Slightly trite, but true: order is half the battle. Anyone who regularly gets rid of clothes or things they no longer need or no longer fit their style will quickly notice how liberating and satisfying this can be. Whether you consider yourself a die-hard minimalist or want to keep track of your fashion situation - it's always good to know what you own.
The change of season from summer to winter or vice versa is always a great time to clear out your wardrobe, just like the transition into a new calendar year. To get rid of things that are kept in the closet and store pieces that don't fit the season - now is the opportunity. But how exactly do you start with the wardrobe cleaning project? We'll show you how the Closet Detox works quickly and well and what proven methods there are for it.
How often should you clean out your closet?
This is very individual and depends on how much you shop or own. The change of season (cold vs. warm half of the year or vice versa) is an excellent time to clean up and sort things out. In addition, you should, of course, always clean out when you are at the point where you no longer have an overview of the contents of your closet.
Clean your wardrobe properly: These 5 tips will help you sort things out.
1. Take your time
Depending on the size of the wardrobe, cleaning out the closet can take a few hours. A rainy weekend is a perfect date. The activity is less suitable for the lunch break, and it's most fun when you do it with your friends. Because with some parts, a second opinion also helps.
2. Make a playlist
Music lifts the mood and brings more flow to the whole wardrobe project of "creating order and space". Sorting things out is really fun.
3. Get a mirror ready
If you're decluttering, you need a full-length mirror to try on the clothes you're unsure whether they should go or stay.
4. Photograph your looks
As you sort things out and try them on, you'll most likely experience wow-I-didn't-know-I-still-have-that moments. Be sure to document these random looks for days you don't know what to wear.
5. Get storage boxes and tear-resistant trash bags
Large plastic storage boxes with lids are suitable for clothes you want to keep or can make money from by reselling them. You can store these in the basement, for example. Large, tear-resistant garbage bags are perfect for what you have sorted out and want to give away.
These are the 3 biggest mistakes when doing closet detox.
Stress: You haven't planned enough time for the action
Poor preparation: You have neither storage options nor garbage bags for the discarded clothing
You need to remember the documentation : If you don't photograph looks, you quickly forget the best random styles.
With these step-by-step instructions, cleaning out your closet becomes child's play.
Step 1: Clear out your closet completely and lay out the clothes clearly (e.g. on the bed).
Step 2: Take each piece individually and think about how you feel about it.
Parts you love...
... and if you wear it regularly, you'll immediately put it back in your wardrobe.
... but those who are "off-season" can take their well-deserved summer or hibernation.
... but that are broken, you put them aside. You can repair loose hems and fallen buttons on shirts, trousers, etc. yourself; everything else can be changed.
Parts you are unsure about...
... because they don't fit properly, it's best to take them to the alterations studio. Once the shirts that are too wide or the pants that are too long fit correctly, these items can finally become your favourite pieces.
... because you only need them rarely: Clothes used infrequently during the year but with a particular use (e.g., the little black dress for elegant occasions) stay in the closet - but are hung on the edge. This means it is ready to hand in case of an emergency but not in the way.
... because you hardly wear them, storing them outside the wardrobe in a box is best. Items of clothing that are missing after a while are returned to the closet - love at second sight, so to speak. If you don't give a thing any thought, even after months, you should clear it out - you definitely won't be friends anymore.
Clean out your wardrobe: This is how you sort things out correctly and what you should keep in mind
Clothing and accessories that are no longer your style...
... but those that have hardly been worn or were expensive go into a separate box. At the next opportunity, you can resell the items via online marketplaces or rent them out via a rental platform such as WeDress Collective or Clothes Friends.
...but if they are still in good shape, you can give them to a friend or donate them. There are collection points or social department stores in every city.
... and they are broken: Many high street shops such as H&M, & Other Stories or Zara have been recycling clothes for some time. Bring discarded clothing to the branches. Or you can use old clothing containers in your area.
Extra tip: While you're decluttering, you'll get a better overview of your closet and notice what exactly you're missing. You can write these items straight onto your next shopping list or look for second-hand alternatives.
Clean out your closet according to the Marie Kondo principle.
The tidying expert Marie Kondo has sparked a real decluttering hype with her "Magic Cleaning" method because an orderly home and an orderly life go hand in hand. And at the latest, after Netflix made a film of her hyped book in 2019, everyone knows the tidying expert and her philosophy: "Does it spark joy?" Their cleanup methods are similar in many ways to the tips above.
The Marie Kondo method works simply
1. Put all the clothes you own (including those stored in the basement or attic) in a pile on your bed. This method makes you (sometimes frighteningly) aware of how much you own and that regular sorting out makes sense.
2. Next, each part is picked up one at a time. It stays if it sparks joy in your life or a good feeling. If it doesn't do that, it goes away. You thank each part you sort out so you can completely let go of it mentally.
3. To have a better overview of the wardrobe, each item of clothing is hung or folded neatly.
4. The discarded clothes are either given away, sold or added to the old clothing collection.
Comments