The season premier of my favorite show has inspired me to number my organizing tips in a Leroy Jethro Gibbs fashion. Please take note of the important Rule #3.
Fall and winter clothing have been in stores since August, the
temperatures finally seem to be dropping without the 100-degree spike thrown in
the middle of the week and fall decorations and Halloween costumes are
available for purchase. Women are
anxiously waiting to bust out the boots, sweaters and anything that says, “I am
prepared for the slight chance I could get a little cold today”. Maybe you store your winter things during the
warm months or maybe they just hang in a separate part of your closet. However you do it though, now is the best
time to set the stage to PURGE all those things you aren’t wearing. It seems that most women own so many clothes
they can barely make space to squeeze in the clothes that are freshly laundered
and ready to be rehung. When you have a
closet jammed packed with clothes I guarantee you are not wearing a majority of
what you own, because you can’t see it!
So why own it? It is probably a
little worn, or needs repair or isn’t the most flattering style or color for
you. There is a reason you aren’t
wearing it.
I don’t remember where I read about this idea but I’ll call
it the Hanger Trick. This is the easiest
most time efficient way I’ve seen and I do it myself twice a year. As a clutter-hater I must warn you that I
practice tough love when it comes to organizing. So if you are faint of heart or easily
offended, don’t read on. No pain no gain,
ladies.
First, turn all of your hangers backwards on either all of
your clothing or just your cold weather clothing. You can tackle the warm-weather items in the
spring if you want. The open hooks of
the hangers should all be facing you instead of the wall as they rest on the
rack.
Second, when you wear and wash something just rehang it the
normal way. By the end of the season you
can see every item you didn’t wear by the way it is still hung backwards. It’s pretty much magical.
This is a picture of my warm weather shirts today. After going through this process a few times over the past couple years there are not many items left ignored. Wear it or toss it!
Next comes the hard part.
When the weather begins to change in your neck of the woods, you MUST
follow through with this part of the plan or its pointless. (If you are turning all hangers backwards and are going to make this an annual thing, mark the date on the calendar and consider using Labor Day weekend as your date.) Pull out every single item that you didn’t
wear all season (or year). Pile them on your bed. Be very discriminating as you consider each
item and remember:
A)
You CHOSE not to wear it.
B)
Its now already out of your closet so you are
halfway to donating the item! Don’t lose
your nerve now.
If you need further convincing on some items ask yourself
these questions:
A) "Do I need it?"
I know this is a matter of perspective considering we live in the
gluttonous country of America. Most of
us are considered filthy rich on the world average. But if you have three black sweaters can you
convince yourself to part with one you didn’t choose to wear all season?
B) "Can I live without it?" Reread (A).
C)
"When did I last wear it?" I know special occasion
and formal items are a little different here.
But if there is a reason you go shopping every time you have a special
event to attend, WHY are you not wearing what you already own? As they say, “take a picture. It lasts
longer”.
D) "Is it damaged?"
If so, why hasn’t it been repaired?
Is it not important enough to mess with?
Has something else replaced it? And…..
E)
"Is it a duplicate or substitute?" For instance, I am well aware of a woman’s
desire (“need”) to own at least six pairs of black dress shoes: flats, platform, open toe, sling back, wedge,
pointy toe, rounded toe, etc. But again,
if you haven’t worn it in a year or two, give them a hug and move on. (As a
shoe-lover I say this with great empathy!)
F)
"If I didn’t already own it, would I buy
it?" I LOVE this question. If it weren’t already sitting in your closet,
would you spend the money to own it now?
G)
"Is it out of style?" I am aware styles come back around. My dad has a pair of leather flops he has
owned since college. We used to give him
a hard time about them but you know what?
That style came back around a few years ago and now my brother wears
them. There are some fads you should
not participate in twice though. Jelly shoes,
leather mini-skirts and shoulder pads, just to name a few examples.
Maybe after all of this you still need to have a little
fashion show for an honest BFF or significant other so they can help
you let go of some things. My patient husband
is a great help through this part of the process (he probably considers this
skill of his more of a curse than a blessing though). But the longer I do this the easier it is to
let go of things on my own and the less he “gets” to help.
Before I set you loose to attack your closet and rehang your
hangers, please let me put one toe on my soapbox. My dislike of clutter has been significantly
enhanced as our family tries to be intentional with our choices and focus on
others. With our almost-4 year old son we call these “loving choices”. The sight of things we haven’t been using and
stockpile to just “have” has gone from just an annoyance to a matter of the
heart. Show some love. Give it away.
