Cleaning Out Your Closet

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time to start cleaning out those closets. We know that closets can be a real hassle, especially since most people store much more than just clothes in there. Anything you don’t feel like dealing with? Just shove it in a closet, right?

Well, no more! Higher Hangers is here with a few tips and tricks to help you clean out your overstuffed closets and make them useful for more than just storage space. Let’s open the doors to the world of closet possibilities together!

Learn to Let Go

As Elsa says in Frozen, “Let it go, let it go!” The first thing to consider is a crucial part of cleaning: letting go. Sure, you wore that shirt on your birthday, and you have a lot of fond memories of it, but that was five years ago. Do you really need to keep it? In the words of Marie Kondo, does it spark joy?

If you aren’t sure, that’s okay! Designate a few areas of the room for definitely keeping, maybe keeping, and not keeping. As you go through your closet, you might move things around, but it’ll give you an excellent place to start.

Get with the Times

When was the last time you wore those pants? A week ago? A few months ago? A year ago? More? Considering we’re only now opening up again from the COVID-19 lockdowns, give yourself a pass for 2020, but if you find things you haven’t worn since 2019, they can probably hit the garage sale or donation pile.

Say No to Trends

We’re not saying it’s never ok to buy what’s on-trend, but the whole point of trends is that they’re temporary. It’s pretty rare for trends to stick around for more than a year, and they likely won’t stand a chance of coming back for a few decades. In the meantime, we recommend hanging on to staple pieces and tossing trendy items in the not-keeping pile.

Seal Away the Winter

One of the biggest space eaters in closets is winter wear. If you live in a place where snow gear is a necessary facet of life, then you’ve likely got a whole slew of mittens, sturdy boots, thick coats, and woolen hats. If you need those for the majority of the year, then you’ll want them to be front and center in your closet.

For most people, though, winter gear is only needed for a few months out of the year. For the remaining months, it is just extra clutter obscuring everything else in the closet. There are vacuum-sealed bags that can hold fabric winter gear safe during the summer months when you want to have more room in your closet for those cute spring dresses and fringed shorts.

You want the things you regularly wear to be front and center in your closet, where they can easily be found on a busy morning, so seasonal items should be near the back or off to the sides since you won’t be wearing them as often. This goes for holiday shirts and ugly Christmas sweaters too!

Think Outside the Box

If you’ve got many accessories in your closet, consider utilizing empty wall space outside. Make a cute decoration out of your hats, mittens, or scarves on the walls surrounding your closet. It’s something nice to look at for visitors, keeps them conveniently located for you, and gives everything else in your wardrobe a little more breathing room.

The same could be said for a shoe rack by your front door or in a mudroom. By storing things, you usually chuck in a closet outside, you gain more space. Just make sure people remember to wipe their feet before they come inside!

Start Organizing with Style

Once you’ve decided which pieces you’re keeping, it’s time to figure out how you want to organize your closet. Part of why closets can quickly become so overwhelming is that you start pitching things willy-nilly inside and shutting the door. When you don’t have to look at a mess, it doesn’t seem as bad, right?

But then, you have these closet cleanings that feel like they go on for ages. Instead, we suggest picking an organization style, getting some more hangers, and re-organizing that closet. Check out our flaxseed biodegradable hangers to be kind to the Earth while you keep your closets neat and organized. This way, you’ll know where everything is, and it’ll be easier to keep track of what goes in.

If you have slippery clothes made of silk, consider using our velvet nonslip hangers, so your nicer shirts, slacks, skirts, and dresses will stay put on the hanger and not fall into the no man’s land of your closet floor.

Besides hangers, you could also add a small shoe rack or shelves in your closets instead of dumping things on the floor. Handy cubbies aren’t just for kids anymore; they’re also a great way to see everything when you open the door. Plus, you won’t have to worry about a mountain of stuff all falling out whenever you peek inside.

How Do You Sort?

There are a few different ways to sort your clothes. Some people prefer to sort by function: blouses on the left, skirts in the middle, jeans on the right. Other people sort by formality: dresses on the left, business casual in the middle, and weekend casual on the right. Still, others simply sort by color. The way you sort is entirely up to you. Just pick a system that makes sense to you, and go for it!

In Conclusion: Hanging It Up

Cleaning out your closets doesn’t have to be a grueling task, so feel free to have some fun with it. You have our full support! With these tips in mind, simply roll up your sleeves, dive into those closets, and before you know it, you’ll be transforming them into functional, manageable places where your clothes are neatly organized and looking fabulous. Say goodbye to wrinkled messes and heaps of unfolded clothes. Your closet is ready for the full makeover it deserves!

Sources:

20 Practical Ways to Clean Out Your Closet | Minimalism Made Simple

How to Clean Out Your Closet | The Well Dressed Life

How to Finally Clean out Your Closet for Good | Be More with Less

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