Whether you’ve just finished your last final, have yet to start your finals, or are somewhere in the middle of finals, the last thing on your mind is taking the time to clean out your closet. However, I am here to tell you that there is no better time than now to Spring Clean your closet. Depending on which of the three scenarios you fall into from earlier, this can either be used as a procrastination method, a study break, or your last resort since everyone else is still studying for finals and no one can join you at happy hour. Whatever your reason is (no judgment here), read on to find out seven steps to help you successfully clean out your closet.
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1. Tidy your room before hand.
Not only does this give you a clean area to make your piles, it also helps ensure everything is in the right spot when you go to clean your closet. If you have five T-shirts under your bed, they’re probably not going to make it to the decision stage, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of spring-cleaning your closet. Having a clean room in the beginning also means you won’t have to clean it afterward when you’re completely exhausted.
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2. Establish Keep/Toss/Donate piles.
If you’re not keeping an item of clothing that still looks wearable, put it in a donation pile, not the trash. If it’s an item with holes or an undergarment, just throw it out. To make sure your favorite sweater doesn’t accidentally end up in the donation pile, pull out a trash bag and a canvas bag to help keep everything straight.
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3. Have a way to store things you’re donating or dumping.
Nothing’s worse than having your whole pile of nicely folded donation clothes topple over only halfway through your closet exorcism. Grab those leftover Trader Joe’s bags or canvas bags you have hanging in your kitchen and use them to store your donations. Use a real trashcan for the items that need to be thrown out so you’re not tempted to retrieve them after making a decision.
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4. Create specific criteria for what you’re allowed to keep – and stick with it.
I almost couldn’t even stick with this rule because I wanted to rationalize and make excuses as to why I hadn’t worn a certain piece recently. This might be the hardest part of the journey but you really have to stay true to the mission at hand and lay out rules to follow. If you need to, write down your rules so you can’t rephrase them in your head. Some examples of rules that you can use to help get you started:
- Have you worn it in the past 6 months?
- Did you forget you even owned it?
- Does it fit you if you tried it on today?
- Does it fit your current style?
- The only exceptions to these rules should be if a) it’s a special occasion dress or b) it was given to you by a very special person and you cherish it for the thought, not the look.
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5. Be honest with yourself if you have similar items.
Does anyone really need three pairs of combat boots? If you said yes to this question, you need to go back to step four. Or count how many feet you actually have. Chances are out of those three pairs of boots, you lean towards one more than the others. So, just like with boyfriends, if you’re not giving them the necessary amount of attention, set them free.
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6. Divide and Conquer.
“I’m cleaning my closet” may be one of the most daunting sentences ever uttered by a collegiette, especially if your closet is overflowing. The best way to not get overwhelmed and to stay motivated is to divide your clothing into sections and tackle them one at a time. Start with your drawers first, focusing on the undergarments and socks. These are the easiest to sort through because either they have holes or they don’t, and this pretty much determines whether they return to the drawer or head for the trash can. I recommend tackling jeans next, and then shorts, skirts, and any other bottoms you might’ve missed. Once you’ve finished all of those, you’re two-thirds of the way done with only tops and dresses left! The next section is personal preference, but I recommend whichever is the smallest section. Accessories are often best saved for last because you’ll be more familiar with what’s still in your wardrobe and are more comfortable making the hard decisions of what stays or goes. By tackling your wardrobe in sections, you’ll have a legitimate measure of your progress, which always helps to keep the spirits up.
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7. If you’re torn, make a pile and text your friends.
“You don’t have to go through this alone. Your friends are here to help.” While this may sound like the opening of an intervention, don’t run away just yet! You’ve already taken the necessary first steps to cleaning out your closet so don’t stop now. If you’re really torn on whether an item deserves a valuable spot in your new and improved wardrobe, send a few Snapchats to your closest friends to get their opinions. They’re the ones that look at you during the day so they know what you wear often and what looks good on you. So trust them!
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Also, don’t forget to allow your friends to go through your donations before giving them away. Duh.
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Donation Location Suggestions:
H&M (Ask a sales rep for more information)
The Wardrobe Boutique (Business Clothing only)
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It sounds like a cheesy ending to a self-help guide but there you have it, seven foolproof ways to clean out your closet, just in time for spring. Good luck with finals and rest easy knowing that upon your return, you’ll have a clean and organized wardrobe ready for your best (dressed) spring term yet.
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