The past couple weeks due to the warmer weather in my area, YA!, I have had to get out some of my spring/summer clothes and since I try to address topics that I am dealing with myself, I thought it would be a great time to talk about cleaning out your clothes closet.
I know a lot of you dread doing this, but hopefully with my tips and not waiting untill the really hot weather hits, it wouldn't seem like such a chore.
Our clothes closet can be very emotionally charged because we can have such attachment to items that remind us of where we were at certain times of our lives.
Hopefully the following suggestions will help your closet intervention go smoothly.
1) Have another person help you go through your closet. They are not emotionally attached like you are. Ask them to be honest no matter how much you think it might hurt. However, I do not recommend a relative, that potentially could create tension.
2) Does it fit (NOW)? If you are holding on to an item because it will fit when you loose a couple of pounds or if you're lucky, gain a couple of pounds, move it on to someone who it does fit. It's just taking up space that you could be using today.
3) Chances are you are going through your closet at the beginning of a new season. So ask yourself, did I wear this last season. If the answer is no, then more then likely you will not wear it again. So move it on.
4) Do I love it? If you have a piece of clothing that you just feel so-so about and you don't feel good in it when you wear it, then why are you holding on to it?
5) Is it in style? This is when having someone with you helps you see the item for the way it really looks, modern or stuck in the past.
6) Is it faded, or pulled out of shape? If you have a blouse that you have worn way past it's prime or a sweater that two people could fit into, it's time for it to go.
7) Is there sewing to be done?. Maybe a hem needs sewn or needs to be taken in or let out, set some time aside to fix it yourself or take it to have it repaired. If you find that that is too much trouble then donate it.
8) Is it stained or soiled? If you really like it, then spend some time working on getting the stain out. If you can't, then try taking the garment to a local dry cleaner. If they don't have any luck and you can't hide the stain in some way with an accessory or overlay garment, then bite the bullet and part with it.
9) But I received it as a gift. We have all received a clothing item that was well intended, but really missed the mark. No one expects you to hold on to this forever. Our sizes change, our taste change. Give it to someone who may really enjoy it.
10) Would you buy it if you didn't own it? This is a great testament to your current tastes. You may have bought an item when you were into yellow's, but now not so much. Say goodbye to it.
Before the season, try hanging you hangers, backwards, (hook of the hanger facing you). After you use the item, hang it up with the hook facing back,(normal hanging) this way at the end of the season you will see the garments you wore and didn't wear.
I hope that these few tips help you transition into a clean and uncluttered closet for the new season.
Now that you have that closet done, why not move on to your hall coat closet. Just a thought.
Live Simply
Joan
