Fall closet cleaning

Seasons change and now is the perfect time for fall closet cleaning. Just before it gets really cold, and you put away all your summer and transitional clothes, it is time to revise, clean and get rid of everything and anything you don`t need.

How to do a successful fall closet cleaning? What should you leave and what needs to go? Do not worry my friend, here are some easy steps to help you make that hard decision (trust me, we have all been there) and part with that shirt or pair of pants you kept in the back of your closet for past few seasons and never even showed them to the world.

Although we are used to the term "spring cleaning", any season really is good to dive into your always full closet, because, let’s face it, how many of us are blessed with THAT big closets?

First thing is really to make a decision and stick to it. No matter how hard it may seem, if any item checks a box from this list it needs to go. Being sentimental is understandable but really do you need a 10 years old sweater that collects dust at the back of your closet just because you had it at some event that is a great memory. Yes, I am all for great memories and cherishing them, but not in the back of the closet. It only means it’s not that important.

1. Will I wear it in next month/season?

The everlasting question to which, of course we always say - YES! although we know it deep down we never will. By hoarding stuff you are just working against yourself, getting more and more drowned in things you don`t really need or wear so no wonder you have nothing to wear. Maybe you do, but can you find it?

2. Stains that aren`t coming out

If you gave it all your shots, dry-cleaners and/or even tried with alien substances and the stain is still there - it needs to go. Only if you plan to wash your windows or floors with it, and we have equipment for that nowadays you know - throw it away.

3. Would you buy it right this second?

If the answer is NO, the course of your actions should be only one - get rid of it. Thinking about whether you will wear it in the next few months is tricky, because if it’s something summer-y and now is winter time I can relate to your dilemma, but ask yourself this - if I were now in the store buying super duper clothes for that particular season would I buy that particular item? No? Garbage or sell or give it to someone, just don`t put it back in the closet.

4. Does it fit?

Yes, no... maybe? Will it fit in a week? Too big or too small? Do you plan on that big of a change? Are you on a diet? It doesn’t fit. Throw it away.

N.B. There is one exception to this rule. If you have a favourite pair of jeans, that makes your ass look like better than the most beautiful but photo-shopped ass ever, and plan to wear them in the near future and are in fact on a path to make that happen - then leave it for 12 weeks. If at the end of those 12 weeks you are (or) never near the goal or worse quitted your path/plan in first 4 weeks - get rid of them. They don`t mean that much to you :) and more important, they don`t fit. Been there, done that. It is disappointing at times but in the end we need to be honest with ourselves. If we won`t work for it... we won`t have it.

5. Does it express your style?

If you bought it on a whim, or because it was trendy at the time but it doesn’t really speak you or your personal style - it needs to go. Trust me; you will never wear it no matter how much you try. If you just don`t feel it - you don`t feel it. Trends come and go but your style is your style and it is something you feel from inside out, no matter if it changes with time, but it expresses you.

For example I have a strange love/hate (I am not sure if that is even a proper name for it) relationship with floral print. I LOVE it on other people but can even imagine it on myself. And when I see an item in the store, it can totally ooze with wonderful pattern and call me softly "buy me, I`m so pretty" in the end when I try it on... it’s just... blah. And I have never ever bought anything floral. On the other hand I made that mistake and bought a peplum blouse. It’s still hanging in the closet (which reminds me, I need to put it up for sale), I`ve worn it maybe 2-3 times and felt totally strange. I don` even know why. Needs to go!

5. a) this one relates to number 5. Buying trends... well, it is kind of self-explanatory, if it`s a trend, it won`t be at one time for sure but then ask yourself one important question - no matter the current trend situations would you like to wear it in a year or two great, but if not - don`t even buy it let alone leave it in your closet.

Bonus points - if its torn, stretched beyond recognition or if it, god, smells odd (and you keep that in your closet?!) you should really clean your closet more often and definitely throw that one right away.

I hope these points helped you with your decisions for fall closet cleaning challenge. It can be hard and I too prolong the inevitable more than I would like to even admit to. But in the end we live such crazy lives and get cluttered with immense amount of things every day, so to keep our lives de-cluttered and more flow-y as much as we can, at least we can get rid of what we really don`t need. The clothes you don`t need and is still wearable donate to goodwill and those less fortunate.

And tell me, how often do you clean your closets? What method are you using to stay on track with your de-cluttering? I would like to know. I clean my closet 2-3 times a year but I feel I could do even more.

Share your great tips with me <3

 
photo credit /photo was edited by me and is submitted to same CC license as the original