One of my favorite parts of living in Canada are the four fabulous seasons. But this poses a serious crowding issue for our limited closet space. So how do we make sure we can keep shopping and updating our look while not suffering from closet overflow?
Moreover, many people decide to sell their homes in spring. If you are planning to put your place on the market, the number one tip I have for my seller clients is to declutter. So start now and you will be ahead of schedule!
Here are a few tips on how to accomplish your #Closetgoals.
Donate & Recycle Clothing
The most obvious solution to overcrowding issues is to purge. If you are like me, you may suffer from “what -if-I-need-this-again-even-though-it-hasn’t-been-worn-in-years” syndrome. The only way around this for me, is to know someone else who may need it more, will benefit from the clothing I am hoarding. So while I struggle with getting rid of clothes, I try to imagine where it is going when I donate it.
I find the most convenient ways to donate clothes is via drop boxes, find your local clothing drop box, load your clothing into your car and drop it off at your earliest convenience. There are also a few charities that will pick up your unwanted clothes like the Diabetes Association. Knowing your clothing is going to a good cause and having the convenience of a pick up makes purging super easy!
Pay Attention to What You Actually Wear
The easiest way for me to have true awareness around what I wear is by paying attention to my laundry bin! At the end of the week, my laundry basket is full of the clothes I routinely wear. This allows me to prioritize these clothes and leave them in my closets and dressers. However, the clothing that has not been worn, and just takes up space are more easily identified. I take those clothes and set them aside for a week to see if I find myself looking for them. If I don’t, I place them into my donation bag and don’t look back! Let’s face it, sometimes we like a piece of clothing but don’t necessarily wear it. Kiss them goodbye!
Be Seasonally Savvy
Many of us struggle with closet space. Could you ever have too much room for your clothing and shoes? Likely not. The best way to maximize space is taking out seasonally specific items. Our big sweaters, heavy pants and winter gear can all be stored for the spring and summer seasons making room for the clothing we will need in warmer temperatures. Walmart offers inexpensive, stackable storage bins that can help keep clothing safe and organized while being stored.
Try Clothing On Before Storing Them
Sometimes we have fantasies about clothing that fit us years ago fitting us again. While it’s good to have goals, this leads to clothing hoarding. If something doesn’t currently fit you, purge it. If you rush the spring cleaning of your closet and don’t try clothing on ahead of time, you wind up carrying the clutter into the following year.
Worn Out Clothes Need To Go
Since I find myself working long hours that stretch over weekdays and weekends, I find my shopping happens in sprees. When I have the time to go to the mall, I buy several new items all at once. While this can be great when they are new, they all tend to be worn out at the same time. My dresses that I accidentally machine washed instead of dry clean, or the top that has a faded colour, are all on the chopping block this spring.
Maternity Clothing
I am now 8 weeks post-partum and still have a lot of my maternity clothing hanging in my closet. While I don’t want to rush myself to get back into my old clothing, I need the real estate these items take up. Therefore, I have been slowly collecting my maternity clothes and storing them in a bin. This way, I can easily access them if I find I need them, and they will be separated from my seasonal clothes. This separation will also stop me from wearing them out as maternity clothes can be quite pricey. And comfy. If you don’t plan on having more babies, consider donating these items to the New Mom Project. This organization supplies clothing to mothers in need.
Shoes a plenty
One of the toughest items to part with are shoes – because they always fit. Over time we collect shoes for every type of event. However, it is important to remove our old shoes. One for fashion, and two for foot support. Unfortunately, shoes don’t have clear expiration dates, and unlike cars don’t track the mileage. But, there are long term health hazards to not purging old shoes and replacing them with new ones. So if you aren’t sure if your shoes need the boot (Pun intended), it is likely time to donate them or recycle them. Nike runs a Reuse a Shoe program that helps ensure shoes don’t end up in our landfill. Check it out!
Happy spring cleaning, it may take some effort to do it right, but you will love all the space you have when you’re done. Take these tips into other areas of your home like bathrooms and linen closets and you will spring into more closet space! If you’re looking for some other things to “spring into” my girl Alex has got you covered with a spring fitness guide click here.
