Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Pt 2

Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2

I hope the first half of Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes was helpful to your wardrobe and your peace of mind! Make it easy (well, easier anyway) to purge your closets with our handy decluttering criteria for clothes. Wondering why the black and white rules? Read on to find out!
A YES answer here means make it go away! A No answer means stay:

1. Is anybody embarrassed when you wear it?
2. Does it have holes, rips, tears, stains, spots, frays, underarm scarring or seams coming undone?
3. Is it missing buttons, beads or jewels?
4. Is the tag still on?
5. Socks: Are there holes? Are they threadbare?
6. Is it an “obligation keep”?
7. Is it a souvenir?
8. Are you saving it for just in case?

It can be difficult to give clothing a firm decision of “stay” or “go”, so we often make excuses for our clothes. We’ll move them to a different place or pack them away to delay making a real decision. No more! The above rules are simple and finite, and this is why:

Is anybody embarrassed when you wear it? You might be laughing about this one, but it is meant to be 100% serious! If your spouse, children or even complete strangers are embarrassed to be seen around you wearing a certain article of clothing, you should NEVER wear it again! The shame factor should not enter your wardrobe. You want your family to be seen with a beautiful hip parent that looks put together, not embarrassing. Toss your embarrassing pieces now.

Does it have holes, rips, tears, stains, spots, frays, underarm stains or seams coming undone? One little flaw is all it takes to look unkempt and sloppy. Think nobody notices that stain or hole just because you’ve forgotten about it? WRONG!

Is it missing buttons, beads or jewels? Missing pieces = shabby, and not in a good way. I’m sure there are 50 other shirts in your closet not missing a button that fell off in 1992. If pieces are missing from clothing and you don’t have the pieces in your hand to reattach right now, make the clothing go away.

Is the tag still on? If you’ve held onto something so long without wearing it that the tag is still on (proof positive that it’s never been worn), pass it on to its next life. Someone else may love it so much they wear it every day! It deserves to get use by someone before it’s out of style.

Socks: Are there holes? Are they threadbare? If you can see skin through your sock, it’s only a matter of time before a complete blowout. For crying out loud – holey socks belong in the trash! You can even use holey socks for cleaning or dusting cloths.

Is it an “obligation keep”? Are you keeping it because someone gave it to you and you feel obligated? Do you feel guilty or unappreciative to give it away? Don’t! Even your friend or relative that gave you something wouldn’t want you to keep it only because you feel you have to.

Is it a souvenir? Vacation t-shirts, bridesmaid dresses… you get the idea. You have the photos and the memories of these items, you don’t need to wear them. Keep the pictures, donate the souvenirs.

Are you saving it for just in case? In case of what? In case you ever visit the white house? In case you meet a celebrity? In case you ever attend the Oscars? In case you dress up as a purple tap dancing alien for Halloween? Get real! We all have hundreds of scenarios in our minds of things that might someday happen. Until they are planned and scheduled, don’t put clothes in your closet to wear to a hypothetical event! Use the space for something you can wear right now.

There you have it: 16 quick criteria for keeping or purging the clothes in your closet. I hope this list is helpful in keeping your closet functional and clutter free!