whenever I post a Q&A box on Instagram, I always get a flurry of the same questions. One commonly requested topic is clothing organization: “How often do you clean out your closet? How do you decide what to keep and what to toss? What do you do with the items you no longer want?” While I’ve briefly touched on some of these questions in my posts about organizational favorites and the RealReal, I haven’t really honed in on closet cleanout solutions.
So today I’m sharing every little detail about how I clean out my closet! I’m going to cover how often I organize, how I decide what to keep and what to toss, the step-by-step process of cleaning everything out, and how I effectively keep my closet neat and orderly. I’ll also touch on a few of the organizational items that I use and love.
Whether you’re eager to kick off the new year with a fresh start or doing a little mid-year purge, this guide covers everything you’ll need to pull off a successful closet cleanout!
How Often Should I Clean Out My Closet?
I think the frequency with which you clean out a closet depends on your lifestyle and shopping habits. As an avid shopper, I am dedicated to cleaning out this space at least 6 times a year. Ideally, I like to go through all of my clothing, shoes, and jewelry every 2 months. However, I realize this may be a bit much for the average person.
No matter what your timeline looks like, you should create a cadence that works for you and stick to it. Keep in mind, if you clean out your closet too often, you will feel like it was a waste of time. But, if you wait too long, you’ll likely get overwhelmed at the large scale of the project and perhaps not even finish. For me, 8 weeks is the right amount of time to balance feeling like it was a productive exercise without being overwhelmed.
What to Toss During a Closet Cleanout
Prior to starting a closet cleanout, you should have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. However, I would not recommend aiming to get rid of a specific number of items. This might cause you to purge too little or too much. Instead, I like to abide by a few strict guidelines to determine what can stay and what needs to go. Let’s dive into what I think should always get tossed!
Items That Don’t Fit
If an item doesn’t fit, it should automatically be placed in the discard pile. The only exception would be if you come across items that can be tailored, (and that you’d actually wear after tailoring). In this case, give yourself a specific deadline for tailoring these pieces. Personally, I give myself two weeks. If I haven’t taken the ill-fitting items to the seamstress by then, they get discarded. If I really love something, two weeks is enough time to make a move.
Pieces That Are Damaged, Stained, or Smell
Unless it is a sentimental piece, all items that are damaged, stained, or smell have to go. I have plenty of options in my closet. So if something is visibly dirty or destroyed, it has served me well and it is time to move on. Again, the one exception here is if the piece can be rehabbed. And the same rule applies – It has to be fixed within two weeks or it gets tossed for good.
Items that No Longer Fit Your Lifestyle
A major lifestyle change can impact many areas of your life, including, at times, the way you dress. For example, I did a major closet cleanout when we moved from NYC to Florida. So many of the cold-weather items that I owned were no longer needed. I didn’t get rid of them all, but I significantly narrowed down my collection of sweaters, coats, etc. Some additional lifestyle changes that might lead you to clean out your closet include getting a new job or becoming a parent.
Pieces You Haven’t Worn in Over a Year
For the most part, if something hasn’t been worn in over a year, it’s time to say farewell. My one exception to this rule is what I call my “archive pieces”. This is a semi-joke, as I know I don’t have a closet worthy of ever having an archive. But, this is what I’ve named the garments and accessories that are seriously special to me. It includes some luxury or big ticket items, but the majority are pieces that I feel are special to my style point of view or are insanely unique and hard to replace, at any price point.
Duplicates
Sometimes we fall into the trap of buying similar styles again and again. Hey, we love what we love, right? It’s common to buy different variations of your favorite styles. But, at some point, you need to ask yourself how much is too much. How many striped sweaters could one person possibly own? Do you need ten pairs of straight-leg denim? When I clean out my closet, I like to gather the similar pieces together and decide on the two variations that I rarely reach for. These are the ones to toss. So whatever you hoard, take a good look at how you can shrink that section of your closet.
How to Avoid Excessive Purging
For the most part, I fully support getting rid of as much stuff as possible when cleaning out a closet. However, the goal is to be aggressive without over-purging. This can be a very fine line, and there are a few times that I’ve been guilty of getting a little too carried away. Here are two tips I’ve learned to help prevent closet cleanout regret!
Hold on to functional staples
Sometimes I get in the groove and get rid of A LOT. The problem with this is that I’ve found myself tossing functional staples that I end up needing for layering, basic outfits, etc. In the heat of the moment, these pieces seem boring and don’t “spark joy”, so I have a habit of letting them go. However, down the road I often end up having to repurchase similar styles. This obviously isn’t good. So I try to remind myself to keep both fun and functional items when cleaning out my closet!
Note items that need to be replaced
I highly recommend keeping a list of “items to replace” in your phone’s notes (or on paper). I started this a few years ago, and it really helps me keep track of things. For example, let’s say you come across a black mini skirt that you wear all the time, but it’s looking tired, so you’re ready to bid it farewell. Instead of immediately tossing the skirt, double check to make sure it isn’t the only black mini skirt in your closet. If it is, add this style to your notes and hold on to it until you have a replacement. Otherwise, you might end up with regret.
Step-by-Step Closet Cleanout Instructions
After you have a game plan of what you will keep and what you’ll get rid of, it’s time to actually start cleaning. The way I look at it, the goal of any closet purge is to accomplish three things: get rid of the items noted above, physically clean the space, and strategically reorganize items. Below are the steps that I go through to ensure these goals are met.
1. Prepare Yourself
There are two things I do to prepare myself for a closet cleanout. First, I make sure that I have scheduled enough time to fully complete the project. When in doubt, schedule more time than you would assume, as I’ve learned this process tends to take longer than expected. Personally, I allot roughly four hours to clean out my closet.
Second, physically prepare yourself for the day. I always try to have clean, dry hair and no makeup. I’ve found that if I’m wearing makeup or have too much product in my hair, then it deters me from quick try-ons. And the goal is to move as quickly as possible.
2. Take Everything Out
The very best way to clean out a closet is to remove everything. Every. Single. Thing. In full disclosure, I sometimes cheat and don’t do this. But, I always regret it, as it goes so much more smoothly when I do. Removing everything will allow you to see everything, including items that are hiding in the back. It also makes it easier to vacuum and wipe down your closet’s hard-to-reach parts. Plus, if you’ve already made a huge mess sorting through clothing, you might as well go all in and do it right!
3. Make Five Piles
Once you start, I recommend making five piles. This may seem like a lot, so let’s break it down.
One: “Maybe” items — Pieces that you are completely torn about.
Two: Goodwill — Items that are too far gone to be re-sold or given to friends and family.
Three: Friends and family — Items that can be passed on to others you think would appreciate them.
Four: High-ticket items — Newer items and items with tags (guilty, but not proud) that can be resold on The RealReal. (I chatted about how I shop The RealReal in this post).
Five: Local consignment shop — Items that aren’t luxury enough for high-end resale .
For the “maybe pile”, I recommend storing these pieces separately and reevaluating them during the next cleanout. I often find that I haven’t thought about 75% of these pieces during this two-month time frame. This makes me feel more confident in letting them go!
4. Clean the Space
Prior to putting everything back in the closet, be sure to give the space a good cleaning. Wipe down all of the shelves, dust hard-to-reach areas, and vacuum the floors.
5. Put Everything Back
Once you’ve sifted through everything and decided what to keep, it’s time to put all of the clothing, shoes, and accessories back in place. I like to categorize my closet by style – all of the skirts hang together, all of the blazers go in the same section, etc. I find this to be the most efficient method for quickly putting outfits together down the road!
Favorite Organizational Products for a Closet Cleanout
One of the key aspects of any closet cleanout is having a plan and products in place to keep the space organized. I actually don’t have a huge closet by creator standards, so I need to maximize my space and keep it incredibly tidy. These are some of the tried and true organizational products that I swear by.
Hangers
Having great hangers makes all the difference. Personally, I love these heavy duty velvet ones. It might seem silly, but it makes me so happy to see everything hanging on uniform hangers when I open my closet. Sometimes it’s the little things in life!
Clothing Storage Bags
I use these storage tote bags for hauling and storing items. They really should be called Mary Poppins magic bags, as I am always shocked at how much they can fit! They have long handles, which allows me to wear them like a backpack or over my shoulders. I highly recommend having a few on hand when you clean out your closet, especially if you’re rotating clothing during different seasons.
Organizer Bins for Jewelry
For costume jewelry, I use these organizer trays. They aren’t fancy, but I haven’t found anything nicer that can accommodate huge earrings, big bangles, etc. I’ve also learned that using clear containers makes seeing everything so much easier!
Sunglasses Organizer
On a similar note, I use this sunglasses organizer to store all of my sunnies. Again, it’s nothing fancy. But it’s super practical, affordable, and a great space saver!
Closet Cleanout 101
Phew, I know that was a lot of information! But, I really wanted to share the nitty gritty details about how I keep my clothing and accessories neat and tidy. I hope it is helpful the next time you find yourself gearing up for a closet cleanout! These organizational favorites and tips for shopping The RealReal might be worth checking out as well. Happy organizing!
The post The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Closet Cleanout appeared first on Atlantic-Pacific.
