Cleaning Out and Organizing Your Closet for Spring With spring right around the corner, it is time to reevaluate your clothes, and your closet situation. If you want to have room for some new summer trends, you are going to need to do some condensing. Spring cleaning is a great time for taking inventory, and a total overhaul. There is undoubtedly pieces hanging that you haven’t worn in years, and will never wear again. There are also probably a few things that need to be repaired, dry cleaned, or donated. Sometimes letting go of things you do not fit into anymore can certainly be tough.
Get it Done! However, now is the time to take control, and to rid yourself of the clutter that you do not need. That small space is yours, and should be fully available for the actual wardrobe that you love, and wear on a daily basis. When you are mentally ready to begin, arm yourself with three large plastic bags. Label one "donate," one "trash," and one labeled "repair." All of the items you want to keep will go back into your closet. Every item should wind up in one of these bags or back in the closet. Now, pull all your clothes out of the closet, place them on a flat surface like your bed, turn on some motivating music, and get to work. When deciding to keep an article of clothing, ask yourself some tough questions -- be brutally honest as you inspect each item. When did you wear it last?
Things to Ask Yourself When will you wear it again? How do you feel when you look in the mirror while wearing it? What is the worst thing that would happen if you got rid of it? If it looks great on you, feels comfortable and makes you smile when you wear it, keep it and put it back in your closet. Basics, like tailored jackets, straight skirts, lined trousers, and slim sweaters should fall into this category. If you absolutely love some things but are five pounds away from fitting into them, try putting them in a vacuum sealed bag for later. That way, they will stay preserved, and condensed for later use. No need going out and buying a whole new wardrobe when you lose some weight—simply preserve and store away what you have.
Anything that is in good condition but does not fit right, is out of style, or is impractical for your life right now, should be donated. Pre-weight-loss clothing, last season's trendy pieces, and items that itch, pull, or pinch when you wear them are good examples of donation pieces. It can be difficult to part with items that you paid a lot of money for, or were once in love with. However, think of the tax deduction you can get, and all that freed up space. Throw away clothes that are not fit to donate. Keep a few things for dirty jobs like dying your hair, gardening, painting, etc. and keep them in a separate drawer or box. Throwing away old and battered clothes can also be a difficult task – they are like old friends. However, remember, every minute you spend sifting through clothes you never wear is simply a waste of time and space. Any classic piece, such as a blazer, skirt, pants, or that little black dress, which needs a hem repaired, a button replaced, or a waist tightened or loosened, goes into the repair bag. Immediately take these pieces to the tailor to have them repaired-it is time to wear them again! Look over your keepers again, and see how they coordinate with one another. If one piece stands out and does not fit with anything else, donate it. Chances are you will not wear it if it does not go with anything. Now is a perfect time to take inventory of your wardrobe. Are there any basic pieces you are in need of? Is there a color that you do not have, which would tie several things together? Write down any changes you would like to see. This process is to gain the ability to wake up in the morning, grab anything from your closet, and have it fit, look good, and make you feel good.