7 Tips Closet Clean Out: How To Organize Your Closet

This post contains links to affiliate websites and receives an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using these links. I appreciate your support!

Having a closet cleanout a couple of times a year is always a good way to stay organized. When it gets to fighting your way through hangers or searching for that one item that seems to have disappeared into thin air, it’s probably due time!

Of course, there’s going to be a few faithful items that are here to stay. But just staying on top of what’s in your closet helps in the long run. To helping your morning routine run just that bit smoother and see exactly what you have for your outfits.

Plus think of the new clothing items you actually like, you’ll be making way for. And how much easier will it be to see and find everything?!

How Often Should You Clean Out Your Closet?

Have a closet clear out twice a year if possible. If you live in a seasonal location, have a look at your closet before the weather changes. Around every six months.

I end up going through my wardrobe about once a month. Not a complete overhaul but my things get messy so quickly. It’s all behind closed doors so it’s not too bad (I can hide the mess easily).

Usually, when I get to the point of rummaging right at the back of the wardrobe, I’ll have a little reorganization. Then it’s all good again and I feel so much better!

If you’re feeling like your closet needs a complete overhaul then here are some top tips for complete closet clean out…

How To Organize Your Closet

1. Take Everything Out!

To get your closet space as organized as best as possible it’s much easier to take everything out first.

Yes, it’s going to be a huge mess but this way you have to get it all done one time! Trying to clean and organize a wardrobe still half full of clothes can get more complicated compared to starting from scratch.

Any items that you think were in a good position before, like all your jeans folded on the middle shelf. You can put them back in that place and work all your other items around it.

2. Clean Out

While you have your whole wardrobe empty, wipe down all the shelves and inside the drawers. If you’re doing a complete closet clean out, you need to clean the inside of the closet too.

3. What To Keep?

Once you have all your clothes out you can take inventory of everything you have.

Go through your items one by one and decide if you’re going to keep it or not. Sort your clothes into three piles. Keeping, donating or throwing away piles. This might be a chance to make some money by selling a few items.

Here are a few things to ask yourself when deciding whether to keep an item or not:

  • Do you like it?

Really like it? If you’re having to think over it when it’s on the hanger, then you’re probably not loving it. Do you like how it looks on? Does you feel good in it? If any of these are bordering on not sure, it’s time to move on.

  • Does it fit you?

Is it loose, baggy, tight? Unless it’s a super expensive or item that you can get adjusted or it has sentimental value, it’s better to let it go. You can probably find the exact same thing or similar that fits better.

  • Is it in good shape?

Can’t bear to let something go that’s in a state of repair? How much repair does it need? Is it going to be worth it in the end? It’s your call!

  • When did you last wear it?

It might be an item you bought for an occasion and only worn it once. That’s ok, but is it worth keeping or sending off to a better home?

Do you have any duplicates?

If you have two or more of a similar clothing item, ask yourself can you keep one instead of two? If you wear the items often then two is the maximum you need of the same thing.

What clothes should you keep? sorting clothes out

Organizing Your Closet

You should by now have a pile of what you’re keeping and your throw-away and donate bags.

If you’re getting serious about decluttering, you might decide that only the essentials are needed and create a capsule wardrobe.

Decide on what’s going to go where in your closet. Remember what items worked well placed where beforehand and what didn’t. It’s all about making it easier for yourself.

Keep in mind what the current season is and what you’ll be reaching for the most. When items are out of season keep them out of the way. The things you’ll be wearing more day to day will keep them easily accessible.

Think about adding hooks and storage baskets to keep things a little more organized.

What To Put In A Closet vs. Dresser

What clothes should go where? Long items and formal wear are best hung up in the closet. This will help keep the clothes’ shape and the wrinkles out. Dresses, skirts and dress shirts, blazers, suits, and coats are best in the closet.

Jeans, knits, sweaters, and t-shirts can be folded and put in drawers along with underwear and socks.

4. Hanging Space

Don’t overfill the hanger space area, you want to make it easy to file through. Also, think about the type of hangers you need. Slim-line velvet hangers are good for maximizing the space you have. Clothing items tend to stay on there better without slipping off too.

Heavier items that need hanging will be better off on a padded hanger, or a wooden hanger.

Depending on your item, you want to make sure you use the right hanger so the neckline or the shoulders don’t get out of shape. And you’re not finding it at the bottom of the closet instead of on the hanger.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR HANGING SPACE?

How you organize your hanging space is an important part to consider. Here are a few ideas of how you can organize your closet hanging rack:

  • Colour-coordinated block system: arrange clothing by colour, red, blue, green, etc.
  • Item length: from short to long
  • By category item: shirts, trousers, dresses etc.
  • By category of occasion: every day, work wear, formal, etc.

Don’t forget to utilize the floor space underneath the hanging rack by adding a second rail if you have the space.

5. Organizing Your Drawers

Things you reach for every day like underwear keep in the top drawers. A drawer organizer system might help you keep things a little more orderly. Work your way down the drawers in this way. The things you don’t wear that often keep at the bottom. The next drawer down might be nightwear, then basic tops and t-shirts.

If you’re not using a drawer organizer then make sure things are folded properly and neatly. And in a way that you can tell what the item is easily. (Marie Kondo style if that’s what works for you).

6. Organize The Shelves

Jeans, tops, and jumpers are the best items to store on your shelves. Delicate items are best on a slim line hanger or folded away in a drawer. Make sure the items you do put on the shelf are folded properly otherwise, it’s going to get messy again real soon. Again, baskets will come in handy for storage.

You might want to keep items to a minimum on the open shelves. A couple of shelves could be used purely for decoration if you have the space. You might consider putting the heavy-knit items on the lower shelves for the winter season.

Then move them to the top shelves or away in storage boxes the way for the summer.

closet dressing area with shelf space

7. Shoe Organization

Shoes can tend to be a bit bulky and take up a lot of space. So you’ll have to get creative when it comes to organizing the different types of shoes. Depending on the style and how often you wear certain shoes you might have footwear stored in a few different places.

High boots and trainers can either be stored in their boxes or put on the floor in the closet. Ankle boots and other shoes of that size can be stored in a shoe storage box.

For flats and sandals, a hanging organizer rack might be ideal. For your favourite shoes, they might go on display on a shoe rack or a shelf. Remember you’ll more than likely have to position shelves at different levels to get a good amount of shoes in.

The everyday shoes might be stored somewhere entirely different, like in the hallway for easy access.

Shoe organization

For more ideas and inspiration on how to organize clothes check out the Ikea Pax post. Everyone’s favourite when it comes to closet ideas and organization.

I hope these closet clean-out tips get you on your way to organizing your great system at home.

Chloe

closet clean out

Feature Image Source: Unsplash

This post contains some affiliate links which I may make a small commission from should you purchase something. For more information check out the disclosure and terms and conditions page.


Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *