Do you avoid closet decluttering because you don’t know what to keep, sell or donate? These simple rules for decluttering clothes will remove the guess work and make the process easier and more fun.
Decluttering my clothes and dressing with less changed so much more than my wardrobe. Letting go of things I never wore anyway improved my lifestyle, redefined my shopping habits and reduced clutter in my home. The benefits of owning fewer items of clothing include saving money, time and energy. Simply managing fewer decisions every morning has been wonderful. The best part though is that I get to wear my favorite things every day!
Simple rules for decluttering clothes will reduce decision fatigue and give you a clear letting go road map. With these rules you won’t have to overthink what to hold on to or what to give away. Use these rules as they are or use them as inspiration to create your own.
5 Simple Rules For Decluttering Clothes
The rules for decluttering clothes below will help you address the clothes in your closet, stuffed in drawers or on shelves and even the ones hiding in storage (and the pile that’s already in a bag or box ready for donation). If you are willing to let things go and stop bringing more in, you can break the cycle of always having to declutter your clothes and closet.
1. Only sell things that are worth at least $50.
Not only do you have to decide what you are going to keep vs. declutter, there is another set of decisions about what to do with your clothes. Sell? Donate? Recycle? Create a high-level rule for decluttering clothes so you only have to make the decision once. For instance: only sell things that are worth at least $50. That doesn’t mean you bought if for $50 but that you can sell it for $50. Otherwise, donate the item. The dollar value may be different for your declutter rule but take into consideration the value of your time and energy.
2. Donate anything you haven’t worn in 2-3 years.
It might make you nervous to get rid of something just because you haven’t worn it in a few months or even a year. This rule for decluttering clothes invites you to be honest with yourself, giving you the grace of an extra year or two. There is a reason you haven’t worn that thing in years. If there are things you aren’t sure about, be honest about why you want to hold on. Write down every explanation and excuse and see if they hold up outside of your mind. Sometimes letting go of what we think is even more important than letting go of our stuff. P.S. “just in case” is not a good excuse for holding on.
3. Make it easy (or easier).
It’s so easy to overcomplicate something like decluttering your closet. When it comes to donating items, your brain will complicate things by encouraging you to donate each thing to the perfect place. Consider the path of least resistance. If there is an option for someone (a local non-profit or someone from your neighborhood to pick it up for free), start there. I’ve always had good luck putting stuff outside with a “free” sign. Before you decide to sell things, remember how much time and energy that takes. If there are a couple of pieces you really want to donate to a specific organization, consider this list of where to donate things.
4. Hide anything you don’t wear.
This is my absolute favorite rule for decluttering clothes. It removes all stress and friction. You’ll have no excuse to hold on. Get rid of your worries about where to donate things, what to sell and what to keep. Instead, simply hide everything you don’t wear. Put it in a box. Tape up the box without labeling it. After a couple of months, If you don’t miss it (or remember it what you packed up), donate it. This process of hiding your stuff will break your emotional attachment and make it easy to release.
5. Only keep one size in your closet.
Multiple sizes may feel comfortable but it’s just adding extra clutter to your closet. Instead, focus on only including what fits your today body and your today lifestyle. You don’t need a wardrobe for what your body or lifestyle used to me or what it may be in the future. You need clothes that feel good on your body for right now. I used to keep multiple sizes of clothing in my closet but when I stopped doing that, it didn’t just change my closet, it changed my mindset too.
6. Create a bridge by taking a picture.
If you’ve saved clothes to remember a person or memory, reconsider the way you are attempting to preserve the past. Something stuffed in the back of your closet isn’t serving you or honoring any memories. Instead take a picture of yourself wearing or holding the item and display it. Or, write about why the item or memory of the item is important to you. Taking a picture or telling a story creates a bridge to letting go of your clothes and other stuff. Remember, this rule for decluttering clothes is about love, not stuff.
7. Let go of the guilt.
Closets are full of emotion with guilt often at the top of the list. You might feel guilt for spending too much, for not wearing what you have, for clothes fitting poorly and for not enjoying pieces other people have given you. Unfortunately the guilt is completely unproductive. Take a look through your closet and pull out anything that makes you feel guilty, sad or bad. Box it up and revisit in 3 months. If you don’t love it then or it still makes you feel bad, give it away.
2 Simple Rules to Keep Your Clothes and Closet Clutter-Free
Once you create a clutter-free space by decluttering your clothes and closet, these 2 rules will help you protect your space. Practice them for at least 3-6 months after your decluttering session and see how things change.
1. Stop buying things you don’t need.
Stop buying things you don’t need. This capsule wardrobe tip might seem silly but sometimes when we think we need something new, we just need a break. Instead of continually adding new pieces to your wardrobe because they are on sale, or because you need a shopping lift, or whatever excuse you are using, try a purchase pause. Just wait.
Consider a shopping ban for a few months. Work with what you have before you get anything new. Enjoy the space you created and give yourself time to consider what you really want and need in your closet. Remember that even though you got rid of a lot of clothes clutter, you were probably only wearing the same few things over and over again.
2. Trade shopping for self-care.
I used to shop for every event and emotion. Now, when I feel myself getting stressed, tired, sick, frustrated, or bored, I take better care of myself. My body and brain is telling me it’s time to make a change, not that it’s time add to cart or add to my tiny wardrobe. When I’m not feeling my best, I know my body is saying, “Take care of me.”
If you shop for every event and emotion too, make a list of other things that make you feel good. When you feel like shopping, check your list and trade shopping for self-care.
For more clothes and closet decluttering tips, join me for the Closet Declutter Hour. Simple rules for decluttering clothes or simplifying your life in other ways won’t restrict you. They will streamline your efforts and help you learn what works for you (and what doesn’t). Have fun, experiment and discover the joys of living with less.
