Declutter Your Wardrobe Today – 7 Items to Ditch Right Now
Not enough space in your closet? By letting go of these items, you could give your wardrobe a new lease of life
Hannah Young
2 January 2023
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers). You can find me online at www.ReviveYourSpace.co.uk or in person helping others to declutter, organise and restyle their homes. I believe it's important to make the most of what we already have and love to share the benefits of being organised and efficient, creating more physical and emotional space for the things that are most important to us.
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional... More
Riffling through a cluttered wardrobe to find an outfit is not the best way to start the day, but if the thought of clearing it seems overwhelming, check out these expert tips. The key to success is to focus on seven clutter culprits, taking on each area one at a time.
1. Irrepairable items
If you’re not wearing an item of clothing because it’s torn or tattered, there are a couple of things you can do. If you’re handy with a needle and thread and want to try to revive some of your togs, then set aside a few hours and fix your favourites.
If that’s not an option, there’s good news for those of us who hate waste – fabric can be recycled. Help out the charity shop by bagging all items not suitable for resale together and mark it ‘rags’. Alternatively, seek out a textile recycling bank or bin – search for “textile recycling near me” online for convenient locations. Many retail outlets now also have in-store bins for recycling both re-saleable items and those beyond repair.
If you’re not wearing an item of clothing because it’s torn or tattered, there are a couple of things you can do. If you’re handy with a needle and thread and want to try to revive some of your togs, then set aside a few hours and fix your favourites.
If that’s not an option, there’s good news for those of us who hate waste – fabric can be recycled. Help out the charity shop by bagging all items not suitable for resale together and mark it ‘rags’. Alternatively, seek out a textile recycling bank or bin – search for “textile recycling near me” online for convenient locations. Many retail outlets now also have in-store bins for recycling both re-saleable items and those beyond repair.
2. The bottom third
Be realistic about those items you’ve left lurking in your wardrobe. Look at the bottom third of your T-shirt pile and those garments stuffed at the back. These are the clothes you already don’t wear, and chances are you’re not going to wear them in the future, either.
Unless you think you’ll start wearing a particular item again, donate them now to give them a new lease of life.
More: Are you making these 8 design mistakes in your bedroom?
Be realistic about those items you’ve left lurking in your wardrobe. Look at the bottom third of your T-shirt pile and those garments stuffed at the back. These are the clothes you already don’t wear, and chances are you’re not going to wear them in the future, either.
Unless you think you’ll start wearing a particular item again, donate them now to give them a new lease of life.
More: Are you making these 8 design mistakes in your bedroom?
3. Impulse buys
If you have items in your wardrobe that have been stored with their tags on for quite a while, it’s likely these were impulse purchases. Try to let go of the guilt you may feel about buying things you’ve never worn – shopping can be great fun and we’ve all had times we’ve got carried away and made mistakes.
Next time you’re tempted by the rush of buying a beautiful new top, for instance, ask yourself when and how often you’re actually going to wear it. Commit to going out in it within the week and, if that doesn’t happen, make time to return it or pass it on.
Find a local professional organiser to help you declutter and plan your home storage.
If you have items in your wardrobe that have been stored with their tags on for quite a while, it’s likely these were impulse purchases. Try to let go of the guilt you may feel about buying things you’ve never worn – shopping can be great fun and we’ve all had times we’ve got carried away and made mistakes.
Next time you’re tempted by the rush of buying a beautiful new top, for instance, ask yourself when and how often you’re actually going to wear it. Commit to going out in it within the week and, if that doesn’t happen, make time to return it or pass it on.
Find a local professional organiser to help you declutter and plan your home storage.
4. Pieces from the past
As our lives change, we change, often along with our jobs and hobbies. Sometimes, though, our wardrobes don’t keep up with our changing lifestyles and get stuck in the past. Give your collection an update by releasing attire from a previous season of your life.
If you’re finding it difficult to let go of your bike racing gear, that sharp suit for the office, or your maternity outfits, think of it as a cathartic process. It can often help to bring in an empathetic friend or professional organiser to support you with this more difficult ditch, and take it at a pace you’re comfortable with.
More: Discover these tips to make your master bedroom feel bigger
As our lives change, we change, often along with our jobs and hobbies. Sometimes, though, our wardrobes don’t keep up with our changing lifestyles and get stuck in the past. Give your collection an update by releasing attire from a previous season of your life.
If you’re finding it difficult to let go of your bike racing gear, that sharp suit for the office, or your maternity outfits, think of it as a cathartic process. It can often help to bring in an empathetic friend or professional organiser to support you with this more difficult ditch, and take it at a pace you’re comfortable with.
More: Discover these tips to make your master bedroom feel bigger
5. Clothes you don’t like
We can end up keeping clothes we don’t like for all sorts of reasons. Perhaps they look stylish on the hanger but don’t feel comfortable on, or we associate a particular memory with them. It can be liberating to let these items go. Try just one thing that falls into this category if you’re struggling to start.
When you go to choose your outfit for the day, think how much more positive you’ll feel when you can choose from clothes you love and feel good wearing.
We can end up keeping clothes we don’t like for all sorts of reasons. Perhaps they look stylish on the hanger but don’t feel comfortable on, or we associate a particular memory with them. It can be liberating to let these items go. Try just one thing that falls into this category if you’re struggling to start.
When you go to choose your outfit for the day, think how much more positive you’ll feel when you can choose from clothes you love and feel good wearing.
6. Uncomfortable shoes
Do you have some shoes lurking in your wardrobe that are uncomfortable or don’t fit properly? Then it’s a good idea to move them on. After all, your feet carry you around all day and need to be looked after.
Again, you can donate wearable shoes to charities that will resell them or pass them on to those in need. Many textile banks and recycling centres will also recycle old shoe parts if they’re beyond repair, diverting them from landfill.
Don’t feel bad about getting rid of them, even if they were expensive. Use this as an incentive to buy shoes that not only look good, but are comfy, too.
Do you have some shoes lurking in your wardrobe that are uncomfortable or don’t fit properly? Then it’s a good idea to move them on. After all, your feet carry you around all day and need to be looked after.
Again, you can donate wearable shoes to charities that will resell them or pass them on to those in need. Many textile banks and recycling centres will also recycle old shoe parts if they’re beyond repair, diverting them from landfill.
Don’t feel bad about getting rid of them, even if they were expensive. Use this as an incentive to buy shoes that not only look good, but are comfy, too.
7. Items that don’t fit
If you have lots of clothes in your wardrobe that are waiting to be worn when you’ve reached your target weight, do yourself a favour and get rid of them.
It’s pretty common for our size to fluctuate a little, so some leeway in your wardrobe isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, a good rule to follow is, if clothes are two sizes bigger or smaller than the ones you currently wear, it’s time to let them go.
Try to avoid buying clothes in several sizes and think about creating a capsule wardrobe with a few fabulous, flexible items instead.
Tell us…
Is your wardrobe neatly ordered or rather more freestyle? Let us know – and share any clutter-busting tips – in the Comments.
If you have lots of clothes in your wardrobe that are waiting to be worn when you’ve reached your target weight, do yourself a favour and get rid of them.
It’s pretty common for our size to fluctuate a little, so some leeway in your wardrobe isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, a good rule to follow is, if clothes are two sizes bigger or smaller than the ones you currently wear, it’s time to let them go.
Try to avoid buying clothes in several sizes and think about creating a capsule wardrobe with a few fabulous, flexible items instead.
Tell us…
Is your wardrobe neatly ordered or rather more freestyle? Let us know – and share any clutter-busting tips – in the Comments.
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Every 1st Jan, after washing cloths, I hang the hangers the opposite way round. Then on 31st December, any hangers which are not facing that way, I decide why I haven't worn that item for one year. I will either decide to take it to chairty or I will wear it to see why I don't wear it more often. I usually find that there is only one or two items which I haven't worn. It's a simple and easy way to decide what to keep. I hang dresses, trousers, jumpers, coats, all tops.
@MJ my daughter-out-of-law is doing this as an experiment. I do a cull at least twice a year, as the seasons change, and ask whether I really want to wear a blouse I've had for ages or whether it will do for gardening. Just donated shoes I had barely worn because they proved too uncomfortable. I do, though, have dozens of huipiles I bought over the 10 years I worked in Mexico and Central America; I seldom have occasion to wear them now, but I know from which village each is from, how long it took to weave or embroider, in some cases made for me by refugees with whom I worked – my daughter (who has followed a similar path in Latin America) will inherit them, and indeed has filched quite a few! There are also a couple of formal dresses bought for a wedding I couldn't attend because of travel restrictions during lockdown. Perhaps these will find a new owner this year!
For those clothes hard to get rid of. At the start of spring and autumn I emptied my wardrobe of seasonal clothes and put them in a suitcase. The same suitcase I have just removed my previous years clothes. I then looks through these clothes with new eyes. You realise how tired some of these items are or how dated. Get rid and it will be the right season to sell on or give to charity