Cleaning out your closet

[Melisande]

Woo hoo, congratulations ta-ta!

I recently sold a bunch of shoes I've cherished for so long, just because I won't be able to travel with them. So sad...I hope they're happy where they are...

Sort of OT, but related...I've been focusing recently on actively letting go of complaints and forgiving all sorts of things, and it seems to have a similar effect as physical de-cluttering. It radically refreshes, and opens up solutions and possibilities...letting go of old useless stuff lets the sunlight in.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Even better Psychic decluttering ...

When I really 'got it' about what happens when you focus on the negative vs when you focus on the positive, I pretty much gave up complaining altogether. If something really bad happens, I give myself the rest of the day to be upset about it (and even so, I'm actively trying to 'clear' it ... like on Monday, I took my dog for an hour's walk to work off the adrenaline, plus did several other things I thought would help). The next day, it's gotta be back in gear & all about positive action.

I was excited about my good results yesterday, so I decided not to let the grass grow under my feet & took all my electronic stuff to the drop-off station. Nothing's happened yet That I know of ...

 

[Tinetush]

I'm also a saver.. When I clean out my closer I just re-organize it as well.. I might sell some stuff or give a bit away once in a while but mostly if it's something that I just haven't worn in a while I'll put it away and look at it again after some time, and sometimes these pieces comes to life again.. Especially when it comes to the pieces I've bought in the most recent years, since I've really learned what I do and do not like, and doesn't make as many wrong purchases as when I was younger..

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I definitely agree with doing that ... if something can be viable in your wardrobe, then you should certainly get the benefit of it, not someone else It was your money, after all ...

 

[Tinetush]

^ Ha-ha yes absolutely..

It's weird though. I'm rather messy when it comes to pretty much everything else - but my closet is always organised, I know what's in there, and I can always find when I'm looking for, well except for when it's in the laundry basket.

 

[quimby]

I decided that the 1-year rule didn't work for me, either, but I still need some guideline for when to save and when to trash. Basically, if there was ever a time that I loved wearing that piece, I know I'll probably like it again someday even if it's fallen out of rotation. But if I've never felt good putting it on, I get rid of it.

I need to clean out my closet again.

 

[pinksatin]

I'm glad this thread was bumped, it's time for me to make some space too!

I think my problem is I have so much trouble weeding out a significant portion of my wardrobe (it never seems to make a dent) b/c everything in there fits and I like it. I buy things that I like and I have a lot to rotate so it doesn't really get worn out. Also, I think it is a blessing/curse but some things I have from years and years ago (like high school) is still in good condition, fits and I still like the style (they aren't trendy pieces). So I find it so hard to get rid of anything. I think I prioritize all of it equally. I have the same trouble with packing, I always bring way too much. I think I have to just be spartan about it compared to how I normally am if I want to get any progress.

I just read Tim Gun's Guide to Style for help with the closet and a few de-cluttering self-help books for inspiration. I still have so much trouble deciding what is better-than-the-rest-of-it and what to get rid of though. It is daunting! It all seems useful to me and I like it, but there is way too much there.

 

[Zoely]

i hate to cleaning up my closet because i lost some weight and now i have to cleaning my old big clothes.. .. i love to buy new one.. if i had the money ofcourse

 

[gimmethatbag]

I usually donate older clothes to Goodwill.

I think if TFS had a massive closet clean-out where everyone could buy stuff from each other that would be ahhhhhhmazing. I bet y'all have some seriously good things to give away.

 

[silk skin paws]

My plan is to start cleaning out my closet before the new year begins. I have some items like jeans and jackets that I don't plan on wearing anymore or haven't worn because I didn't like them. I believe it's the old buyer's remorse. I saw something and wanted it and purchased then after while I hated it. I'm torn between donating to salvation army and freecycle. I might divide between the two depending on how much clothing are removed.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I'm glad this thread was bumped, it's time for me to make some space too!

I think my problem is I have so much trouble weeding out a significant portion of my wardrobe (it never seems to make a dent) b/c everything in there fits and I like it. I buy things that I like and I have a lot to rotate so it doesn't really get worn out. Also, I think it is a blessing/curse but some things I have from years and years ago (like high school) is still in good condition, fits and I still like the style (they aren't trendy pieces). So I find it so hard to get rid of anything. I think I prioritize all of it equally. I have the same trouble with packing, I always bring way too much. I think I have to just be spartan about it compared to how I normally am if I want to get any progress.

I just read Tim Gun's Guide to Style for help with the closet and a few de-cluttering self-help books for inspiration. I still have so much trouble deciding what is better-than-the-rest-of-it and what to get rid of though. It is daunting! It all seems useful to me and I like it, but there is way too much there.

Maybe you don't need to get rid of things so much as you need a smaller seasonal wardrobe/closet to work with that is more manageable ...

 

[juneping]

i agree with the one year rule...only for the daily wears not the party dresses, go out dresses or those occasional wears.
if the tops / slacks that you haven't touched for over a year...you sure you wanted to wear it next year while you still going to buy clothes. i think there's a reason that some clothes we just never wear but sit in the closet.

 

[Psylocke]

I recently cleaned out my closet, too. I ususally just put everything on to see what it looks like on me and if I would still ever wear it. Truth is, though, that most of the things still look nice. It was really hard, but I had to remind myself, that I do not need 50 H&M tees that are all paper thin and the color's washed out, when I have some very nice tees in soft fabrics that I can still wear in 5 years. So now basically everything that's from H&M and Zara is gone and I only kept the more pricier items
BTW, I LOVE the feeling of having gotten rid off old stuff, it feels relieving, even though it's a very hard thing to do at first.

 

[dumbfairy]

^I find telling yourself that you don't need something is really hard. But when I think back to the mountain of stuff I have given away in the past,even though at the time I think I'm going to regret it,I never do.

I started going through mine last night. The plan was new year,'new' closet,with the aim of having a few pieces that I don't wear/don't fit/don't like to charity shops. But I decided that I didn't want to get rid of anything which defeated the object

 

[dumbfairy]

Bringing this thread back. This past week I have started to have a massive clear out from my flat. I can't believe how much stuff I have kept just in case I might have needed,I can really relate to Chanels post at the top of the page. I don't know if it fits into this thread,but has anybody ever organised a room according to feng shui? Only I'm curious as to whether it has any effect or not.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Yes ... we have a couple feng shui threads around here I think. I have a feng shui consultant I work with (she's coming next Monday in fact), and yes, it works. There's quite a bit more to know than what's in the bookstore might lead you to believe, but it all has an effect. I have had people tell me, oh, you don't need a feng shui expert, I lived in Asia for awhile and anyone can do it. They say a little knowledge is dangerous ...

 

[ATM1985]

I was going to tell you to message her, but fashionista-ta posted before I could even finish typing her name.n

 

[tullepen]

hmm I just sell what I don't wear after 6 months (it's mostly designer) then give the money to charity.I am very lucky.

 

[softgrey]

Bringing this thread back. This past week I have started to have a massive clear out from my flat. I can't believe how much stuff I have kept just in case I might have needed,I can really relate to Chanels post at the top of the page. I don't know if it fits into this thread,but has anybody ever organised a room according to feng shui? Only I'm curious as to whether it has any effect or not.

i did that---kept it that way for ages even though i hated it...
just changed everything around and i am so much happier already...
i decided that it was better to organize according to ME...
and being ME was the best thing i could be!


also just sent a big bag o' stuff over to the salvation army...
cleared about 1/2 a rolling rack...
still have 1 and 1/2 racks of stuff to find new homes for though..
some of it will go into storage...but some of it needs to find a permanent new home...

i wish i wasn't so lazy about ebay and could just list some stuff...

i just can't stand the idea of the post office lines!

 

[dumbfairy]

I have had people tell me, oh, you don't need a feng shui expert, I lived in Asia for awhile and anyone can do it. They say a little knowledge is dangerous ...

I'm one quater Chinese. That makes me qualified enough

I have let my bedroom get so cluttered simply because the room is too big. I feel almost like I need to fill it. I'm English,we're not used to minimalism. We like cluttered space. Cluttered=cosy My room doesn't feel right without half a dozen magazines and books sprawled across the floor. I think it would be a lot more organised if I had more storage space. I have 4 double wardrobes (Though I'm trying to take the brave step into only having 3...goodbye wonderful clothes ) but nowhere for anything else.

I'm definetly going to give feng shui a try though,I won't know if it works for me if I don't try!