There are many approaches when the time comes to clean out or purge your closet. I find that this one works for me most of the time.
Prepare:
- Create a big space outside of your closet where you will be working.
- Get some cleaning supplies for the closet (vacuum, dust cloth, etc.)
- Find some large kitchen trash bags or boxes for the items that will be donated.
- Get four sheets of notebook paper and a sharpie or thick marker.
Okay, let’s get started!
First, take everything out of the closet. Only the items that you really want to keep will be put back into the closet.
Next, take four sheets of notebook paper and write the following, one each on one sheet of paper: KEEP, MAYBE, DONATE, TRASH
Spread these four sheets out so you can make piles next to them. The Keep pile will, of course, be items that you really love and want to wear and keep. Items that you are not quite sure about go into The Maybe pile. The Donate pile will contain all items to be donated. The Trash pile will contain items that are not in good enough condition to donate. These items can be dropped off in the clothing collection boxes that re-purpose clothing. Leave the signs in place.
If needed, clean your closet thoroughly – this is a great opportunity to get it clean!
The Hardest Part
Now comes the hardest part – sorting all of the items into the four piles. Try to work quickly and don’t get hung up on making decisions.
Once you are finished, place the trash items into bags and label them. Place the donation items into bags and label those. Place outside the room so as to make space to continue working.
Now go through the Maybe pile and allocate these items to either the Donate or Keep piles. Keep the item only if you have other items that coordinate with it, and only if you love it. One way to test it is to ask yourself if you would put it on right now and wear it to go out or to go to work, etc. If the answer is ‘yes’, then keep it, otherwise, donate it.
When you are finished, bag the new donation pile and add it to the other donation pile.
Now, begin placing the Keep items back into the closet. You may organize by color, by season, etc.
Enjoy your clean closet!