Closet Cleanout Checklist

Tis the season for spring cleaning! I mean as a professional stylist, you should really do this quarterly at the beginning of each season, but you do you😉 Anywho, after writing 'Benefits of an Organized Closet' along with an uptick of Closet Analysis & Cleanout clients who need a little more TLC, I thought I'd provide a checklist.

Ask Yourself Questions When Doing Your Closet Cleanout

Our main clientele here at MH Style Consulting are people who are going through something. This could be: A new job or promotion, starting a business, rebranding themselves, new mom or dad, going back into the office post-covid, empty nester, divorcee, someone who just came out from an abusive situation, starting a new chapter post-trauma, cancer survivor or someone who currently has cancer, weight loss or gain, their sexual orientation has changed, or their gender identity has changed. No matter their situation, this type of lifestyle change can make that person start thinking about their closet and how it makes them feel.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Does my wardrobe speak to who I am today?

• When is the last time I went shopping?

• When is the last time I did a closet cleanout?

• Has my body changed?

• Has my lifestyle changed?

Create Categories Within Your Closet

After asking yourself questions, you've probably decided to move forward with a closet cleanout. The first thing you want to do is create categories!

You're going to need space; this could be extra clothing racks for items that are hanging and/or tables for items that are folded.

Next, you're going to start with the category you are most overwhelmed or frustrated with. The reason being is because you'd be nipping the problem in the bud (which by the way, I thought was 'nip the problem in the butt' this whole time. I'm 38 and just found this out🤣). So what "Create Categories" really means is to put all your tops together, pants together, shorts together, fashion jackets and blazers together, etc. etc. etc. Again, you're going to work on the categories in order starting with the one that is the most overwhelming or the most frustrating. This could also be the one that takes up the most space, too!

Closet Cleanout Checklist

Now it's time to start cleaning out by thinking, and asking, yourself the following:

Negative Energy

• Anything that holds negative energy or feelings, you should get rid of it! You can't allow any type of negativity take up more mental space or physical space in your closet because, why?!

  
  

The Fit

• Any clothes that don't fit, get rid of. Sometimes this checklist item can be tough. We sometimes fluctuate in weight so we need to have 2 sizes. If you have the space, create a different section of your closet (or maybe even a different closet in another room) with the sizing that doesn't currently fit. And BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF! If you're a size 10 and you want to be a size 2 so you can fit into that 1 dress again, are you really going to get down to a size 2? Maybe you will, but then again, maybe you won't. Again, be honest with yourself and realistic. Or maybe it's vice versa for you.

Damaged

• If there are items that are damaged, what's the point of keeping them? This could be:

  • Stains, including pit stains

  • Rips

  • Stretched out and doesn't fit right

  • Shrunk and, again, doesn't fit right

  • Faded

Before getting rid of a piece because it's damaged, ask yourself:

• Do you still love it? And,

• Can it be repaired?

  
  

  

  
  

Once you have made the determination, anything that's damaged beyond repair, put in 1 pile and clothes that you can repair, put in another.

Is it still you?

I like to say that we go through 3-4 transitions in our life where we "rebrand" ourselves because we change as life goes on. On average, I see clients in their late 20's who are young professionals who realize they can't dress like they're still in college, in their mid to late 30's up to their mid 40's and this is because they had a baby or changed jobs in some shape or form, and then in their 50's or 60's when they're about to retire or have become empty nesters and they can finally focus on themselves.

You need to feel good in EVERYTHING you wear. If you're not sure, try wearing the piece(s) out and about and see how you feel. One thing that people don't think about until I say something is, notice if you're tugging at it due to it riding up, being too tight, the fabric is itchy, etc. When we conduct a Closet Analysis & Cleanout, we watch our clients body language, facial expressions, as well as the adjectives they use when they're talking about their clothes.

Duplicates

This is the very last step once you have gone through everything. I want you to re-categorize everything, but BY STYLE. Example: If you're working on pants, how many light wash jeans do you have? And, how many do you have in the same style? Any duplicates, feel free to get rid of if you still feel overwhelmed.

Where To Donate Clothes

If you work with us and are located in Minnesota, we actually offer a 'free donation haul' (some exclusions apply) in which we bring it to Arc's Value Village as we're personal stylists and shoppers there (learn about styling/shopping + Arc's mission here). If you don't work with us, here are some of our go-to's:

• Other non-profit thrift stores supporting your favorite cause

• Sell it on Poshmark (which I'm actually doing as I write this)

• Poshmark also offers a Consignment Bag service where you can send it in and they'll sell it for you. Any sales made, you get 50% of that sale (depending on your location)

• Facebook Marketplace

• ThredUp

• Trashie

• Local consignment stores

• Some big brands have also started recycling their merchandise. A good example is Levi's Secondhand

• And don't forget that there are people within your community that will take damaged goods and upcycle them. Example: RETHINK by Kristen McCoy here in Minneapolis, MN! You can google "Upcycle Designer in _____" to start your search.

The important thing is DO NOT THROW YOUR CLOTHES AWAY if you don't have to! According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced globally each year. A large portion of this ends up in the landfills. In the US, 11.3 million tons of textile waste are found in landfills annually! That's why you're hearing a lot about not shopping fast fashion, and instead, shopping sustainably ♻️

I hope this checklist helps! If you feel stuck and want help, you know we're here and can go on this journey with you via our Closet Analysis & Cleanout experience. It can be daunting and, honestly, traumatic. However, it can be therapeutic and a big stress reliever. You can do it, and if not, we got you 😉

Until next time,

-Melissa

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