Spring Cleaning: Closet Edition

There is no better time than spring to give your closet some much needed attention. Whether you’re swapping out seasonal items or trying to purge, there are plenty of good reasons for a good closet cleaning. Here are some tips to help you out.

2 Reasons to Clean Out Your Closet

1. Make room. Unless you’ve got an extremely large walk-in closet, chances are that you don’t have room for your spring/summer and fall/winter stuff at the same time. I know I don’t. Taking the time to clean and organize your closet will definitely help with that.

2. Purge. Let’s face it, we all have clothing that has no business being in our closets or wardrobes or drawers anymore. And a spring closet cleaning is the perfect time to get rid of all of those items. How do you know what to get rid of? Ask yourself the three questions that follow.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself

A spring closet cleaning and re-organizing is a great time to get rid of all of those pieces you’ve been holding on to for no good reason except the ones you craft to justify it to yourself.

1. Does this fit? Let’s make this easy. If something is too big, just get rid of it. If it’s too small, you’ll have to gauge – and be honest – about whether you’ll fit into it at some point. If you think you will, go ahead and hang onto it. Otherwise, purge it.

2. Have I worn it in the last 12 months? This is the best method for deciding whether to keep something or get rid of it. If you haven’t worn it in the past 12 months, toss it because you’re not going to wear it again. I understand that this can be difficult, especially if there’s some type of sentimental attachment, but believe me, you’ll feel a lot better once you get rid of whatever garment that is.

3. Was it a trend purchase (i.e. not in style)? This kind of falls in line with the last questions. If it was purchased as a result of something being a trend, get rid of it. It’s not coming back. Period.

4 Options for Your Clothing

1. Store it. A good closet has a good rotation. And that usually consists of moving items in and out seasonally. I’m a fan of storing out of seasonal items in plastic bins and putting them under the bed until they’re needed.

2. Sell it. If you have some nice things – perhaps some things that don’t fit any more – and you have the time, open up an eBay shop or head to the local consignment store.

3. Donate it. This is my favorite. I recently moved apartment units and did a major closet purge in the process, despite the fact, mind you, that my new closet was much bigger. So if you head to the Baltimore Goodwill you might be able to snatch up some of my old stuff.

4. Trash it. Sometimes the garbage is the best place for old clothes. Holes in jeans, shoes that are scuffed beyond repair – there’s no turning back. Toss them and say goodbye.

Chime in below with your closet cleaning tips and strategies.

Thanks for reading.

Stylishly Yours,

Brian Sacawa
He Spoke Style

Photography by Rob McIver Photo