Anytime we switch to a new season, I have the urge to declutter my clothes. After a long winter, or hot summer, your overflowing wardrobe can pose a huge emotional and even practical burden in the long run. A lot of us tend ot keep clothes we never wear because of guilt, being uncertain about fit, or just sentimental attachment. This makes decluttering a little challenging despite all its great benefits.
Before you start, it’s important to understand that decluttering doesn’t have to follow a strict method. While systems like the KonMari Method are helpful, decluttering at its core is simply about editing your wardrobe. You’re deciding what stays and what goes. This should feel approachable and something you can maintain regularly, not a one-time, overwhelming overhaul. So today, I’m sharing a practical guide that can help you declutter clothes and let go of items with confidence and also clarity.
How To Declutter Clothes
Getting dressed in the morning should be easy. Period. And when your closet is crammed with items, it can be challenging to see what you really own, but also feel overwhelemed by options. Having too much can also fog your personal style. So decluttering is more about just making space and creating some zen in your closet. It’s about creating a wardrobe that reflects your personal style, improves decision making so getting dressed in the morning saves you time, and energy.
What Does Declutter Mean?
Decluttering clothes means reducing excess—editing your wardrobe down to what you actually wear and love. Organizing comes after, when you create a system for what’s left. I like to subscribe to the KonMari Method where you release items that no longer serve a purpose or bring joy. I feel like decluttering is different from cleaning, or organizing alone. It’s more about removing what’s unnecessary and what is taking up space both physically and mentally.
Benefits Of Decluttering Clothes
More Time Saved In Your Morning Routine
When you can open up your close door and see things you love and want to wear, your morning routine just got easier and quicker. You’ll save time sorting through your clothes as you’ll only have the best of the best at your fingertips.
Having Clarity In Your Personal Style
More clothing doesn’t mean more style. Having a well curated closet doesn’t have to be full of pieces. It just has to be the right ones, which gives you more clarity in your personal style.
Reduce Stress And Create A Sense Of Calm From a Visually Simpler Closet
When your space is tidy and organized, it reduces stress and creates more calm. Having a visually simpler closet that isn’t busting at the seams, will make you instantly feel more zen.
Potential Financial Benefit From Selling Unused Items
Free up space, and get some money into your pocket by selling unused pieces in your closet. Use this to invest in quality pieces that fit your personal style, or for simply anything else that brings you joy.
Why Is It So Hard To Declutter Clothes?
You aren’t alone if decluttering feels hard. I consider myself a tidy person who has a spot for everything. But there is something so hard about letting things go.
Emotional Attachments And Sentimental Value
When clothing has a sentimental value you can create an emotional attachment to them. But clothes are not the memories. This can be hard to let go, but holding on to it doesn’t serve your everyday.
Fear Of Needing Something Later
Having a fear or thinking you’ll need this item later, is a big one for sure. Especially for nicer pieces like event dressing. I like to keep a couple of nice dresses to rotate through for weddings and events, but otherwise unless you’ve needed it in the last year, why would you need it in the next one? It’s taking up space that can be better served for things you need every day.
Being Unsure About Personal Style
Without fine tuning your personal style, it can be hard to declutter. Try following my tips on finding your personal style here to help figure out your personal style so you can approach decluttering with a more clear vision in mind.
Clothes That Still Technically Fit or Might Fit After Weight Changes
Unless you’re actively on a weight loss journey, or currently going through body changes, I would avoid keeping things for “what if I fit in it”. These pieces take up space both physically and mentally.
Decision Fatigue, Perfectionism And Scarcity Mindset
It can be easy to fall into decision fatigue when you have so many things to deal with. Start small if this is overwhelming to you. You don’t have to do it all in one sitting. Having a scarcity mindset about the money you spent on the item, or needing it in the future, is also super common. Sometimes you can make money back on pieces which is great. And I think if you really haven’t used something in over a year or even two, it’s truly time to toss it.
Decluttering Mindset Before You Start
The goal with decluttering here is that this should be something you can easily do as ongoing maintenance. If you prefer a more structured approach, I’ve shared a full guide to the KonMari Method here.
Step 1 – Organize The Clothing By Category
You can take inspiration from the KonMari Method and pull everything out at once, but you don’t have to. Since we’re simply decluttering, it’s perfectly fine to work through one category or section at a time. The KonMari Method is a more structured, all-in approach, while decluttering is meant to feel flexible and manageable.
Step 2 – Apply A Decluttering Method
It’s best to create a delucttering method you’re willing ot stick to. Usually I recommend creating a pile system. Keep, Sell, Donate, Trash/Recycle, Needs Altering.
Keep, is pretty obvious. We love it, we’re keeping it.
Sell, for things that will go on Poshmark or eBay or maybe even consignment. I would put things like new with tags in this pile, or more pricy pieces. Not everything you toss may be worth selling, and remember, we’re trying to declutter. So if we’re just making new piles to sit somewhere for months as we sell, we are not actually decluttering.
Donate, for the items that aren’t worth selling.
Trash or recycle things that are simply just not donatable or sellable.
Needs altering is an important pile that gets overlooked a lot. If there’s something in your closet that you love, but can’t wear it because it needs a new button, or a slightly shorter hem, create a pile for it so you can finally bring everything to a tailor and get it ready to wear.
Step 3 – Evaluate Each Item, Only Try On When Necessary
I don’t believe in trying everything on. You can easily be swayed to keep something because it fits and you can create an outfit with it. But that doesn’t mean “I love this” or “this is something that is part of my personal style”. I like a quicker process of “does this fit and do I love it”. If you’re unsure if something fits, then it’s time to try it on. Otherwise, I prefer not to try everything on or we’ll be here all day and probably get rid of a lot less.
Step 4 – Deal With Each Pile Efficiently
Now’s not the time to let these piles sit here and leave clutter everywhere. Put everythign you are keeping away in your closet and dresser. You can follow the Marie Kondo Method here for folding, and organizing. Donate or sell as soon as possible. I’d even put an expiration date on things you sell online so you aren’t holding onto pieces for months. Give yourself 30 days to sell, then it’s time to donate. And bring those items that need alterations to the tailor TODAY. This will keep clutter from sticking around.
Step 5 – Create a Maintenance Plan
Try to create your own maintenance plan going forward. Think of a system that can work for you. Maybe it’s monthly check-ins to tidy up your closet if organization is your biggest issue here. If you buy too much, maybe start implementing a monthly clothing budget to keep things from getting too packed in your closet. I personally like to do seasonal audits as I feel that makes the most sense. You can evaluate what you wore this season, what you didn’t, and get anything fixed and dry cleaned for next year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Decluttering Clothes
What To Do With Clothes You Can’t Decide On?
I think this is the most challenging part about decluttering your closet. And one I personally have a hard time with too. I like to try a few things out.
Create a Maybe Pile
Set aside items you’re unsure about rather than forcing a decision right away. Maybe we then try it on and see how we feel about styling it and if it matches our current life and style.
Give It A Time Limit
Whether your maybe pile is just full of things you’re unsure about, or even items you think you will fit in again once you lose 5 lbs, set a time limit. Store this pile for 30 or 60 days. If you do’nt either reach for the items, think about them, or fit into them in 2 months, it’s time.
Did You Wear It The Last Two Seasons?
I like to ask myself if I’ve worn this item the last two seasons it would be worn. So if you’re looking at a summer dress, did you wear it last summer? How about the summer before that? If you didn’t, it’s likely something you don’t love. And as trends and styles come and go, after three years, you’re likely to not feel obsessed with something after that long of a time.
Move On Without Guilt
I know this part can be hard, but if something isn’t serving you today, and can be sold or donated, it’s time to move on. Remember, keeping something just becuase you might wear it, will later add clutter and stress. Our goal is to DEclutter.
How to Sell Your Clothes for Extra Cash
There are so many options for selling your clothes to get extra cash. Try Poshmark and use high quality photos and good descriptions to move things more quickly. You can consign at a local consginment store, or sell on eBay if they’re nicer pieces. There’s also other apps like Depop or ThredUp. Just know, you’re probably not going to make a ton on things unless they’re designer, or new with tags, but its nice to make space and get a little extra cash.
How To Maintain a Clutter-Free Closet Year-Round
If you’re on the messier side, it may be helpful to set a monthly reminder to reset and declutter. You can also just do seasonal audits which is how I like to maintain my closet. Be sure to also create a home for everything. Clutter happens when things don’t have a home. So organizing is the next step after decluttering. And always stick to your personal style when adding new items to ensure your closet works for you.
There’s now no excuse to not keep a tidy space for your clothing and finally have all the things you really love at your fingertips. Simple seasonal tidying schedules, a step by step guide to decluttering the right way, and mental tips to power through the hesitation will ensure you can declutter your clothes and take back your sanity.
