A simple place to start is with your least-worn clothes, as that's where the majority of decluttering will happen. 'Start with pulling out anything that hasn't been worn for the last 6-12 months. Ask yourself why and then decide if you want to keep it or donate it.
Purging your closet isn't as daunting as it may sound. To put it simply, the act of purging means to free yourself of something that doesn't quite serve you anymore. In this case, getting rid of items to clear up and clean out your personal space, allowing you to design a wardrobe you love.
“People who are 'messy' may have not been taught organising skills, grew up in a cluttered environment, or have some other factors that inhibit their organisation skills such as ADHD.” How messy or tidy you're feeling can also correlate with your mental health.
Seifert tells us, "Use the one-year rule for cleaning out—if you haven't worn it in the last year, it's probably safe to donate it or sell it." Cleaning out your closet once per year will keep the accumulation of clothes, shoes, and accessories from getting out of hand.
Rule #1 – Don't have a Maybe Pile
Well – the fact is that decluttering involves decision making. Decisions on every item as to whether you keep it or let it go.
The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.
'The best room to start decluttering is where two things converge: the area that is causing you the most stress and the place that you live in the most,' she explains. 'The attic or a tucked away closet might be messy and nagging you but if the kitchen, entryway, or primary bathroom is too - go there first!
Closet Organization Methods
Sort by color, category, or length: Put jeans with jeans, keep sweaters with sweaters, and so on; if you have an expansive closet or are a visual organizer, consider putting items of the same color in the same area.
Clutter and disorganization happen to everyone. But sometimes it can be a sign of depression. Having a messy room is not uncommon. Having a busy schedule can lead to chores piling up.
Cleaning is considered to be a form of stress relief, among other activities such as mindfulness and exercise practices. Research has demonstrated that cleaning can yield several positive effects on mental health.
If you feel the same, let go of the items that remind you of bad memories. If it provides you happiness or reminds you the struggles you have faced in your life, you may want to keep it. If the item you want to keep is unique/artifact then I would suggest you to keep it. If it is not, then do let it go.
Set an expiration date for the items in your closet. If you live in a four-season climate and you haven't worn a piece of clothing in a year, it's probably time to donate it. And if you live in a one- or two-season climate, then you likely should let go of something you haven't worn in the past six months.
While decomposing, clothes emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane gas (CH4), a substance that is is 28 times higher than CO2 in terms of emissions. This is a major global warming problem. Clothes do not biodegrade while in a landfill.
When struggling to make decluttering decisions, the 20/20 rule says you should consider letting go of an item if: You can replace it for less than $20. And you can replace it in less than 20 minutes.
When applied to our homes, the 80/20 rule suggests that we roughly use 20% of what we own around 80% of the time. The remaining amount serves little purpose, taking up space and mostly just gathering dust. Think about it - how many of the utensils in your kitchen crock do you use daily? Probably very few!