Clean Your Closet! 16 Things to Finally Get Rid Of
Updated: Dec. 02, 2022Do yourself a favor and chuck these, please.
Decade-old, holey pajamas
When you look good, you feel good, both on the clock and after hours. Ditch the sweatpants and invest in a cozy matching pajama set in silk or cotton. They’ll last for years and you’ll feel terrific from the moment you roll out of bed. Here’s a list of the 50 organizing tips you wish you knew all along.
The dress you’ve worn to more than six weddings
Or whatever your personal limit is. If your go-to dress is giving you outfit fatigue, take it to the consignment shop and trade it in for a new option, or hand it down to someone who might be looking for a replacement dress in her own closet. Here’s a guide for how to organize your closets once and for all.
Dried nail polish, expired makeup, and trial-sized cosmetics
Do a once-over of your vanity and junk drawer. Is there anything past its prime? Anything you wouldn’t dream of putting on your skin? Anything that looks nice but you’re already loyal to a different brand’s version of the same product? Toss it. These clever storage hacks from people living in tiny houses will help you reprioritize.
Your ex’s anything
That flannel wasn’t very soft, anyway. After you throw it out (or send it back), follow these organization tips for every room in your house.
Wire hangers from the dry cleaners
The hangers you get for free aren’t the ones that will treat your clothing kindly. Take dry-cleaned garments out of the plastic so they can breathe, suggests Oprah.com, and invest in wooden or cushioned hangers with a bar for folding pants and clamps to hold skirts. These are the 26 things personal organizers won’t ever tell you for free.
Sweaters that are misshapen, pilled, or itchy
Because sweaters are likely the bulkiest items in your drawers, edit your collection after each season to make space for new pieces. If you’d like to try and remove pills from a sweater, try doing so with a razor. Here are some of the best walk-in closet organization ideas for your home.
Free T-shirts
A collection of T-shirts takes up a ton of space, and you probably won’t miss them when they’re gone. For T-shirts that really do hold sentimental value, consider crafting them into wall art, pillowcases, or even a quilt. Once you get rid of those T-shirts, move on to the coat closet and make your space tidier.
Fake designer bags
Your knockoff designer bag is probably not fooling anyone. Find a style you love that’s within your price range. If labels are important to you, invest in a classic black tote for winter, a tan or white one for summer, and a black cross-body for nights on the town. Just don’t forget to keep them organized and store them properly.
Orphan mittens and surplus scarves
Use a binder clip or Ziploc bag to keep your gloves together during non-winter months. If you do lose one, don’t hold onto it hoping its mate will find its way home. Replace them both. For scarves, edit your collection at the end of winter, as they have a way of accumulating as gifts and off-the-cuff purchases. You really only need one or two. Here are more storage hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Halloween costumes and props
Chances are, you won’t be needing your 2010 Halloween garb ever again. Keep a go-to prop (like a pair of cat ears) for any spontaneous parties, and lose the rest. Here are some small closet organization ideas to help you make the most of your space.
Those canvas totes you got for free
Free things are great. We know. But if you have an entire bag devoted to your collection of other bags, they need to go. Don’t forget to browse the best closet systems to organize your space.
Clothes from another lifetime
Is it a going-out top from your 20s? Maternity wear when you’re well past the baby-making stage of life? Exotic get-ups from that summer you spent abroad? You can probably donate or recycle them all.
Anything that doesn’t fit
Don’t put pressure on yourself to fit into your old clothing. Donate and replace. Now that you’ve done a closet cleanout, take a look at these genius pantry organization ideas.