Decluttering: How to clean out your closet efficiently?

We’re not sure about you, but when our personal wardrobe space is in a unfathomable mess, our overall wellbeing seems to be cluttered as well. So we are here to give you a few helpful tips and tricks on revamping your closet – plus, this is the perfect way to ring in the new year!

Before sorting out your closet, we recommend you have five boxes on hand which will aid in cleaning out your space in a far more organised manner. These boxes should be labelled as such:

Throw: This box should be loaded with items that just aren’t wearable anymore. Old, ripped tops that boast ugly stains definitely make it to this category.

Donate: Donating to your local salvation army or charity/ thrift store is a great way to know your belongings will be put to good use. This box should be filled with clothes or items that are in good condition and can still be worn by another person.

Sell: For your more expensive but unused pieces, why not sell them to a pre-loved designer shop? You’ll be surprised at how much money you can make.

Winter: If you live somewhere where the weather tends to get cold, keep a separate box in the back of your wardrobe or storage cupboard full of your warm clothes. Don’t take them out till the season calls.

Summer: Same goes for your summer clothes, keep a separate box for clothes that you won’t necessarily be wearing all year long.

What should be cleared?

– Anything that doesn’t fit or flatter your body shape.

– Old items of clothing that you don’t wear, but still hold on to for sentimental reasons (like your ex-boyfriends T-shirt, ladies, you know the one).

– Colours that you don’t like or that don’t complement your skin tone.

– Items that only look ‘okay’ but not entirely ‘great’.

– Anything that makes you look frumpy and dumpy.

– Anything that still has the store tag on it and is over 6 months old – if you haven’t worn it yet, you probably never will.

– Anything that you haven’t worn in 2-3 years – remember no hoarding.

How to organize your wardrobe better?

Instead of having everything strewn everywhere, try and organise your clothes by type (trousers, skirts, formal gowns, etc). Do this by using labelled boxes (you can get cheap closet storage boxes from IKEA).

If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then organise by colour. This will make it super easy to get dressed in the morning and colour-coordinated closet will wake you right up. Feel like wearing yellow? It’s all there in one section!

Put your best and the most-worn clothes at the front of your wardrobe. Fun fact: you’re more likely to wear whatever is easier to reach.

Now that you’ve managed to take everything out and organised them with some system in place, the hardest bit to stick with the plan. Simple devote half an hour, once a week to go through your closet to make sure all of your belongings are right where they should be. If they aren’t, clean up a little on the spot instead of leaving it to the next week.

Where to sell the stuff you don’t want?

Make some money by clearing out your unwanted items. Online stores such as Chic Stash, Style Tribute, The Fifth Collection, Carousell and Gumtree make it easy to sell your belongings. The better the condition, the better the price you’ll get.

Or gather your friends and make a fun day out of selling your pieces at flea market. For Flea Sake at Scape is a great market where we always seem to get our hands on one-of-a-kind pieces. Use the money to buy yourself some new staple pieces of clothing, or put it towards your summer holiday fund.

The task of decluttering your closet may be overwhelming but with these tips and tricks, you can maximise your sartorial purchases in no time.

Shannon Gallagher