Comments on: How to Clean Out a Closet

on 8/24/2009 Great tips.

on 11/22/2005 After you've cleaned out that closet. Make a vow to give away or donate another piece of clothing when you buy new ones. Keep the tags of new clothing on until you wear it. If after the season is over and you haven't worn it - return it!

on 11/22/2005 This one is for growing kids. Ever get an item of clothing you absolutely hate as a gift? And then your mother won't let you throw it out or give it away because it's still perfectly useful? All you have to do is keep items like these in a rolling bin under your bed and wait until it's too small for you. Empty the bin out periodically and see if you have outgrown the nasty items or if something still fits and has come back in style.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a lot of different types of items stored in large containers or boxes, label each one with a number on each side and the top! Then create a "master list" in a notebook or on the computer that inventories what is in each one. This is especially useful for that spare bedroom closet filled with all the stuff you need to store!

on 11/22/2005 Break down the job into smaller parts. Tackle three shelves on Monday, two more on Tuesday, your hanging stuff on Wednesday and leave your shoes and other stuff for the weekend when you have the time. Also, do this every week. Tidy and generally clean up so that you don't have a huge job at the end of the season or whenever. It makes life so much easier!

on 11/22/2005 Before buying clothes, make sure you're purchasing something you love more than what you have at home. Buying a white cardigan? If you don't love the way it looks on you MORE than the white cardigan you have at home, guess which one you're going to pull off the hanger every time? If you love it more than the one at home, then go for it! And...give the one at home away! ;)

on 11/22/2005 If you absolutely cannot throw things out, this will work...If you don't wear it, use it, etc. put it in a bag labeled "Clothes," "Kitchen," etc. with a note "Toss, October 2003" (give yourself a year). If during that year, you take the time to retrieve something from the bag, keep it. When the big date arrives, don't go through the bag because you've done that already. Toss it, bring it to charity, etc.

on 11/22/2005 Enlist the help of a friend who also wants to clean-out. Trade time - work together on your closet, then your friend's. You will be more productive, you will definitely have more fun, and you will accomplish your goal.

on 11/22/2005 Put a light in your closet if you don't have one. Even a "tap light" makes a difference. And what about paint? A coat of white or light-colored paint looks great!

on 11/22/2005 Hire a professional organizer who will do it for you. All you have to do is give them some guidelines and then be close enough so they can ask questions. It's worth it!

on 11/22/2005 Wait until you're feeling like you need to let off some steam about something, and clean out the closet instead! You're least likely to be sentimental about things and will finally toss that old purse from high school! It's great therapy, too.

on 11/22/2005 After the closet is in order, mark every hanger with rings. Every time you wear something take the ring off. At the end of the year anything with a ring on hasn't been worn. Also arrange clothes in color order: easier to find what goes together.

on 11/22/2005 Make sure if you stop working on the closet that you don't leave a bigger mess than you started or you won't want to finish it.

on 11/22/2005 If you think you can, you can!