Now that we’ve got nothing but time on our hands, you can do a REALLY good job with this task!

Cleaning out your closet is a different experience for everyone.  While following these simple steps, remember to think of how much JOY you get (or don’t) from certain outfits/items. If it gives you JOY, it’s something that you enjoy wearing, get compliments on or have a particularly fond memory attached to it. Don’t be afraid of keeping sentimental items…but you might find a special place for them like a trunk or back closet that isn’t being used.

Step 1 – Take Everything Out of your Closet

Pull everything out and set it somewhere like your bed, or if you have a set-up rolling rack, use that.

Hang all your clothing on the rolling rack or lay your clothing out so that you can see everything.

Take literally EVERYTHING out of your closet. Everything!

Step 2 – Go Through your Items and Sort by Style and Season, then get serious.

Categorize so you can see how much you have of any one item: jeans, socks, etc.  Keep separate piles for the different categories and make sure you’re also separating seasons.  THEN…

Go through every item and sort them according to the following:

Throw away – there are certain items we own that have holes and are in a condition in which organizations will not accept, so save them the time and man hours and just put it in the trash.

Donation or Gifting – these are items either you can give to a group of friends to dig through, or can go directly to a charity.

Maybe – this pile is for the undecided pieces.

Yes – the YES pile contains the items of clothing you definitely want to keep! These are pieces that give you joy and you wear all the time.  Caveat:  please be wary of “Yes” items that you’ve worn into a not so good-looking state.  If the item is discolored, pilled or has an odd odor, get rid of it no matter how much joy you think it gives you!

Step 3 – Separate all of your throw away items and Donation/Gift Items

Get these out of your hair before you have to start making really tough decisions. Maybe place them automatically in a trash bag so that you aren’t tempted to pull them back out and add them to a different pile.  If you are planning to gift items, feel free to designate which relative or friend gets this or that and separate into different bags for them to save confusion.

Step 4 – Transfer Yes Pile to the Closet or Storage.

Some of you have room enough for every season in your closet and some of you don’t.  If you do, make sure you keep seasonal items together, perhaps moving one to the front/rear at each  season change.  If you don’t, dedicate another unused closet or trunk for storage and bring out when the time is right.

Make sure you group together types of clothing. So for example, put all of your sweaters together in an area, your pants in one area, your suits in one area, etc.

Organize your items by type of piece, and then by sub categories such as length.  So for example, for shirt you’ll have long sleeve, short sleeve, no sleeve, strap, halter all separated out and hung together.  Next, within the sub categories hang from either dark to light or light to dark.

Sometimes, if you have a certain pant that only works with one or two tops, hang them next to one another to avoid having to look in a different place.

Along the way, think about what hasn’t worked up to this point, and ask yourself what do I need to add to make my closet more efficient? This is different for everyone. Is it hooks? More hangers? Shelves? Just think about what would be ideal, and make it happen. And remember the goal is for your closet to be as simple as possible.

Step 5 – Revisit the “Maybe’s”

Since you’ve done such a good job deciding, this pile should be very small.  If you just can’t let it go, see where it fits in with the rest of you’re yes’s…BUT perhaps now you’re so empowered by being able to let go of so many pieces, you don’t hesitate to put it into one of the donation bags!

Step 6 –Review your Handiwork and get Professional Help!

Make sure the look of the closet appeals to your senses and that you have a clear idea of how you have it organized.  This way, as you take out, you can get it back in the right spot. At this point, you might also take stock of what might be missing.  Did you have a top in the maybe pile that might need a complimentary scarf or a certain color pant to make the outfit? Are you thinking that some of your items may be outdated?  Ask us!  We are happy to analyze any of your clothing in the store, free of charge, whether it came from us or not.

We know you can do it…HAPPY CLEANING!