Alright, if you’re reading this, chances
are, your closet(s) may stand to benefit from a much-needed thorough spring
cleaning.
But are you excited about doing it?
Yeah, probably not. And you’re not alone.
Closet cleaning ranks right up there
with getting a root canal or potty training your kids: We dread it like all get
out, but after it’s done, we feel so much better.
And so, in the spirit (and season) of
organization, here are three effective approaches to getting the job done:
The Three Months Method
If your closet is chock-full of
barely-ever-worn articles of clothing that you basically hold on to for
nostalgic reasons, then The Time-Out Method is for you. Here’s how to start: Working
through your closet one piece at a time, leave be the clothes you wear on a
regular basis—your go-to shirts and sweaters, everyday jeans, etc. Pull out
anything that does not fall into that category and lay those clothes on your
bed where you will then place them in one of two piles: The first is the No pile, which is for clothes you know
right off the bat you want to part with; the second pile, the Maybe pile, is for everything you are
unsure about. After everything on your bed has been put in either the No pile or the Maybe pile, bag up the No
pile and prepare to donate to charity. As for the Maybe pile, bag it up—and here’s the important part—place it in a
remote area of your home where you seldom go and keep that pile there for three
months. If after three months you have not gone back to that Maybe pile to retrieve something you
think you need, pitch the entire bag.
Swedish Death Cleaning
The name sounds a bit morbid and harsh…because
it is. But it’s also ideal for those who aren’t playing around. Swedish Death
Cleaning is the brainchild of Margareta Magnusson, a Swedish artist who lists
her age as “80 to 100,” and here’s the crux of it: Getting rid of things that
other people won’t want to deal with after you’ve passed on. This method calls
for you to categorize everything in your home—clothes, furniture, you name
it—and then assess every item through the prism of Would anyone really want this after I’m gone? If the answer is
no—and you really don’t care for or use the item now, then toss it. Magnusson is
the author of the book The Gentle Art of
Swedish Death Cleaning, which explains the method in detail.
The “Don’t Fantasy Dress” Rule
Today’s last tip comes from style expert
Adam Glassman, who serves as the creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine. And as the name suggests, “Don’t Fantasy
Dress,” is an approach which calls for complete and utter honesty: If an item
fits the lifestyle you want but not the lifestyle you live, get rid of it. So,
if your closet is filled with large-brimmed derby hats because you want to
attend tea parties ad horse races—but never do, then say goodbye to the hats,
Likewise, if your closet boasts an insane amount of golf wear, but you haven’t
golfed in years, then pack those items up.
Do any combination of the above, and
you’ll be amazed by how de-cluttered your closet will become in no time.
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