All women deserve happy closets.
Closet cleaning basics:
- Go through items from drawers, dressers and closets one at a time.
- Pull everything out and only put back what you want to keep.
- Categorize by type first then sort: sleeveless, short sleeve and long sleeve tops, pants, skirts, dresses, blazers, evening wear, etc.
- Think quality over quantity.
1) How to purge
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- Let go of worn, torn, faded, “pilly”, out-of-style.
- Clean out at the end of winter and summer.
- Don’t think summer or winter, think basics.
- Switch only a few items meant for one season.
2) Embrace your current size
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- If you don’t feel comfortable in your clothes, don’t keep them.
- Keeping small sizes make you feel guilty that you don’t fit into them.
- Keeping larger clothing could encourage you to fall off the wagon.
3) Sweatpants, t-shirts, work-out clothing, and pajamas
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- Keep the nicest and most memorable t-shirts. Use them as pajamas, but also buy real pajamas.
- Wear sweatpants made for women, not your husband’s hand-me-downs.
- Eliminate stretched out or uncomfortable work-out clothing.
4) Underwear and lingerie
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- Replace stretched out or stained lingerie.
- Get a bra fitting; you’ll thank yourself!
- Keep pantyhose in zipper bags; roll leggings, tights, camisoles and tank tops to save space and see everything you have.
5) Jewelry
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- Fine jewelry is always in style, wear it often and not just for special occasions.
- Hand down fine jewelry you don’t wear or sell for cash to a reliable jeweler.
- Costume jewelry goes in and out of style, so donate often.
6) Belts and scarves
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- Donate belts that don’t fit or are out of style; get a new hole punched if you lose weight.
- For a lot of scarves, use a narrow hanging shoe organizer; roll the scarves so you can see them.
- Store the thicker scarves with your coats.
7) Shoes
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- Don’t keep shoes that hurt or pinch.
- Repair/replace heel tips on good shoes.
- Place dryer sheets/perfume samples in shoes and store shoes without boxes (takes up less room).
- Replace sneakers often; arches break down and make feet hurt: get feet measured as you age.
8) Donate unused clothing and accessories
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- If it still has the tag on it and you haven’t worn it in two years, consign it, donate it or give it away.
- Look for women’s career donation centers or women’s shelters in your area.
9) Finishing touches
- Use a clothes tree as a halfway-house: clothing that isn’t totally clean or ready for the wash.
- Use two types of hangers: fuzzy for sweaters and sleeveless tops and smooth hangers for items you want to pull off quickly.
- Hang clothing by type first and then light to dark.
- Roll clothing when you can so you can see what you have.
When you buy a new piece of clothing, donate one (or two). If you try on a piece of clothing and decide not to keep it, don’t put it back in the closet or the laundry. Keep a donation bag on the closet floor to deposit unwanted clothing, donate the bag when it’s full and start over. Keep a few classic pieces and rework them into your wardrobe.
“The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot.” – St. Basil the Great
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