The beginning of a new year is the perfect time for a reset. A fresh start for any area of your life that needs it—including your closet. You clean out the refrigerator, the car, so why not make it a new habit to do the same with your closet? A good closet cleanout, or closet edit, will help set you up for wardrobe success. By taking the time to say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new, you’ll start to feel that much needed change in your life.
Is figuring out how to get rid of old clothes easier said than done? You’re not alone if it’s difficult for you to part with things or you simply don’t know where to begin. We’re sharing straightforward steps to help you stay organized and make purging as easy as possible.
When Should You Do a Closet or Wardrobe Edit?
There’s no one right time for cleaning out your closet but like we mentioned before, what better time than the start of the new year? You’re likely already thinking about ways you’d like to make changes. Maybe you’re considering breaking an old habit or starting a new one. Are you hoping to become more organized? Performing a closet purge is an excellent activity to support that goal.
In addition to the beginning of the year, try doing a mini closet edit at the start of each season to make upkeep easier on yourself. Plus, you can focus on seasonal clothes instead of your wardrobe as a whole making it less intimidating to tackle.
How to Clear Out Your Wardrobe
When cleaning out your closet, stick to three categories and make three piles accordingly. The first pile is for items you’re tossing. The second includes items you no longer want but are in good shape for donating. Lastly, you’ll have a pile of out-of-season items that you’ll put away for next fall or winter. Finally, everything you plan to keep and wear in the current season will stay in your closet or drawers.
What to Toss
At what point are items too worn out to donate and are destined for the trash? During your wardrobe purge, keep an eye out for fabric that has holes beyond repair. Or take note of stains that haven’t come out no matter how much elbow grease you put in. Instead of simply throwing these pieces into the garbage, look for responsible and eco-friendlier ways to discard them.
For example, one of our partners through our bra donation program, The Bra Recyclers, provides sustainable solutions by delaying the number of usable textiles going into our landfills while creating job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
What to Donate
Do you have stuff you just don’t wear anymore? Maybe they don’t fit or they’re no longer your style. Before you toss something out during your closet cleanout, consider if it's in decent enough shape to be donated. If the article of clothing has only been worn a handful of times or has minor wear and tear, it may be a great candidate for donation. Give your clothes another life and help someone in need by donating instead of discarding.
What to Put in Storage
The third pile for your wardrobe purge is fairly straightforward and a common practice for those who live in a climate with distinct seasons. However, anyone can benefit from tucking away items they wear during winter or fall—even if they have mild temperatures year round. Maybe you prefer dresses in the summer and long pants in the winter. Or, do you wear pastels and white in the spring and moody tones in the fall?
Tuck away any styles you’re not going to wear for the next 3-4 months in storage bins. This will free up a ton of space in your closet and help you keep it clean and organized throughout the year.
Don’t Overlook These Closet Categories
While performing a closet cleanout, it’s easy to focus your attention on the clothes you wear every single day. On the flipside, what’s trickier to remember is to go through the parts of your wardrobe you wear less often. The areas that aren’t as obvious to declutter like swimwear or bras that have styles you only wear on occasion.
Don’t wait until your next warm weather trip to decide if your bathing suits from last year still fit. You know that strapless bra you wear for special occasions that’s hiding at the bottom of your drawer? Don’t leave it until you’re getting dressed for a fancy party to make sure it’s still in good shape. Here’s a list of categories in your closet you probably need to take a look at in your next closet edit.
Panties
Are you guilty of only buying new panties once your current ones completely fall apart? Don’t give yourself the stress of last-minute shopping and do a closet purge of your panties before you hit that stage.
Once you’ve gotten rid of the old and ratty, you’ll have extra space (especially with top notch folding skills) for new panties you’ll feel confident in. Whether it’s thong, boyshort, or brief, you likely already know your preferred silhouette for everyday wear. Stock up on those! As women we can never have enough clean underwear on hand, so it’s always a good idea to have a few more than you need on a weekly basis.
Bras
When cleaning out your closet, take a moment to think about the events you’re attending in the upcoming season. Any weddings or birthday trips you’ll need a special bra for? If a multi-way bra is missing from your top drawer or your go-to T-shirt bra is looking a bit tired, it’s probably time for a refresh. No matter how well you take care of your bra, there are inevitable signs it’s had its last hurrah. Be prepared ahead of trips and parties and you’ll thank yourself later.
Activewear
Whether you workout a bunch or simply live in your activewear, your most worn styles will likely need replacing more often. During your next closet purge, look for visible wear and tear like fabric thinning, pilling in the thigh or armpit area, or loss of elasticity. Also, feel free to tuck away your workout shorts and tank tops during cooler months and vice versa with your activewear layers during the summer.
Swimwear
Tackle your swimwear needs before the sun and heat make their debut. Finding swimsuits that you feel confident in can take some trial and error so give yourself ample time to shop around. Survey the styles you have from last year and see if they’re still right for you. Do they fit? Do they support you the way you need? Do they still represent your personal style? Let these questions help guide you to whether you should replace or keep what you’ve already got.
P.S. Don’t forget beach accessories too! A shady sunhat and oversized straw bag are wardrobe staples for tropical vacations.
Sleepwear
When cleaning out your closet, pajamas are a crucial category to go through. Having the right pajamas can aid or hinder your quality of sleep so purge wisely! Determine what your sleep needs are to help you during your closet edit. For example, if you’re a hot sleeper, be sure to hold onto any PJs that are cool-to-the-touch and breathable.
What Can You Do With Your Old Clothing?
Not sure how to get rid of old clothing—or better yet—what to do with them once you’ve decided to let go? There are plenty of excellent places to donate such as the American Red Cross or The Salvation Army. If you’re specifically looking for a place to donate bras, we’d love it if you'd consider donating to a Soma® boutique near you.
Curious how it works? It’s simple! Donate new or gently used bras to any Soma® boutique and get a special treat from us toward a new bra for you*.
UP NEXT: Three Easy Care Tips to Make Your New Bra Last as Long as Possible
*Donations are not tax-deductible. I SUPPORT THE GIRLS (ISTG) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that collects and distributes donations of new and gently used bras and feminine products to women and girls in need. Visit http://www.isupportthegirls.org for more information. New and gently-used bras will be donated to ISTG; all others may be recycled through The Bra Recyclers®. Monetary donations: Customers may make a monetary donation to support ISTG through the Charity link on http://soma.com. Donations are not refundable
