Is your closet overflowing with clothes you never wear or items you forgot you even owned? A cluttered wardrobe can make getting dressed feel like a daily battle, leaving you overwhelmed and frustrated. But what if your closet could become a space of calm and clarity, where every piece serves a purpose and reflects your style? Cleaning out your closet isn’t just about tidying up—it’s about simplifying your life. By decluttering, you’ll save time, reduce decision fatigue, and even avoid unnecessary purchases. Imagine opening your closet to find only the pieces you love and actually wear. With the right approach, this process can be more than just a chore—it can be a transformative act of self-care. Allocate uninterrupted time for the task. Select a timeframe when you’ll be free to focus entirely on your closet. Gather supplies like plain boxes, hangers, and bags to sort items effectively and prevent distractions. Remove all items from your closet, including clothes, shoes, and accessories. Laying everything out ensures you see the full scope of what you own, making it easier to evaluate each piece. Thoroughly clean your empty closet. Dust shelves, wipe racks, and vacuum the floor. Allow the space to air out by keeping the closet doors open while you work. Divide your belongings into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. For instance, keep clothes that fit and are regularly worn; donate or sell items in good condition but unused; discard damaged or unwearable items. After sorting, return only “keep” items to your closet. Organize them by category, such as shirts, pants, or dresses, for easy access. Use shelf dividers or open boxes sparingly for seasonal items to maintain a minimalist, uncluttered look. Discard clothing that is stained, torn, or beyond repair. These items take up valuable space and cannot enhance your wardrobe. For example, heavily pilled sweaters or ripped jeans with unfixable holes are clear candidates for removal. Remove clothes that no longer fit or match your lifestyle. Items that are too small, too large, or outdated do not serve a practical purpose. Old business suits are an example if your work environment no longer requires formal attire. Toss any item not worn in over a year. The “one-year rule” applies to most categories, including dresses, casual tops, and seasonal outfits. If a piece has been avoided for an entire year, it’s unlikely you’ll wear it again. Get rid of accessories that are unused, outdated, or no longer match your wardrobe. These include frayed belts, stretched-out scarves, or worn hats. Decluttering storage items such as broken hangers may also free up space for functional alternatives. Managing discarded clothes effectively ensures they don’t contribute to clutter or waste. Here are actionable steps for handling them: Give clothes in good condition a second life by donating them. Charities like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and local shelters accept donations of clean and wearable items. This benefits communities in need while ensuring reusable clothing doesn’t go to landfills. Pro tip: Clotheslyne can help you donate your clothes for free! You can schedule a pick-up by booking a special request in the app, and we will pick it up from you. If you decide to change your mind, Clotheslyners should keep the clothes within the 48-hour timeframe before donating. Monetize high-quality unwanted items by selling them. Use platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, or take them to consignment shops for resale. Ensure items are clean, undamaged, and seasonally appropriate to attract buyers quickly. Share clothes with friends or family who might need them. Post in community groups or neighborhood social media platforms offering free items for broader reach. Passing them on personally strengthens connections while eliminating waste. Dispose of clothes too damaged for donation or repurposing. Several organizations handle textile recycling to reduce environmental impact. For items with potential for reuse, try converting old shirts into cleaning rags or quilts, maximizing utility before tossing them out. Consider emotional significance when deciding to keep special clothing. Retain items like wedding dresses or gifts from loved ones if they hold sentimental value, even if you haven’t worn them recently. Evaluate their personal meaning rather than their utility. Focus on joy sparked by specific items. Keep clothing that evokes happiness or nostalgia, following principles like the Spark Joy method. Emotional connections to your wardrobe can make certain pieces worth keeping despite infrequent use. Assess practicality before storing sentimental items. If an item no longer fits or is in poor condition, prioritize functionality over sentiment. Let go of pieces that can’t realistically be worn or restored. Examine your seasonal wardrobe rotation. Store items that are out of season but have significance, like heavy sweaters during summer or special event attire. This approach ensures your closet remains functional while preserving meaningful clothing. A cluttered closet often becomes a breeding ground for allergens like dust and dust mites. These elements can contribute to a less healthy environment by triggering allergic reactions or respiratory issues. By allowing accumulation, you’re exposing yourself to unnecessary health risks. Overflowing closets are also linked to psychological stress. Seeing outdated pieces or clothing that no longer fits is a constant reminder of missed opportunities, past failures, or regret, creating negative emotions. This emotional clutter hampers your mental well-being over time. Disorganization in your wardrobe can lead to daily frustrations when searching for and selecting outfits. Decision fatigue increases when your space is packed with unused or unnecessary items, making mornings more stressful. A cluttered space can even promote poor sleep patterns linked to stress, reducing overall health. Lastly, a messy closet can have a tangible impact on your physical well-being. Studies suggest that cluttered environments, including homes and closets, correspond with higher risks of overweight tendencies. Keeping your space neat can foster healthier routines and enhance self-care practices. Emptying your closet entirely is the cornerstone of a successful clean-out. Begin by removing every item, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. This thorough approach ensures you won’t overlook anything and allows you to evaluate the full scope of your belongings. Include items stored elsewhere, like spare closets or drawers, to achieve complete clarity on your wardrobe inventory. Placing everything in one visible area, such as your bed or floor, creates a commitment to finishing the project. With your closet empty, use this opportunity to clean the space. Dust shelves and racks, sweep or vacuum the floor, and wipe down light fixtures. These steps refresh your closet and provide a blank canvas for reorganizing once selection is complete. If possible, leave the closet door open while sorting items to air it out, ensuring freshness for the items you’ll keep. Begin by removing all outerwear from the closet. Group similar items together—coats, jackets, scarves, gloves, hats, and shoes—to visualize the volume and types of belongings. This step makes it easier to decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Designate specific zones for outerwear within the closet. Store daily-use essentials like frequently worn jackets or shoes in accessible spots, while less-used seasonal items can go on higher shelves or in storage bins. Utilize hangers for coats to prevent wrinkles and optimize space. Sort coats further by style, length, or family member. For example, arrange long coats together and keep children’s jackets separated to simplify retrieval. Regular grouping not only saves space but also keeps the closet visually organized. Inspect each item for wear and fit. Retain only functional, fitting pieces that match your current needs. Place damaged items or duplicates in a separate pile for donation or disposal, avoiding clutter recurrence. Integrate organizing tools like hooks for hats, racks for shoes, or labeled bins for gloves and scarves. These enhancements create a practical layout, ensuring that all outerwear remains easy to find and store. Shoes and accessories often go unnoticed during a closet clean out but take up valuable space and impact your wardrobe’s functionality. Including them ensures a thorough declutter and helps refine your style. Evaluate each pair of shoes based on condition, comfort, and frequency of use. Keep those that are functional, fit well, and complement your wardrobe. For example, retain classic sneakers, boots, or heels used year-round. Discard worn-out pairs or those that no longer fit properly. Donate or sell shoes still in good condition but rarely worn. Review your accessories, such as jewelry, belts, scarves, hats, and bags. Keep versatile and staple pieces that pair well with various outfits. For instance, retain classic leather belts or neutral-tone bags. Set aside items that are outdated, broken, or no longer suit your preferences for donation or recycling. Use organizers like shoe racks, accessory trays, or hooks to maintain order and save space. Place shoes you often wear in accessible locations while storing seasonal footwear in bins or boxes. Arrange accessories by type and usage frequency, keeping daily essentials like a favorite bag or watch within reach. By actively including these items in your decluttering process, you’re creating a more harmonious and functional space. Once you’ve finished decluttering, take a moment to appreciate the effort you’ve put into creating a more organized and functional space. A clean and streamlined closet isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a step toward simplifying your daily routine and fostering a sense of clarity. Remember to maintain your newly organized wardrobe by regularly reassessing your items and staying mindful of what you bring into your space. With a little consistency, you can keep your closet a place of calm and inspiration, making getting dressed each day a more enjoyable experience. For those who prefer professional laundry care, Clotheslyne provides an ideal solution. Through the app, you can hire Clotheslyners for expert laundry services, including washing, drying, and folding of clothes and bulky items. Choosing Clotheslyne ensures your laundry is handled with care and expertise. It’s convenient for those who value their time and prefer professional laundry services. To use Clotheslyne, download the iOS Apple App or Google Play Store Android app to schedule your laundry pick up. You can also schedule your laundry pick up through our web portal. Fill up a tall kitchen bag full of clothes. A Clotheslyner in your community will pick it up and deliver it back to you washed, dried, and folded in 48 hours. It’s that simple. Got a question for us? Head over to our contact us page and make a custom request by email or by phone! We’re here to help. Cleaning out your closet reduces clutter, saves time, and prevents decision fatigue. It also creates a calming, organized space with only the items you love and wear regularly. Additionally, decluttering promotes healthier habits and better self-care. Start by allocating uninterrupted time and gathering supplies. Completely empty your closet, clean the space, and categorize items into “keep,” “donate/sell,” and “discard.” This step-by-step approach ensures efficiency and effectiveness. Discard worn-out, damaged, ill-fitting, or unused items you haven’t worn in over a year. Eliminate outdated clothing and non-functional accessories to maximize your space. It’s best to declutter your closet every season (about four times a year). This ensures your wardrobe stays organized and functional for each seasonal change. Donate clothes in good condition to charities, sell valuable items on consignment or online platforms, and repurpose damaged clothing (e.g., as rags). Dispose of unwearable items responsibly to reduce waste. Organize your “keep” items by category, such as tops, pants, and accessories. Use organizers like bins, racks, or shelves to maintain order and ensure your wardrobe stays functional and visually appealing. Keep pieces with emotional value, like gifts or wedding dresses, if they evoke joy or nostalgia. Store them responsibly without hindering the functionality of your everyday wardrobe. Yes, an overcrowded closet can trap allergens, leading to respiratory issues. It can also contribute to emotional stress and decision fatigue, impacting your overall well-being. Group accessories by type (e.g., belts, scarves, jewelry) and keep only versatile or frequently used pieces. Use trays, hooks, or small bins to maintain an organized and accessible system. Yes, storing out-of-season clothing elsewhere helps create more space and keeps your closet functional. Use bins or vacuum-sealed bags to store these items neatly until they’re needed.
How Do I Clean Out My Closet?
Prepare and Plan
Empty Your Closet
Clean the Closet
Sort Items
Reorganize Thoughtfully
What Items You Should Always Throw Out
Worn Out or Damaged Items
Unwearable or Ill-Fitting Clothing
Unused or Outdated Items
Accessories and Storage Items
What To Do With Discarded Clothes
Donate
Sell
Give Away
Discard or Repurpose
When To Keep Special Clothing Items
The Problem With Your Closet
The Most Important Step in Cleaning out Your Closet…
Organizing Your Outerwear
Don’t Forget Shoes & Other Accessories
Sorting Shoes
Streamlining Accessories
Storage Optimization
The Clean Up After The Closet Clean Out
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I clean out my closet?
How do I start decluttering my closet?
What should I get rid of when decluttering my closet?
How often should I clean out my closet?
How can I responsibly discard unwanted clothes?
How do I organize my “keep” items after decluttering?
What should I do with sentimental clothing items?
Can a cluttered closet affect my health?
How do I organize accessories while decluttering?
Should I store seasonal clothing separately?
Tired of Spending Hours on Laundry?
Hire a Clotheslyner to wash, dry, and fold your laundry using our app. Laundry back in 24 to 48 hours.
