There is a reason why people put off cleaning out their closets, and it is likely because it can seem completely overwhelming of a task—one of those that has to get worse before it gets better. Clothes have to be strewn about, hard decisions made on your once-favorite, now-unraveling sweater, and you have to resist the urge to abandon the chore halfway through when your closet looks like a tornado has wreaked havoc.
I was once a bit of a clothing hoarder who would refuse to relinquish a decade-old dress that hadn’t been worn in years, because “what if I end up needing it?” Well, I didn’t. Finally, my bulging closet racks and drawers forced me to change my mindset if I were to stay sane, be more organized, and give up things that were no longer useful to me—so last year, I tried out a closet clean-out method that has been seriously helpful: giving my clothes a deadline. Here’s how it worked for me.
Why Cleaning Out Your Closet Is Hard
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Ultimately, it can be quite difficult to get rid of things that you once loved, spent money on, or aren’t sure if you’ll end up needing again in the future. It’s the latter that primarily keeps our closets full of items that we no longer need or wear, just in case the occasion arises that calls for a certain piece of niche clothing. Therefore, it can be more helpful to enact a rule with almost no exceptions, which takes out any emotional attachment on your end. That’s where the clothing deadline comes in.
How To Get Rid Of Clothes Using A Deadline
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Basically, you can easily tell what needs to be tossed from your closet with a simple question: When’s the last time I wore this? So, I gave myself a hard rule to follow throughout the year, starting with a kickoff clean-out at the start of the year. Any everyday clothing (jeans, tops, dresses), athletic wear, or shoes that I had not touched in the whole of the previous year, or perhaps only once, needed to go.
From there, I took seasonality into mind. At the end of winter, any sweaters or knitwear that I had not touched needed to go. After spring and summer, any warm-weather clothing I hadn’t touched had to go. On and on until I was easily able to let go of items that clearly I wasn’t interested enough in to need in my closet, even if I had lingering “but what if I need it one day?” thoughts.
Consider Using a Box To Collect Give-Away Clothing Over Time
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Moreover, anytime I looked at something and had the inkling that I wasn’t going to wear it anytime soon at all, I would toss it into a pile that would get thrown out or donated at the end of the season. It also could provide a bit of a comforting, less-final first step for those who find it difficult to say goodbye. If you find yourself grabbing the clothing item and wearing it again before it’s time to toss, then you can reconsider.
What About Lesser-Worn Special Clothing Items?
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Of course, I was logical enough to know that there would be a few exceptions, such as a black gown that is perfect for any black-tie or black-tie-optional wedding, even if I don’t currently have a wedding on the schedule. The same goes for heirloom pieces that are held onto for nostalgia’s sake. (Although, there are ways to get rid of heirlooms without guilt.) Moreover, if you have high-quality pieces that you might only wear once a year—like a colorful purse or red winter coat—it’s important to be honest and trust yourself on if you truly want to keep it.
What To Do With Clothes You’re Getting Rid Of
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As always, heed general guidelines for what to throw out and what to donate. Keep wear-and-tear in mind, and be appropriate about what is getting donated. Any good-quality clothing and accessories can also be discarded via a resell site if you’re interested in putting in the time and effort. Goodbye isn’t always bitter!
