Having a wardrobe clear-out? Read these three golden rules first
Photo by Annie Spratt
The start of a new season often urges me to clear out my wardrobe and declutter. It’s good timing, since I’m excited to wear items I haven’t used in a while, and I can consider what I did (or didn’t) wear in the previous few months.
On average in the UK, we own 118 pieces of clothing. Two in five of us buy new items every month, yet a quarter of the clothing in our wardrobes isn’t used. While my shopping habits are relatively mindful, any purchases soon accumulate, so I find it’s good to sort through items periodically.
Clearing out our wardrobes can be wasteful, but here are a few tried and tested tips for decluttering responsibly.
1. Don’t be too hasty
Rather than immediately ridding my wardrobe of unworn clothes, I like to give items a second chance. As we know, the most sustainable item of clothing is the one we already own.
I work out what items I haven’t worn in the past 1–2 years and distinguish these in some way – by moving the clothes to the end of the wardrobe, swapping the clothes hanger so the hook faces the opposite way, or tying some old ribbon to the hanger.
When I next choose an outfit, the markers encourage me to use those neglected items. If I wear a piece, I put it back with my other clothes or remove the marker. At the end of the season, I can easily see the items I haven’t worn, and know it might be time to say goodbye.
2. Give old clothes new life
Is anyone else guilty of ignoring certain pieces that need mending or altering? At that point, I know it’s time to get out the sewing kit or take the items to an alterations specialist. Sometimes clothing brands offer repairs too.
If I have items in good condition that I no longer want to keep, I pass them on to friends or family, donate them to a charity shop, or sell them online on sites like Depop or Thrift+.
For anything really past its best, I consider if there’s a way to reuse it. I have a couple of t-shirts I’ve downgraded to sleepwear, and you can cut up items to use as cleaning cloths around the house. As a last resort, you can recycle your unwanted clothes. Just don’t bin them!
3. Learn from mistakes
Every wardrobe clear-out is a good opportunity to assess past purchases. I like to see if there are common themes. Are there certain fabrics, colours, or styles of clothing that I’ve bought but didn’t end up wearing? I then keep that in mind when I next consider purchasing something.
Above all, though, we’ve got to move away from the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ mentality when it comes to clothes. We shouldn’t declutter our wardrobes only to make way for new pieces. To make sure I only buy items I really want, I use the ‘cooling off’ trick, where I leave it for at least a week (usually a month) and see if I still want to buy it.
How often do you clear out your wardrobe? Any advice you would add? Please share your tips below!
