Spring Cleaning: A Complete Guide
Spring cleaning is the utmost expression of renewal in spring. Turning our homes upside down to give it a proper fresh start. It is extremely therapeutic to get rid of the things - and clothes - we no longer use or need. Not only does it free up space (for new clothes we do need) but it declutters your mind, refocusing your image. Think of Spring cleaning as the time to clean up your style and image.
3 Magic Closet Editing Questions
Getting rid of clothes can feel at worst emotional and at best exhausting, but let's try to not overcomplicate things. If you have been around for a little while, you might have heard about my 3 magic questions I use when working on editing a client’s closet. If not, here they are!
Ask yourself these questions for each item you’re not sure you should keep:
#1 Is it tired?
Does wearing it make you feel meh? Does it just feel boring? Or maybe like a version of you that no longer exists? Then it has to go.
#2 Have you worn it recently?
If the answer is that you haven’t worn it in the last year, I strongly suggest you let it go. A good trick to see which clothes you’re wearing throughout the year is to flip your hanger the other way around once you’ve worn it.
#3 Does it fit?
The last, but likely the most important is does it fit you? Your body may have changed, or the item stretched out or maybe it never fit you. You can either have it adjusted or give it to someone who is the right fit.
Easy, simple, straightforward. You’ll get through your closet editing in no time. But if you’re struggling, which is totally normal since we develop emotional connections to clothes, why not book a video call session with me? I can take all the stress out of the experience and help you access your wardrobe and work with you to decide what to keep.
Reorganize Closet
Once you’ve decided what to keep and what to get rid of, it’s time to organize what you have left.
A few options on how to organize your clothes by:
Color: Follow the rainbow to create an organized wardrobe and primarily an aesthetically pleasing closet.
Season: This depends on where you live, but if you live somewhere with distinct seasons you may benefit from removing your winter clothes altogether come spring.
Item Category: Probably the most popular, organized by shirts, pants, jackets, dresses, shoes, scarves, blouses, etc…
Function: Whether you have a very specific wardrobe for work or could have your very own workout closet, you can divide your wardrobe by the different “sectors” of your life - events, work, exercise, etc…
Personally, I prefer organizing by categories and color. By that I mean I first organize by shirts, pants, dresses, and so on, and within each category, I organize by color. I find it’s the easiest and most convenient way of finding items. But organization is all about how your brain works so find what makes most sense to you.
Repurpose, Recycle, Regift
When it comes to the clothes you’re not keeping, it’s important to consider what to do with them. Here are some options you may consider:
Upcycling and Repurposing
Perhaps you like the color or the fabric, can you take it to a tailor to repurpose it for something new? Maybe even take an inspirational picture of something you would like made. If you have some jeans that don’t fit quite right or maybe you’re just tired of them, why not make them into a skirt? This video teaches you to create the trendy midi denim skirt.
Donating to charity or participating in clothing swaps
Clothing swaps are opportunities for you to give your clothes to others while also finding new items for you.
On the other hand, donating to a charity can be a great idea, but I strongly suggest you show them what you have or ask them what they need as over donations is a huge burden on charities which then end up shipping items to developing countries who do not have the resources to manage this waste.
Eco-friendly options for disposing of unwanted clothing
For the items you can’t sell and you can’t donate, there are textile recycling programs you can take your unwanted items to. Here is a list of several centers around San Francisco that accept varying levels of fabric for recycling. Please make sure to check with each what they accept.
Spring cleaning is not only a moment to get rid of things you don’t like but to purge any extra baggage from your image. Refreshing your closet can refocus you on the style you are trying to achieve. It is the first step in achieving your renewed style for what’s left of the year ahead!
Bises ,
Lili