10 Tips to De-Clutter Your Closet

GETTING STARTED

 The first and most important thing to be sure of when you start the task of de-cluttering your closet and scrutinizing your possessions is to have the right mind set.  Select a time when you have nothing else to do. While de-cluttering, make sure you feel happy, positive and relaxed so that you don't make any rash decisions and throw anything away too hurriedly.

 Next, clear everything out of your closet space.  Give the walls and all surfaces a good wipe down.  Then run the sweeper along the floor. This gives you a nice clean, fresh start!  Now the fun part, putting everything away!

10 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND

1. 6 Month Rule: If you have not worn an article of clothing in 6 months, chances are you won’t ever be wearing it, and it is time to put that piece in the donation pile! 
TIP: Having trouble keeping track?  When you hang your articles of clothing back in the closet, put the hanger the wrong way (hook towards you).  When you wear something and hang it back up, flip the hanger the right way.  After six months, get rid of all clothing that has a backwards hanger!

 

2. Get all those empty shopping bags you've been saving. Use these to hold all discards. Label them as "trash," "donate" and "unsure." As soon as you come across an item that you do not want to keep, put it in one of the bags.

3. Invest in your closet by using good-looking storage solutions.  When things look nice, it is easier to keep them neat and organized!  

4. Combine storage units to fit your different needs: drawers for folded items (or keep them neat with shelf dividers), hangers for dresses and suits, boxes for odds and ends. Store your most-used items in plain sight, less-used items below, and least-used items up high. 

5. Use boxes, cubbies, shelves, or a hanging organizer to sort shoes.

6. Use vertical space (both above and below the closet rod) to store more.

7. Hooks can create extra storage space when you hang them inside the closet.

 

8. Group similar items in your closet together (sweaters, jackets, t-shirts, tank tops, dresses, pants, etc.) This will make things much easier when you try to find something to wear. 

9. Make more room in your closet by storing out-of-season clothes in boxes up high or under the bed. Also consider using suitcases to store out-of-season linens, blankets, or sweaters.

 10. Keep decluttering your closet easy all the time by having a donation bin, bag or basket right in your closet. This allows you to declutter the closet and toss items you no longer want as often as possible. Examples: Cardboard box, a large bin, large beach bag or shopping bag.  Donation Centers Include: Goodwill and Salvation Army.  Get Money For Your Donations: Once Upon A Child, Plato's Closet and Clothes Mentor

 

How you do anything is how you do everything. Just the simple accomplishment of decluttering your closet will spill over to other areas of your life and create a sense of control. This is the perfect “feeling” to support you in your health journey as well!