Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons

I know I have a problem when I have to battle with the overflow every time I try to shut my closet door. Well, okay, it's not really a closet, more like an overgrown cupboard, but as it's all I have something's got to give. When it comes to clothes and shoes, I'm the worst. Perhaps it's the result of coming of age in the last two decades of the century ? living through wave after wave of recycled fashions. After all, aren't asymmetrical tops back in?

I have an established routine for weeding out my closet:

Step One: Take everything (and I mean everything) out and lay them in loosely organized categories, such as shorts, pants, T-shirts, blouses, etc.

Step Two: Pass through each category using the golden rule "If you haven't worn it in a year, put it in the discard pile." Then pass through and sort out the deduplications. After all, how many pairs of denim short shorts do you really need?

Step Three: Clean the closet/overgrown cupboard. Remember, dust bunnies don't have feelings or sentimental value; it's okay to throw them away.

Step Four: Try on each and every item. If it's more than a tiny bit too tight or smidge too big, put it in the discard pile. No exceptions!

Step Five: Plan your closet! Don't just put everything back in willy-nilly; make a mental plan, think about the seasons, and organize!

Step Six: Shoes ? Okay, so I like to give Imelda Marcos a run for her money, but shoes are hard to store, so some just have to go. First, make sure that each and every pair will go with at least three items of clothing; if they don't, discard. Second, if they are sadly out of date, discard. Third, try them all on and walk around the house in them. If they hurt your feet, discard. Finally, get a good shoe rack; if you have more shoes than room in the rack, repeat steps 1-3 until each shoe has a home.

Now you should have a big pile of discards in the living room. I have a two-step clothes dispersal process that works well for me. First step is getting together with all my girlfriends of approximately the same size and have a discard party. What's old and tired to you may be just the thing your pal has been searching for. A few munchies, several bottles of wine and you'll have a great time trading your old gear for something that's new to you. If you don't have girlfriends that are your size or your friends are fashion-challenged, you can always find folks to trade with online. There are plenty of fashionistas trading at SwapThing. However, always keep in mind your space limitations and only trade for a few things that really add some zing to your wardrobe! The second step is to gather all the discards at the end of your soiree and donate them to a local women's shelter. If you don't know any local organizations try doing a search in your area through the ShareThing program at SwapThing. Your old stuff can be a wonderful gift to a fellow female who has nothing to call her own. Good luck and get cleaning!

http://www.swapthing.com is a site focused on building a strong swap community online. The ShareThing program helps non-profits get access to item & cash donations as well as volunteers and professional services.

This article comes with reprint rights. You are free to reprint and distribute it, as you like. All that we ask is that you do not make any changes, that this resource text is included, and that the link above is intact.

Alexis limo rentals ..
In The News:

Who needs roads? The WindRunner aircraft was designed specifically to haul massive wind turbine blades, some of which are over 459 feet long.
A Google DeepMind team has developed an artificial intelligence system that can play video games like a human and take native language commands from players.
Four of the largest school boards in Ontario, Canada have launched lawsuits against TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat, claiming that they have impacted students' thinking and behavior.
Finalists for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Nonfiction, aimed at addressing the gender imbalance in nonfiction publishing, were unveiled on Wednesday.
Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson breaks down whether the government is watching citizens and what they can do to protect online privacy.
A benchmarking group for artificial intelligence has released new results evaluating the speed of hardware in running AI applications and responding to users.
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane provides a glimpse into the future of space travel. Traveling to space may become a part of everyday life.
The new European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands aims bring in a new era of transportation. The center will use a steel tube as a proving ground for testing the new vehicle.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
While it may be incredibly tempting to have a “go with the flow" mindset like the rest of your vacation, your technology definitely should not be compromised while traveling.
Have you ever accidentally deleted an app from your iPhone that you’ve already paid for? Don't worry. We’ve got a trick that will help you get it back without having to buy it again.
Apple's new Journal app has raised privacy concerns among Apple's userbase. Tech expert Kim Komando examines social media rumors and explains what steps to take to protect yourself.
Although Facebook has denied that our phones listen to us, they do have other ways of finding out what we are talking about, listening to and searching for.
With the integration of OpenAI technology, Figure 01 has taken a significant leap forward, showcasing the potential of robots to understand and interact with us on a personal level.
Port Ellen, newly reopened whisky distillery in Scotland, is using SmokeDNAi technology to understand mouth-feel and flavors during the whisky maturation process.
Telly, a smart TV firm, is promising to give out their 4K 55-inch TV for free. What must you give in return? The innovative, yet potentially unsettling, answer might shock you.
The moment a spam invite hits your calendar, it’s like an uninvited guest at a party. So, what do you do? Show it the door.
Identity thieves are now targeting children and are making large sums of money by exploiting children's identities, possibly hurting their financial future.
There's a clever way to change the notification sounds on your Android without having to look at your screen. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.
If your bank accounted has been hacked, there are a number of steps you can take to prevent it from happening again. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
The Wave House, a data center in Heidelberg, Germany, is the the largest 3D-printed building in Europe. Its walls were built in about 140 hours.
Some government agencies around the world are struggling to meet their staffing goals when it comes to hiring artificial intelligence experts.
Google Maps' recent upgrades have introduced real-time ETA and turn-by-turn directions to your phone's lock screen while you are traveling.
Kat Cammack says AI could disrupt the 2024 election. A report says shared AI image tools generate election disinformation in 41% of cases and voting disinformation in 59% of cases.

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1

Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More

Balance - And Other Things

The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More

Cleaning Out Your Closet

Helping people clean out their closet is something I love... Read More

Clear Your Clutter and Free Your Life

Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More

Spring Cleaning

Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with... Read More

Thinking Outside the Box

Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More

Overwhelmed? Try the Red Zone Tactic

Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember... Read More

The Balance of Balance

Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More

Creating The Perfect Closet

Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More

Making Space - Letting Go of Clutter

To make room for new things to come into you... Read More

Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 2

In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More

The Clutter Factor: From Packrativity to Productivity

? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More

Organize Your Desk ? Live Longer!

It may seem far-fetched, but by organizing your desk, your... Read More

1-2-3 Sort

Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More

10 Simple Ways to Clear Clutter from Your Home and Office

There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More

Ending The Morning Madness

Back-to-school time ? what does that mean to you? For... Read More

How Much Is Your Time Worth?

Does Your Present Internet Filing System Work?Do You Really Know... Read More

10 Tips on Color Coding Your Paper: From Chaos to Coherence

Color-There Is No SubstituteIn anatomical illustrations you see the brain's... Read More

5 Tips to Banish Clutter From Your Life For Good

Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes... Read More

10 Easy Maintenance Tips vs Piling on the Chaos

Whether you are in your own business or an employee... Read More

A Personal Action Plan for Change

There are eight distinct steps to constructing and executing an... Read More

Stress Management: 10 Universal Laws to Get and Stay Organized

1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More

Clutter Crisis?

Clutter costs you time, money, space, and peace of mind.... Read More

Taking Care of You: De-Clutter

De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There... Read More

Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success

To want in one's heart to do a thing for... Read More

car service from Midway Alsip ..