Yes, purging might be a strong word for something as sentimental as clothing.
But the problem is, you have to.
Purging your clothes can be a way to create new possibilities in your life and declutter everything around you.
(You'll be surprised how it feels)
So let's talk about it.
Why Purge Clothes In The First Place?
Keeping your closet simple can help you in many ways.
A smaller, less complicated wardrobe makes getting dressed faster, easier, and less stressful because you don't have to make as many choices.
Another good reason to clean out your closet is so that you can wear clothes you love every day that make you look and feel great.
When you clean out your closet, you get rid of clothes that don't fit, aren't comfortable, you don't wear, or don't make you feel your best.
Leaving you with a closet you love and where everything is utilized. Gives you a sense of zero waste.
(AND freeing you from the clutter!)
Instead of only wearing a few of the clothes in your closet, try wearing a lot more.
If you're ready to get to downsize your closet, use the tips in this article to do it.
Let's begin.
So How Can You Purge Clothes?
There are unlimited reasons to purge your clothes…but these are the top 11 reasons why you need to start doing it right away.
Otherwise, you'll just end up hoarding clothes and not be able to use them all.
(Nobody wants that)
1. Get in the right headspace
If you want to get rid of everything in your closet, you need to be in the right frame of mind.
You'll need to be ready to decide what to keep and what to get rid of if you want to get rid of your clothes in an honest way.
Make sure you're well rested and fed and have some time on your hands before you start cleaning out your closet.
(This can take a lot of effort)
Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast to make the process more fun.
Bring some water, a snack, (and maybe a glass of wine) to keep you going.
(And when you're done, do something you love to treat yourself)
You could order takeout from your favorite restaurant, take a bubble bath, or just watch an episode of your favorite show.
(Honestly, just do what you like!)
A reward can keep you working hard and being as disciplined as you can to sort out the mess of the closet.
2. Limit the number of clothes you have in your closet
You can also set a limit for yourself by deciding how many items you want in each clothing category.
Or you have a certain number of items in your closet.
Figure out what will work for you, your way of life, and your tastes.
For example, you might want to have 15 T-shirts, 7 pairs of pants, 3 sets of pajamas, 5 outfits for working out, etc.
Or maybe you can only have 35 pieces of clothing in your closet if you're going for a capsule wardrobe route.
The numbers will be based on how you live, what you like, and how often you do laundry.
But the key is setting a limit for yourself so you can be more disciplined when cleaning out your closet.
Giving yourself a limit that you can see or count is a great way to push yourself to be more disciplined.
The limit isn't meant to make you feel like you're being held back too much.
Instead, it's a tool you can use to push and encourage yourself to get rid of more things in your closet.
Setting a limit on how many clothes you want to keep is a great way to be more disciplined when cleaning out your closet.
3. Efficient Closet Organization
Make sure everything in your closet has a place.
One place for shoes, another for sweaters, and so on.
This will help you stay organized and save time in the morning.
Use the space in a smart way.
Putting up shelves will give you twice as much space and help your sweaters and t-shirts stay in better shape.
4. Set a certain number of hangers aside
Choosing a set number of hangers for your closet is an easy way to do this. Then you can only keep that many things.
For example, if your closet only has 40 hangers, you have to be very careful about how much clothing you keep.
5. Keep track of the clothes you don't wear
You can also get rid of more stuff from your closet by keeping track of the things you never or rarely wear.
Then throwing those things away.
Either donate, sell or reshape clothes into new ones that fit your style.
Switch around your hangers
One easy way to know if you've used the same clothes already is to turn your closet hangers around so they hang backward.
When you're done wearing something, hang it up the right way on the hanger.
Get rid of any clothes that are still hanging backward at the end of the season or after a certain amount of time.
Watch what you wear
You can also keep track of what you wear by making a list of everything in your closet.
Also, keep track of how many times you wear each item over the course of a season or a certain amount of time.
Get rid of an item if you don't wear it or only wear it a few times by the end of your tracking time.
6. Wear every piece of clothing you own
You can also try to wear everything in your closet at least once before wearing something again.
This is a great way to see how much you really love each thing you want to keep.
Just because you have to wear all of your clothes and decide if you like them or not.
7. Ladies, Trust Your Gut
As you clean out your closet, pay attention to how each item makes you feel when you first see it.
Ignore yourself when you try to justify keeping something because you feel guilty, you spent money on it, think you ‘should' like it, think ‘just in case' or ‘what if,' etc.
Trust your gut and the first thing you think about each thing.
Get rid of it if you don't love it right away.
8. Clear out your closet again and again
If you want to be strict about what you keep in your closet, you should clean it out often.
Every time you get rid of stuff, you'll probably be willing and able to give up a little bit more.
Not only will you show yourself that a smaller, simpler wardrobe is better and makes life easier, but it will also help you get rid of more stuff.
But realizing that you don't miss any of the clothes you gave away can make you want to give away even more.
9. If Clothes Need More Maintenance, Time To Let Them Go
The clothes you have won't last forever.
Even if it's a staple piece in your wardrobe, realize that it has an expiration date and those worn-out clothes are an easy go.
You'll have room for your new favorite top.
Set yourself up for success and avoid buying pieces of clothing that you just know you'll never get around to using.
Think about whether you will do it or if those clothes just don't work in your closet.
10. Purge Clothes That You Haven't Worn For Months
Chances are that if you weren't able to wear articles of clothing for a few months, you don't really love wearing them.
(Especially if it's not for seasonal wear)
Really try to choose clothes that you love wearing to minimize clutter and purge everything else.
11. Match It With Your Personal Style
Your personal style is always changing, and the more you pay attention to it, the easier it will be to narrow down and love your wardrobe.
For example, if you only wear neutral colors, it's time to eliminate all the colorful prints and patterns that have been occupying your closet.
Make a note to remind yourself to buy less of these things that don't fit your style.
Consider Switching To A Capsule Wardrobe
While you're in the process of decluttering and minimizing the clothes that you wear, why not try capsule wardrobes?
A capsule wardrobe is another great way to try out a smaller, less complicated wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of clothes that can be mixed and matched to make a lot of different outfits with just a few pieces.
Try putting together a small collection of clothes that you can wear for the next 1–3 months.
(I've created capsule wardrobes for the holidays, fall and timeless pieces that you can check out for inspiration)
If you can, put everything else in your closet away and only wear what's in your capsule wardrobe.
Declutter Is A Way Of Self-Care; Do It Now
Decluttering clothes, or unimportant things like items you haven't used in a while in your home, in general, is a way of self-care.
Why?
There are a lot of reasons, to be honest.
However, I want you to think that decluttering things can bring more balance to your life and rid yourself of unnecessary things in your life.
If you're still curious as to more ways on a self-care checklist for decluttering, click the link below to know more.
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