Spring Cleaning Your Closet
With spring right around the corner and bathing suits already for sale in the stores, it’s time to tackle going through your wardrobe! If you’re like most of us, there are clothes in your closet and dressers that haven’t been worn for years but you can’t bring yourself to get rid of. Well, today we’re going to share some essential tips for organizing your wardrobe and getting ready for the warm weather.
Start Now
Waiting until the warm weather has really hit, inevitably leads to stuffing all the winter items in bins or boxes because you are too overwhelmed to deal with sorting through each item. So start now and pick one of the plans below that works for you. There are different approaches to tackling this project and it’s best to pick which one fits you best. No matter what approach you pick, have your bags, boxes or bins ready for sorting your items.
Make a Plan
For the one step at a time approach, pick one type of clothing at a time, for instance socks & underwear, jeans, jackets, etc. This process will take longer but is less overwhelming and works for those who just can’t dedicate a whole uninterrupted day to getting it done. Take everything of that item you own and assess what condition it is in. Just like on the TV shows that focus on cleaning out a house, make three piles – Keep, Donate, Trash. If you have items you were given as a gift and never wore because they didn’t really suit your style, put them in the donation pile. If you have clothes that are stained or torn and cannot be cleaned or repaired, put them in the toss pile. This is the time to be honest as well. If you have clothes that don’t fit, are you actively doing something to remedy the situation? If that pair of size 6 jeans you had in high school have a ton of memories but no chance in hell of ever fitting again, it’s time to donate, toss or get crafty with them. Remember if you choose the crafty route and you don’t get it done in the next 6 months, time to let them go!
For the brave souls who can tackle their entire wardrobe in one go, remember to set aside enough time and space for your project and have a plan before you start. Take everything out, empty your closet and all your drawers so you have a big picture of what you have and the outfits you love to mix and match. If you have classic items that mix well with everything and that can be worn for years to come, those are a great place to start your keep pile. No matter which approach you choose, this can be a difficult task but you will feel great when you finish.
Storage Tips
Once you have your keep items selected you still have a few things to do. Before you pack everything away when the warmer weather hits, remember to keep a few transitional items for those cool days so you don’t have to pull bins back out later. Throw out the toss pile and pack your donate items in your car to drop off your next time out. If they stay in the house, these items have a sneaky way of crawling back into your closet and drawers.
When you’re ready to store items, it’s important to do it correctly so when you go back to them in the fall, they are still in wearable condition. If you have items that need dry cleaning, get that done before you store them as any dirt or oils should be removed before packing them away. If you have jackets you are storing, make sure they are washed and thoroughly dry before putting them in storage. Make sure you empty pockets, zip or button items before packing to keep things in shape. If you have items that will be stored on hangers, invest in hangers that will not leave your clothes misshapen over time. Use caution when storing items in a basement or attic if they will be subject to moisture or extreme heat or cold as mold can ruin your favorite clothes and leave spots that will not come out. Last but certainly not least, label your storage containers so it will be easy for you to retrieve items when the weather begins to cool off or if you decide to take a vacation to an area that has cooler weather.
I hope these tips help you get this off your to do list and moving on to more fun and creative projects or on a shopping trip to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe for spring!
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