Is one of your goals for 2016 to declutter your life? One of my many goals for 2016 is to become more organized, and the largest clutter zone is my closet. My closet is packed to the brim with clothes I never wear, and it’s frustrating when I’m getting dressed in the AM. This constantly leads me to the “I have nothing to wear” dilemma.
The easiest way to track what I am wearing is to turn all of my hangers the opposite way on January 1st. When I wear something, I will hang it back in my closet the correct way, giving me an easy, instant visual of what I am wearing and not wearing. Any new clothes I buy will also be hung backwards in my closet until my first wear. I am terrible at remembering the last time I wore something, and this method keeps me honest and accountable. It will also force me get creative with my wardrobe choices, incorporating those pieces I wish to keep and attempting to curb my insatiable appetite for new clothes. At the end of each season, at the six month mark, and ultimately on December 31, 2016, I will donate everything in my closet that has not been worn in the past 365 days. Below are guidelines I’m giving to myself, but feel free to personalize this challenge to your individual needs.
- I am only using this method to clean out my hanging clothes in my closet. For me, this does not include pajamas, athletic wear, or t-shirts kept in drawers.
- I must actually wear an item for it to be flipped to a “keep.” If I try it on and decide to wear another item, I will return it back to the closet in reverse.
- I am giving myself 5 freebies. At the end of the year, I will allow myself to keep 5 items I haven’t worn in the past 365 days but are useful to have in my arsenal when the occasion arises (i.e. suits, formal gowns, etc.).
- One in, one out. If I buy an item, a similar item from my closet must be added to the donate pile. This can easily translate to all areas of the home and will keep you from appearing on the next season of Hoarders.
Are you taking the Closet Clean Out Challenge with me? Do you have additional tips for decluttering your closet? Leave me a comment below with your ideas!
I love the dedication to closet cleaning. My husband enforces the fact we don’t need more than our side of the closet so that I don’t go crazy. Maybe I need the hoarding rule for my kids toys though ha ha. Love this article top notch girl!
I totally need this post for 2016. I’m working really hard on #4 because it’s the easiest. Sometimes I even find myself going through laundry before I put it away and making a pile of clothes to donate.
This is why I do the IG style challenges. It forces me to dig deep in my closet and wear stuff I forgot I had. I also tag my outfit posts with my name to keep track of what I’ve worn. My 2015 goal was to wear what’s in my closet so I try not to repeat outfits
This is an awesome idea! I am pretty good about my clothes (like, I don’t have a ton), but my closet is always a mess and I am interested in seeing if there’s anything that keeps slipping through the cracks. Thanks for the idea!