Quick Closet Cleanout: Get Rid of Clothes with these 21 rules (2024) — Minimize My Mess (2024)

Jump to Rules

This is for you if you’re looking for a clear and simple system for cleaning out your closet - just work through each of these 21 rules to get rid of clothes you don’t need any more:

• 6 warning signs that it’s time to clean out your closet

• Tips before you get started

• THE RULES

• Don’t forget this vital step

• FAQs

We're so much more emotionally attached to clothes than we realize, so it's understandable that we feel stuck when trying to let go of them.

A vague instruction to “clean out my closet” leaves me feeling overwhelmed, so instead I procrastinate and feel more an more guilty every time I open my wardrobe.

However, when I use these rules to look at my closet from a slightly different angle each time, it feels easy to see which items should be removed.

6 warning signs that it’s time to clean out your closet & get rid of clothes:

1) You're constantly shifting through an overflowing wardrobe looking for something to wear

2) Your closet doors and drawers don’t close easily

3) You always feel the need to buy more because you have “nothing to wear”

4) Looking through your closet makes you feel depressed, frustrated and/or uninspired

5) There is more than one piece of clothing in your closet that you haven't worn in a year

6) Getting ready is not fun

Quick tips before you get started on cleaning out your closet:

• Be sure to take each item out of your closet so you:

  1. Don’t miss anything

  2. Get to actually touch things as you assess them

  3. Can try things on if needed

• You don’t have to take everything out at once if that’s too overwhelming, just do a drawer or a section at a time

• Pick your preferred method:

  • Focus on removing items - This closet clean out process focuses on deciding what items to pull out of your closet - so if that approach makes the most sense to you, you’re in the right place.

  • Focus on what should be in your wardrobe - If you would rather plan your wardrobe by deciding what items should be kept in, creating a capsule wardrobe list may be a better option for you.

  • Focus on what you actually wear - Another way to pare down your closet is to create a personal uniform.

    • A personal uniform is a carefully selected, pre-determined set of clothing items or an outfit formula that you wear consistently in a specific area of your life (e.g. work, going out, free time, school etc.), that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and authentically you.

• Don’t worry if you feel unsure about letting go of anything, put them into a maybe pile - more info on that later.

How to clean out your closet & get rid of old clothes: THE RULES

When it's time for a serious closet clean out, here are the clear & simple rules that I recommend.

If you’re not sure what your core personal style is, you can easily identify it using my free find your style formula or with this style quiz.

Our styles change over the years so if you haven’t done a style exercise in a while it may be worth having a refresh to see if your current style still resonates with you.

Being intentional about what clothes you DO want, will make getting rid of clothes you DON’T want so much easier.

I always had a huge range of sizes in my wardrobe (thanks yo-yo dieting & toxic diet culture), which always sparked feelings of sadness & guilt.

I felt so much more content when I let go of items that were too big or too small. I felt so relived that I didn't have to think twice about fitting into those clothes again.

You deserve to wear clothes that fit you today.

Granted - this rule doesn't work particularly well during pandemic times, but you get the idea.

Don't keep items that you know you don't wear.

I had a lot of items in my wardrobe that looked good on the hanger but were just not quite right when I put them on.

When in doubt, leave them out

The mirror is not always the best indictor of whether a piece of clothing is right for us - it's how it makes us feel.

The right piece of clothing makes us feel confident and fearless.

In the wrong dress, my hands hover nervously around my stomach, or constantly readjust the material.

In the right dress, my hands only touch my belly when I'm laughing so hard, and I have a sparkle in my eye.

You deserve to wear clothes that make you feel good.

I used to be so "in" with the latest trends, that I would go shopping every week in order to have something new to wear every weekend.

This soon meant having a wardrobe that looked like a fast fashion explosion.

An outfit is awesome when it's in style and makes you feel good - but just because it's "in" is not a good enough reason for you to wear it.

You deserve to wear clothes that make you feel amazing and confident, not conform to what's trendy.

On the other end of the spectrum is keeping things that are really outdated.

I don't believe in complying with every fashion whim, but it's always good to remember that just because something used to be in style, doesn't mean it still is today.

I try to avoid this nowadays by choosing more timeless pieces.

One caveat - if you LOVE it, wear it anyway!

I was surprised by the amount of one-time clothes that I owned that I was never ever going to wear again!

Think costumes, special event t-shirts, bridesmaid dresses, maternity wear, etc.

Sometimes we keep things in our wardrobe when they really belong in our memory box.

When you don't want to wear an item anymore, but you can't face letting go of it because it means so much to you, make more space in your closet by storing it with your other sentimental items.

Giving up drinking and becoming a mama were two huge life changes for me.

My Saturday nights went from the club, to dinners with friends, to snoozing on the sofa by 8:30pm - all very different dress codes!

Why hold on to an outfit that makes you feel as if you've stepped out of the past?

C'mon, fess up! Do you have any clothes that still have tags on?

If you haven't worn them by now, you never will.

If you own something that is a mismatch for every other item in your wardrobe, you'll never reach for it, and it will better serve someone else.

A great way to have a harmonious wardrobe is to find your perfect color and pattern palette.

Keeping the expensive item at the back of your closet will not earn back any of the money you spent on it.

In fact, the only chance you have of making a cent is by selling it on.

Talking of selling, I used to keep a big pile of items that I wanted to sell.

I can't stand listing items, taking photos and coordinating pick ups, so the items would just take up more and more space the longer I procrastinated - and make me feel guilty every time I looked at them.

Now I skip trying to sell, and donate anything I'm ready to let go of.

• Do you still need for football kit if you haven't played in 8 years?

• Should you hold on to all of that cycling lycra if you don't even have your bike anymore?

• Will your beekeeping suit be of any use to you if there are no more bees being kept?

Are you keeping your business Barbie wardrobe just in case you return to the corporate world?

Are you holding on to your skater gear just in case you ever head to the skate park again?

You are under no obligations to hold onto a gift that you know you won't wear.

You can be grateful for the thought, and lovingly pass the item on for someone else to enjoy.

One of my favourite hobbies used to be to shop compulsively in order to feel better about myself.

It worked every time - for 7 minutes or so.

I always wanted more & more and was never satisfied, so I ended up with so many duplicate items.

Multiples of knickers and basic tees always come in handy, but did I really need two black and white polka dot jumpsuits?

If you can relate, learn more about how to avoid impulse buys and shop more intentionally.

What we wear affects how we feel, even if we're just chilling on the sofa by ourselves.

We deserve to feel cute even when we're relaxing!

As a thrifter, I was very guilty of buying things that "will be perfect when..."

I had a bag full of clothes waiting for alterations on the back of my bedroom door.

I felt so relieved when I eventually gave up and re-donated them.

We may not be walking around in corsets anymore, but there are plenty of torturous devices masquerading as fashion in these modern times.

If somethings pinches, rubs, digs in, or itches - it's time to let it go.

Lessons Learned

Make a NO list

If we want to avoid finding ourselves in the same situation again in a year or so, we need to use today’s closet clear out as a learning opportunity.

Whilst everything is still fresh in your mind, now is the best time to make a NO list.

My NO list is a list of clothing items, colours, cuts, materials, details, styles, etc. that I realistically, do not wear (no matter how much I love them).

A NO list can also include items that you just don’t need any more of, but are always drawn to when your shop.

Example NO list:

• Tight waistbands

• Materials without stretch

• High necks

• Black t-shirts (have enough, don’t need any more)

• Hats

• Short dresses

• Sleeveless tops

• Bottoms with no pockets

• Wool

• Colours outside of my colour palette

• Items that don’t fit my body today

• Laced boots

• Heels

Keeping your NO list on your phone is super handy, as you can easily refer to it when you’re out shopping.

I buy most of my clothes secondhand from thrift stores, and before I head to the till, I always split the items in my cart in to things I love, and things I only like.

I always scan my NO list at that point and - even though I spend my life writing about how to define your style and shop intentionally - something from my NO list has almost always snuck itself in there.

I’m a creature of habit so good intentions will only get me so far.

If I don’t change how I do things, nothing will change.

How to make your NO list:

1. Take a look at the clothes that you’re letting of today

   1. Can you see any recurring themes?

   2. What exactly is it about them that made you let go of them today?

2. List out as many observations about these items as possible in the notes app on your phone

Conclusion

Above all else, the clothes in our wardrobe should make you feel good.

Use these rules as a guide when you clean out your closet, but always trust your instincts too.

Rely on the maybe box method if you're unsure, and follow the capsule wardrobe method if you want to make sure you'll have enough clothes.

Don't let the wrong clothes get in the way of feeling good about yourself and your home!

Try one of these next:

• If you’re feeling adventurous, try the random aesthetics generator

• 25 benefits of a capsule wardrobe

• 17 capsule wardrobe essentials

• Giant list of clothing types to help you make your capsule wardrobe list

• Check out these “best styles for …” lists

• Get inspired by these personal style blend examples

• Happy hack your wardrobe with dopamine dressing

• Create a personal uniform by choosing from these 6 different levels

• Here’s the capsule wardrobe quick guide if you’re in a hurry

• Best capsule wardrobe definitions from the pros

• A-Z Capsule wardrobe tips

• How to become a minimalist with clothes

• Common capsule wardrobe mistakes to avoid

• Which is best for you, a year round or seasonal capsule wardrobe?

• If you’d like some extra guidance with finding your style, I offer the Happy Wardrobe Workbook for people who have no idea where to start. It’s a fun 4 week mindfulness journal to identify your true, authentic style.