How to Declutter Your Closet

If you're anything like me, your closet is full of clothes you never wear, stuff that is either too big or too small or too outdated, along with all sorts of other random stuff that just kind of got ... dumped there. Mom life, right? For me, that included my kimono from when I lived in Japan, an obnoxious Dora the Explorer toy phone that has no real off-switch, my cap from my graduation in 2012, and much, much more. Things got worse and worse until, well, I had to tackle that closet. So, here are my top tips for decluttering your closet! 

Yep, that's the before & after of my closet. Yikes, right?
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Go Through Your Clothes and Ask Yourself...

• Do I love it? (If yes, keep it. If no, maybe consider selling or donating)
• Do I actually wear it? (If no... think about why you're keeping it)
• Does it say what I want it to say about who I am? (What image do you want to project? Is this outfit right for that)
• Is it uncomfortable to wear? (If yes, get rid of it! Unless it's your wedding dress.)
• Is it stained or smelly or just generally in bad upkeep? (GET RID OF IT! ... unless it's your wedding dress)
• Does it fit? (If it doesn't fit and it probably never will again, safe to say that donating it is your best course of action)
• Will I ever wear these shoes again? (If not... you know what I'm going to say)

So, take everything out of your closet and ask yourself these questions.

Ask Questions by Type of Clothes

The easiest way to ask yourself these questions is to sort by type of clothes. It's much easier to get rid of one t-shirt if you're looking at your entire collection of t-shirts. Same goes for dresses, jeans, shorts, yoga pants, etc. 
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Want to declutter your home even more? Check out:
​ Declutter Quickly: 10 Things to Toss, Donate, or Sell​

 

Organize, Organize, Organize

Now that you've got everything out, you'll want to:

• Put away anything that wasn't where it was supposed to be (like the pair of socks that should be in the dresser or the Dora phone that should be in the garbage)
• Put any dirty laundry in your hamper or laundry room.
• Take anything that needs to be repaired to the tailor, dry cleaner, or your mother-in-law (if you're like me)
• Decide if you plan to donate your items, sell them on Facebook, or take them to a consignment store

Looking for a good guide on how to sell your items on Facebook? Check out my friend, Mandyy Thomas - she's a financial education instructor and she's got an ebook on this topic! She made $1000 selling stuff she had around the house!
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All that Other Stuff...

Ok, so now you've got your clothes organized. What about all that... other stuff? For me, I have 3 small boxes that I store sentimental items in, like my wedding veil and cute cards from my husband. I recommend creating an organizational system for the stuff you want to keep but that you don't need in your day-to-day life. 

Recycle, throw-away, donate, or put everything else back where it belongs. It might take you a little bit longer, but your sanity will thank you. Because, fun fact, a UCLA study found a link between "levels of diurnal cortisol, a measure of stress," and "how families, especially mothers, talk about their home spaces." Yep, moms who used words like "mess," "not fun" and "very chaotic" when talking about the upkeep of their homes had higher stress levels. 

So, clean out your closet as a form of self-care, mama.