Closet clean out steps
Many people dread cleaning out and reorganizing spaces. There's no clear starting point, it's overwhelming, easily distracting, frustrating, and always takes way longer than it should.
But it doesn't have to!
I have a method I've used for years, centering around my wardrobe, but it's also a general outline for all spaces in the home.
A few tips before we begin:
Set aside dedicated time. A morning, afternoon, evening, for ONE space. Expecting to take on an entire house or apartment will cause you to rush through and not fully concentrate on the present activity.
Play your favorite music, tv show, podcast, but make sure it's something that won't distract. You'll need to periodically do some critical thinking and reflecting so motivation is better than escapism!
Do your laundry before cleaning out your closet. You need to see everything you have so everything has a place.
Step 1: Take EVERYTHING out of your closet.
"but I know I'll never get rid of-"
Nope, take it out. You need to see a completely blank space if you want to see new ways of organizing, plus you need the space empty for the next step.
It may be tempting to lightly organize, but other than keeping clothing and accessories separate, I discourage it. I like to pile clothing on the bed and shoes and purses on the floor (and sometimes outerwear makes it there too). Do what works for you, just get that closet empty!
Step 2: Literally clean your closet.
Sweep, vacuum, dust, polish, whatever you need to do, floor to ceiling, corner to corner. Uninvited pests love a dark dusty spot to call home, so clean thoroughly. This is also a good time to take some preventative measures, such as cedar blocks, lavender sachets, etc. Clothes eating bugs don't like strong perfume scents, so while it's not a guarantee to stop them, it can help discourage.
Step 3: Put things back in your closet you actually wear.
This might be an unexpectedly emotional step if you've been feeling you don't have anything to wear lately. Put items back that you wear day to day. Yesterday, last week, be realistic, and look at everything together and reflect on what it says about you. It may be a few items, or a variety of items, and you might not even like what you're seeing. Have you gone through a lifestyle shift that your wardrobe hasn't kept up with? Is this telling you that you're not actually wearing a majority of your wardrobe? Does this selection look completely different from the rest of your wardrobe? Does this selection make you feel less stressed than your closet as a whole? However it makes you feel, take note.
Step 4: Put things back in your closet you want to wear.
A slightly more fun step but I still want you to have an element of honesty with yourself. Put things back you want to wear and that fit your lifestyle. Things you can incorporate with the step three items, and items you might have forgotten about in the back of your closet but that you want to give a second chance.
Step 5: Figure out what to do with what's left.
Now you can clearly see what you don't wear regularly, and what didn't catch your eye in the previous step. These items might be something you're ready to donate, sell, or trade, or they may go back into your closet if you're not ready to let go yet. Some items are simply seasonal and can be stored away, but also try storing clothing you may not wear but have an attachment to. Revisit them in a few months and you may be more ready to let those go.
Step 6: Figure out what's missing.
This could be as simple as realizing you could really use something you don't have, or it could be a time you look into upgrading and/or expanding that day to day wear. A Pinterest board is the perfect tool to use for online shopping as you can see what your picks look like together before a purchase. I would even recommend pinning the items you already have (or similar) so you see what you have in one place and what it looks like to add new garments before purchasing.
This is a general guideline that can work for an average sized closet with the right motivation, but if you feel like you have a really challenging closet space or unique circumstances, I'm available to help you with a customized consultation.
