If you have these 6 things in your closet, you have to get rid of them
When I moved into my first college dorm room, I worked up a sweat trying to squeeze all of my sweatshirts, coats and jeans into the dresser (and let's not even talk about my sock drawer). When I upgraded to my first shoebox, I mean NYC apartment, I again wrestled with minimal closet storage. That's when I knew I had to take a scrupulous eye to my wardrobe and begin to get rid of clothes I didn't need or couldn't fit.
Regardless of where you live, I bet you can relate. In fact, a 2016 survey from Closet Maid found that women have an average of 103 items in their closets, and 1 in 4 feel their closet is unorganised.
Why is it so hard to cull clothes? It's all in the psychology of cleaning out. Getting rid of things can be an emotional process, says interior designer and professional organizer Jeffrey Phillip. "It can cause you to recall certain memories, feel guilty for not wearing something, look at your body in a certain way, or simply cause a lot of indecisiveness about what to do and what to keep."
To help ease the process, I spoke to organising pros and collaborated with experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab and Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. They suggested thinking about your wardrobe in categories, like clothes that don't fit, ones that are damaged, etc. And keep this in mind: If reviewing your entire wardrobe in one sitting feels overwhelming, break it up into multiple sessions over the course of a few days or weekends.
Clothes that don't fit or you don't wear
Simply put, if you don't wear it, remove it from your closet. Find a new home for clothing that is "itchy, uncomfortable or evokes a negative memory," says professional organiser Bohne Leah, founder of the Be Organized Method.
For clothes that fall into a middle category, reflect on which pieces you no longer feel happy wearing versus which pieces may be worth keeping if they come back in style. "I believe it’s important to maintain a wardrobe filled with pieces that you love," says Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director Emma Seymour.
If you have items that you want to keep but they don't fit well, consider getting them tailored, suggests Seymour. For less than the price of buying something new, you can renew something you already have and love.
Damaged clothes
After years of hanging onto questionable socks and faded t-shirts, I've finally learned to toss white tees and undershirts that have underarm stains and any item that has a hole in it that can't be fixed.
Getting rid of clothes that "have holes, stains, or are simply past their prime" will help you "free up valuable closet space," explains Leah. Damaged items are no longer useful, explains Phillip. Instead, it's more useful to recycle these unwearable items and have more room to store items you actually wear.
If you are unsure if an item in your closet is truly irreparable, ask a tailor.
Clothes you wear once
You probably have more than one item in your closet that you bought for a singular, special occasion. Whether it's a bridesmaid dress, Halloween costume, prom outfit or tutu from a dance recital, these items are easy to locate and are at the top of the list of clothes you should get rid of. While a bridesmaid dress may be able to be repurposed for a future formal event, donating old costumes is an easy way to clear up space in your closet. Trust me, my mom and I gave away over a decade's worth of dance costumes, and it made our storage space a whole lot roomier.
Repeating items
I once bought the same v-neck t-shirt in four different colors because I initially liked how it fit. Over the years, I wore these tees less and less and only kept one of the more neutral colors. "If we discover too many similar items, I recommend clients keep their favorites and say goodbye to the rest," says Leah. This mindset may even help you while shopping for new items. I try to keep stock of how many pieces I have for a certain category to help decide whether I should splurge on a new midi dress or turtleneck sweater.
Sentimental clothing
Deciding on whether to keep or toss sentimental pieces can be tough. Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté, for example, tends to keep sentimental clothing even if she doesn't wear it, whereas Phillips recommends culling. Leah suggests taking a photo of sentimental items before you store or donate them.
Another option: "If an item is strictly memorable and is never worn, consider moving it to a storage area with your other memorabilia," recommends Phillip. Similarly, Leah keeps a collection of favorite shirts and sweatshirts in a box she doesn't store in the closet. "This compromise allows me to hold onto what I love while keeping my space functional," she says.
Shoes that are damaged or don't fit well
Forté points out that while clothes can take up space in your closet, so can shoes. "I would recommend purging shoes that don’t fit well or hurt, are falling apart or damaged beyond repair," says Forté. While you may be able to restyle or repurpose clothing that still fits but you don't wear as often, that is harder to do with shoes.
How best to get rid of clothes
After you determine which clothing items you want to get rid of, there are multiple ways to go about doing so. The main options include donating, selling and recycling. "The method that will be best for you will depend on the quality and age of the items, as well as how much time you have to put into the process," says Phillip.
Donate: If you have clothes that are still wearable (i.e. no massive stains or holes, working zippers, etc.), Seymour recommends finding a reputable organization to ensure your donation finds its way to a new owner and not a landfill. Charitable organizations like veteran's groups will even pick up your donations and donate profits to fund programs, adds Forté. I typically donate all of my clothes to local thrift stores or sometimes will give pieces to my friends too.
Sell: Another option is to sell your wearable clothes. Selling clothes lets you bring a few extra dollars, "but it also ensures that the piece ends up with someone who really wants it vs. you don’t truly know what will happen with a donated item," says Seymour. If you are unsure when to resell vs. donate, Leah explains that "high quality or designer pieces that are in excellent condition and have clear resale value" are great contenders. In the past, I have sold items on Vinted, ThredUp, Depop and Facebook Marketplace.
Upcycle: Leah recommends upcycling "when clothing is beyond repair, excessively worn, or made from non-durable materials." It can also be an option for items that you want to move out of your closet but maybe not your home. Leah works with her clients to find innovative ways to transform a piece of clothing into something new "In one project, we transformed a client’s old t-shirt collection into a beautiful quilt, giving her a cherished comfy keepsake while keeping memories alive," she says.
Fabric recycling: This is a great option for unwearable items like old underwear and bras, socks and damaged clothing. "There are programs where you can send items to be recycled and get money back like at Harper Wilde for bras and underwear," explains Seymour. I have personally participated in Harper Wilde's recycling program and found it to be a seamless way to clear out old, dingey bras with wonky wires, stretched-out bands and broken clasps. Similarly, ThredUp recycles unsold items you send in the brand's cleanout bags. Our pros also recommend Smartwool's Second Cut program as a great option for recycling socks.
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