What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you have to take on the task of cleaning out your closet? If it’s to open it, pull out a few things, immediately get frustrated, stuff the items you pulled out back in and walk away, this post is for you. I can’t count the number of articles I’ve read on how to “effectively” clean your closet, follow them to a T, only to find a few weeks later my closet has gone back to shit. After many trials and errors, I’ve mapped out the 5, yes FIVE tips you will ever need to clean your closet, and not just clean it but keep it clean and bonus make it more efficient! Over the next 5 days you will master the steps to keep a clean, organised and efficient closet that will last for years to come!
- Assess the Mess: Before you get started take a good hard look at your closet, a real good look and ask yourself a few questions. What is my method of getting dressed on a daily basis? Do I plan my outfits the morning or the night before or weekly? How are things currently organized? Is it easy to find items that I’m looking for when trying to get dressed? Should I group like items together and color code them? How are things currently stored? Is everything stored uniformly? How can I organize my closet to better serve me to get dressed daily? What organizational tools do I want to use in my closet? Grab a pencil and piece of paper, jot the answer to all of these questions down and start to plan how you will put these answers into practice. Write down everything, no detail should be overlooked. Pro Tip: Pintrest will be your best friend when it comes to this step. Use it to get all the inspiration you will need to create your best closet!
2. Keep, Sell, Donate, Toss: Take everything out of your closet and piece by piece decide what items you are going to keep, sell, donate or toss. If you have issues with letting things go, be sure to have a friend help out that will be brutality honest with you. Working backwards (toss, donate, sell and keep), here are your rules…..if an item has a stain, a tear that is beyond repair or an odor that just won’t get out, toss it! If you have items that are too small and for the past two years you have vowed to lose the weight to fit back in them or something that is too big that you have yet to take to a tailor to have fitted, consider selling or donating it. Here is a good tip for donating items; I typically go to sell everything that I think will sell and what doesn’t gets donated. Items that look good on you, fit properly, you love them and they spark joy, keep! Put everything back in you closet and don’t worry about making everything neat and pretty, that is for step 4! Pro Tip: If you find yourself on the fence about something, put it or them in a bag, close it up and place it in a closet. If in three months you haven’t gone in the bag looking for it, get rid of it.
3. Strategy is Everything: Before you can organize your closet, you need to figure out a strategy for that organization and this is where your day one assessment notes are going to come into play. You want your closet to be set in such away that you can quickly spot the pieces you want to wear for the day. Look over your notes and based on your needs organize according! Pro Tip: Try out a few methods of getting dressed and see what one works for you!
4. Everything has a Place: Once you have planned your strategy now you can go in your closet and organize away. If step one has been done thoroughly, this step will be a breeze! Pro Tip: If when putting stuff in your closet based on your assessment doesn’t seem right, don’t be afraid to change it up. You want this closet to work for you and if you see something’s not working, change it!
5. Keep it Right. Keep it Tight: Every six months be sure to go through your closet and follow steps 1-4. The number one reason closets get out of control is because we aren’t taking the time to go through them on a regular basis and assessing the situation. If you tried on method of organizing and its not working, change it up. If you want to try new hangers, bins or other organizational tools in your closet do it. Your closet should always be a work in progress until you find a system that suits you.
Bonus Tips:
- Turn all of your hanger backwards and when you wear an item, flip the hanger the forward. For any item that has a hanger still backwards in 6 months, it’s time to sell, donate or toss it.
- Hang all of your clothing with like items and by color. This makes it super easy to see everything in your closet at a glance.
- Find a place for seasonal items such a sweater and heavy coats in the spring/summer seasons or shorts and tanks in the fall/winter months. The free’s up much needed space in your closet and helps you better purge items at the end of each season.
My Must Have Closet Organization Items:
- Rolling rack: I use this for extra hanging space and to house pre-planned outfits for easy dressing!
- Huggable Hangers: I. SWEAR. BY. THEM. They save me so much space in my closet and keep everything streamlined! (found mine 2 for $1 at the Dollar Tree)
- Decorative Baskets: Great for keeping scarves, belts and clutches all in one place!
- Trunk and Storage Bench: Great place for storing out of season items from my closet!
- Durable Plastic Bag: I use this for housing my clothes that I need to take to the cleaners; I just grab and go!
shop closet organizational favs: