A few months ago, I did a pantry clean out and it worked wonders for our nutrition, time management and for my husband’s snacking habit. It went so well, I wanted to do another organization post.
This type of clean out is ALWAYS fun for me! I get to see what’s been hiding and donate a decent amount of clothes and shoes. I even get to make more room for new items.
How do I do it?
I start with the easiest task and work up to the harder ones. Below is my action plan. Take it, use it and let it help you find some sanity in your life.
Step 1: Remove everything from the closet.
Yes, I everything. All the clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. Anything you have in the closet, take it out. I leave everything on hangers and lay it all on the bed or a chair. Stacked up. The piles are usually pretty big and makes me realize just how many clothes I have. I want you to do this is because once everything is removed, not only do you see how many pieces you have, but you also get a clear sense of the space you have to work with.
Step 2: Touch each piece.
Once everything is out of the closet, you’re going to look at the piles of clothes and you might be in shock. Once I got past that, I could decide what pieces I wanted to keep and what pieces I wanted to toss. When you do this step, go slow. If you go too fast, you’re going to put things back too quickly and this whole process will be for nothing. You’re touching each piece so you can feel how soft or stiff the garment is, how worn out or new the piece is and most importantly, what emotions come up for you when you hold the item. By doing this, you allow yourself to determine if the item brings you joy or not. Once you make those determinations then, and only then, you can move on step three.
Step 3: Put each piece away backwards.
Here’s how I have it in my closet.
I want you to do this so you can evaluate your pieces as the year goes on. Putting the hangers backwards on the racks will be a physical display of how often you wear things. As you choose pieces to wear, after washing them, put them back in the closet as you would normally. Every six months, evaluate what is still backwards. If a piece is still backwards, go through Steps 1 and 2 again with those pieces.
What do you do with all the pieces you chose not to put back?
You donate or toss them! If they’re in good condition, find a local charity like the Salvation Army or local family that needs some extra pieces. If they’re fair to poor, toss them or turn them into rags you can use around the house.
Going through this process will not only help your home feel cleansed, but your heart will feel good too!