How to Stop Being a Clothes Hoarder
Today I am going to be talking about one of my favorite topics: decluttering your clothes and how to stop being a clothes hoarder!!
***Insert squeal of delight.***
I have a system for organizing clothes that I came up with many years ago. With this system, I never have to “clean out my closet” because it always stays cleaned out.
Oh, and yes, my clothes are still crammed in pretty tight because I do not have a great big walk in closet all to myself. I have a small walk-in closet that I share with my husband.
His clothes actually take up more of the closet than mine do, in my opinion. He might disagree with me though.
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Clothes are one of my favorite things in the world. If I were to hoard anything, this is what it would be. If you find that you have a tendency to keep too many clothes in your closet, and maybe even shoved into every closet in your house, this is for you.
The only Carrie Bradshaw quote I ever cared for: “I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet.” (or something like that)
I have a surefire clothing closet and drawers organizing system that will help you stop being a clothes hoarder forever.
Step 1: Watch the video below.
I will write it out, but I explain and show you the whole system in the video. It explains everything.
Step 2: If you haven’t cleaned out your closet in a long time, go through your clothes one by one and pull out anything that is too small, too big, too ugly, or too uncomfortable.
If you never want to wear it, you don’t need it.
Pile all those clothes in a donation bag, and drop them off anywhere that accepts used clothes. If you notice, there are usually donation bins around even in grocery store parking lots to drop off clothes.
Step 3: Organize your closet into sections.
I divide mine into these sections:
-shirts and casual dresses for the current season
-shirts and casual dresses that are out of season
-jackets and sweaters
-event and church dresses
We added this drop-down rod to create another section to hang clothes in my little closet.
Step 4: Time to start your new system: Filing your clothes to the back to keep your clothes constantly rotated.
I explain this in the video more thoroughly.
Basically, every time you hang an item in your closet, file that item to the back of its section. This also helps make sure you don’t just wear the same five items over and over again.
Then when it is time to get dressed, you grab the first appropriate item for the occasion from its section.
You do not have to wear the very front shirt. But it helps you decide what to wear. I hate making decisions, so this is a HUGE reason I do this too.
I look at the front shirt, and if it doesn’t fit what I’m doing that day, I go to the next one, until I find one that is right.
Some days there are still days that NONE of my shirts are right. Ha! Then I just go back to the front and grab the first decent one.
This way you will rotate through all of your clothes. If a shirt spends too much time in the front spot, that is a red flag that you never seem to want or need that shirt. Maybe it is time to hand it off to the donation bag.
Obviously, super fancy clothes will not be needed often. I only own one that still fits, so no rotating required. I just keep it behind the rest of my event/church dresses.
I have been using this system for years, and I love the results of it. This is how I keep a reasonable amount of clothes in my closet instead of drowning in clothes.
Now I know when I see a shirt in front for several days, and I look at it and think, “Nyahhhh Bleh, not that one,” it’s time for that item to go.
Step 5: Set your drawers up for success too.
I do not do this with all of my clothing types, like pajamas and socks, etc. But maybe I should!
So this is what I do with pants. I have one drawer for winter pants and one drawer for summer pants/shorts/skirts.
I file from left to right. The left is the front, the far right is the back. When I add laundered pants, they go on the last row, and I scoot the others forward.
This works the same way as my closet. I discover which ones I actually never wear because they spend too long hanging out in row one.
Currently, that spot is occupied by my leggings, but I have to keep leggings because when I do need them, nothing else will do.
If a pair is often too tight, I move them to the back row the day that they are snug. Usually, when they come around again, they fit fine. But if they are always tight and miserable, they gotta go.
Then I have my in-between season pants, pictured here. Most of my shorts are packed and stored under my bed until summer. But these above-ankle length pants will get more space to spread out once I have stored a few of the winter pants away for the summer.
All total, I feel like I do own a lot of pants, but that is because I have finally managed to stay the same pants size for the past seven years. It’s getting iffy lately though….
So in conclusion, I think this is an AWESOME way to manage your inventory of clothes!!
It is so efficient for me. Now I just need to find a system like this for shoes!!
For more organizing and declutter tips, check out my articles on decluttering storage rooms or this one on a compact and safe way to preserve photos and memorabilia.
I have a lot of clothes, and for over 20 years I have found this to work the best for me. First, divide into 3 main sections: tops, pants, and skirts & dresses. Sort each section by colors— by lightest color to darkest color. For tops, also order from shortest sleeves to longest sleeves. Solids go before prints. When I wear something, rather than moving everything over, I just hang that hanger backwards, so I can see it. There is one wrinkle for my 150+ plus pairs of jeans, I hang them by brand, in alphabetical order.
[…] am using the same system I use for my other drawers and my closet. I basically just fold my t-shirts and then roll up the fold. You can also do a Marie Kondo style […]
[…] #1. How to Stop being a Clothes Hoarder […]
Great ideas–here’s another. I only shop at thrift stores, so I often feel justified in buying more clothes, even when it’s unnecessary. I decided to go on a clothing strike–I haven’t bought an article of clothing since Aug 15, which is pretty good for me. I plan to avoid buying more clothes through the rest of the year.
Wow! That’s so awesome.
I used to do a similar system for my children. The clothes that just came out of the laundry and folding got put at the bottom of the pile of shirts/pants. That way they could just grab and go. For my own closet (which is the HUGEST one I have ever had…I could park a car in there), my clothes are sorted much differently. Every item TYPE has its own section, then the items within that type are color sorted by the rainbow. A section for shirts, shorts (yes I hang them), jeans/pants, dresses/long tunics. I also at the beginning of each year turn all of my hangers backwards and as I wear something, I put it away hanging forward. That way I know what I’ve already worn and I challenge myself to only select the backward facing hangers. It’s very telling how often we want to reach for the same thing over and over. After doing this for a couple of months, I go through the backward facing hangers and get ruthless. I also have a rule for myself to NOT increase my wardrobe. If I buy a pair of boots, a pair needs to leave (as in get donated). The same goes for any type of clothes. This works extremely well for me and keeps my closet neat, tidy, efficient and pared down.
[…] Click here for my viral article on How to Stop Being a Clothes Hoarder. […]
Just discovered you through Pinterest. Having been military for 25 years, I totally get the moving every couple of years. Looks like you’ve figured out the system that works, keep up the good work and thank you for your service (and your husband for his).
I dress for how I feel that day, who/what I am seeing/doing that day. And, living in NorCal by the beach means we have NO seasons, we have ‘days’ that change all the time. I DID do a massive declutter recently which felt great but I am a shopaholic and need to understand my motivation . Prolly, rewarding myself since most of my life was a nightmare and now, it is soWONDERFUL. My brain is still absorbing the fact that I am {{{ SAFE }}} now.
Being safe is definitely a lot more important than outfits. I’m just glad you are okay.
Sounds like a good idea! I’ll have to try it. Thanks for a very doable solution.
Thanks! I hope it works for ya!
[…] How to Stop Being a Clothes Hoarder: Best Closet Hack Ever! […]
This is a great idea! I have a very large closet so I do not have space issues (and I store most out of season items away) but I could use this extra step to make sure I wear all I have. I am doing something a little bit like this for the month of April as I added a number of thrifted dresses and tops that I want to make sure I wear. I also pulled aside spring tops that I know I haven’t worn much in the past 2 years.
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Ah the dream of a big closet. Some day. Thanks for stopping by and reading. It is nice to “meet” you. 🙂
This is excellent advice. I think it is important to be organised so it doesn’t become a black whole. This was very nice to read and helpful. https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2023/03/spring-into-fashion-5-fashion-trends-to.html
Thanks! And thanks for commenting!