How to Stop Hoarding Clothes and Organize Your Wardrobe
How to Stop Hoarding Clothes?
To stop hoarding clothes, follow these steps:
1.
Take everything out of your wardrobe and clean and organize it.
2.
Sort through your clothes and create separate piles for items to throw away, donate, and recycle.
3.
Try on clothes and only keep those that make you feel fantastic, are in good condition, and can be worn with other items.
4.
Group clothes by category, color, or season to make it easier to find what you need.
5.
Use drawer dividers or small boxes to organize underwear.
6.
Research online platforms like Pinterest for inspiration on organizing and storing clothes.
7.
Deal with unwanted clothes immediately by putting them in bin bags and taking them for recycling, to a charity shop, or giving them to a friend.
8.
Avoid impulse buying and shop for new items with intention and within your budget.
9.
Keep a box for unsure items and set reminders to reevaluate if you still want to keep them.
10.
Wear rarely used items for a day to ensure they are comfortable and well-fitting.
11.
Declutter one category of clothes each day if time is limited.
12.
Consider the worth of “just in case” items and whether they’re worth the space they take up.
13.
Get rid of clothes that no longer fit to avoid feeling demoralized.
14.
Donate or sell expensive items instead of feeling guilty or wasteful.
15.
A clean, decluttered wardrobe will make it easier and quicker to get dressed in the morning.
Key Points:
- Take everything out of your wardrobe and clean and organize it.
- Sort through clothes and create separate piles for throwing away, donating, and recycling.
- Keep only clothes that make you feel fantastic, are in good condition, and can be worn with other items.
- Group clothes by category, color, or season for easier access.
- Use drawer dividers or small boxes to organize underwear.
- Research online platforms like Pinterest for organizing and storing clothes inspiration.
Did You Know?
1. In the United States, an estimated 5% of the population suffers from hoarding disorder, a condition characterized by excessive accumulation and difficulty discarding possessions.
2. Did you know that the average person only wears 20% of their wardrobe regularly? That means 80% of the clothes we hoard end up going unused.
3. The average hanger in a closet holds four garments, but studies have shown that most people have an average of 30 hangers filled with clothes they never wear.
4. One interesting surgical procedure that can help stop hoarding clothes is called “capsular contracture.” It involves injecting a small amount of liquid silicone into the closet, creating a hardened shell that prevents excessive accumulation.
5. Hoarding clothes can have an environmental impact as well. The fashion industry is one of the world’s major polluters, with excessive clothing production leading to significant carbon emissions, water pollution, and waste generation. By decluttering our closets, we can help reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Benefits Of Simplifying Your Wardrobe
Simplifying your wardrobe has a profound impact on your daily life. By reducing the number of clothes you own, you can actually reduce stress and make getting dressed a much simpler and more enjoyable task. In addition, a simplified wardrobe allows you to easily create a put-together look, as you have fewer options to choose from, making it easier to mix and match outfits. Not only does this save you time in the morning, but it also helps you develop a personal style that reflects who you are.
Steps For Decluttering Clothes
Decluttering your clothes may seem overwhelming, but breaking the process into manageable steps can make it much easier. Here are ten effective steps to help you declutter your wardrobe:
1. Take everything out of your wardrobe: Remove all your clothes from your wardrobe and spread them out on your bed or a large surface. This enables you to have a clear view of your entire collection and simplifies the sorting process.
2. Clean and organize your wardrobe: Before you begin sorting through your clothes, take the opportunity to clean and organize your wardrobe. Wipe down shelves, vacuum the floor, and ensure everything is in order.
3. Sort through each item: Go through each item one by one and determine whether you want to keep it or not. Be honest with yourself and let go of anything that doesn’t fit, is damaged beyond repair, or no longer matches your style.
4. Create separate piles: While sorting through your clothes, create separate piles for items you want to throw away, donate, or recycle. This way, you can easily identify what you no longer need and take the appropriate action later.
5. Consider the last time you wore it: Think about the last time you wore each item. If it has been more than a year and it’s still in good condition, it’s time to let go and give it a new home.
6. Evaluate sentimental value: Some clothes have sentimental value, but if they are taking up space and never being worn, consider whether keeping a photograph or other memento would be a better option.
7. Think about future occasions: If you are holding onto clothes for future events or special occasions that rarely happen, it might be better to free up space and buy something new when the time comes.
8. Maximize your space: Use space-saving storage solutions like dividers, organizers, and hangers to make the most of your wardrobe space. This will help keep your clothes tidy and easily accessible.
9. Streamline your color palette: Simplify your wardrobe by focusing on a color palette that suits you and allows for easy mixing and matching. This will make it easier to create outfits and reduce the number of clothes you need.
10. Review periodically: Set a reminder to review your wardrobe periodically, perhaps every six months. This will prevent clutter from building up again and allow you to maintain a well-organized wardrobe.
- Keep only items that bring you joy or serve a purpose.
- Consider capsule wardrobe concepts to minimize the number of clothes you own.
- Avoid buying items on impulse, and instead, carefully evaluate whether you truly need them.
- Blockquote: “A clutter-free wardrobe leads to a clutter-free mind.”
Sorting And Determining What To Keep
Sorting your clothes into categories and trying them on can greatly help you determine what to keep. By grouping similar items together, such as tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear, you can easily see how much you have of each category. Try on each item to gauge how it fits and if it still flatters you. Ask yourself if it makes you feel fantastic when you wear it and if it is versatile enough to be paired with other items in your wardrobe. If the answer is yes, then it’s a keeper. If not, it’s time to let it go.
- Group similar items together: tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear
- Try on each item to assess fit and flattery
- Consider if it makes you feel fantastic and is versatile enough to be paired with other items
- If it meets the criteria, keep it. Otherwise, let it go.
Keeping Clothes That Make You Feel Fantastic
One of the most important principles in decluttering your wardrobe is to keep only the clothes that make you feel fantastic. By surrounding yourself with clothes that boost your self-confidence and bring you joy, you’ll naturally find it easier to put outfits together and feel great throughout the day. Be sure to also consider the condition of the clothes – it’s best to keep items that are in good condition and will last for a long time. Quality over quantity is key here. With a curated collection of clothes that make you feel fantastic, you’ll always have an outfit that makes you look and feel your best.
Organizing Clothes For Easier Access
Once you have decluttered and determined what to keep, it’s important to organize your clothes in a way that makes them easily accessible. Here are some tips:
- Group clothes by category, color, or season: By grouping similar items together, you can easily find what you need and maintain a neater wardrobe.
- Utilize drawer dividers or small boxes: These can help you organize underwear and accessories and make it easier to locate specific items when needed.
- Take advantage of online platforms like Pinterest: Use these platforms for inspiration on organizing and storing clothes, shoes, and accessories. You can find countless ideas and tips to help you maximize your storage space and create an organized wardrobe that suits your needs.
Remember, the key is to find an organization system that works for you and makes it easy to locate and maintain your clothing items.
Avoiding Impulse Buying And Intentional Shopping
One of the main reasons why we end up hoarding clothes is because of impulse buying. To stop this habit, it’s important to shop with intention and stick to a budget. Before making a purchase, consider whether the item is really necessary and if it aligns with your current wardrobe and personal style. Avoid buying items on a whim or because they’re on sale. Instead, take the time to think about how the item will fit into your existing collection and whether it will truly add value to your wardrobe. By shopping intentionally, you’ll not only save money but also prevent unnecessary clutter from accumulating.
Decluttering and organizing your wardrobe is a transformative process that offers numerous benefits. By simplifying your wardrobe, you can reduce stress, make getting dressed easier, and create a put-together look. Follow the ten steps for decluttering clothes, sort and determine what to keep based on what makes you feel fantastic, and organize your clothes for easier access. Avoid impulse buying and shop intentionally to prevent hoarding in the future. With a clean, decluttered wardrobe, you’ll be able to start each day with ease and confidence, knowing that you have a curated collection of clothes that reflect your personal style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes clothes hoarding?
Clothes hoarding can be triggered by various underlying factors, often stemming from a person’s inability to cope with significant life events. When individuals undergo distressing experiences like the loss of a loved one, divorce, or the devastation of losing belongings in a fire, they may inadvertently seek solace in accumulating clothes. The act of hoarding clothes serves as a coping mechanism, providing a sense of comfort and security during tumultuous times. As these individuals struggle to process their emotions and regain control, they gravitate towards accumulating clothing items as a tangible way to fill the void left by the traumatic event.
Additionally, for some, clothes hoarding can be a result of attachment and sentimentality. Clothing items might hold deep emotional attachments, serving as reminders of happier times or cherished memories. This sentimental value can lead individuals to hold onto excessive amounts of clothing, fearing that letting go of these items means letting go of the associated memories. As such, clothes become a physical representation of their past, providing a sense of nostalgia and security. Ultimately, clothes hoarding offers a sense of comfort and emotional stability amidst overwhelming life circumstances, allowing individuals to maintain a connection to their past and regain a semblance of control.
Is clothes hoarding a thing?
Yes, clothes hoarding is indeed a real phenomenon that can have a suffocating grip on individuals. Laura Horton’s experience serves as a vivid example of how compulsive buying behavior can lead to filling every available storage space with designer clothes. The accumulation of these possessions can become overwhelming, hindering a person’s ability to live a clutter-free and balanced life. Recognizing the suffocating nature of this hoarding habit, Laura is now determined to change her ways and reclaim control over her life.
How do I declutter clothes?
To declutter your clothes, start by emptying out your entire wardrobe. Next, take the time to thoroughly clean your wardrobe, drawers, and shelves. As you begin sorting through your clothes, create three separate piles for items you no longer need or want. Once you have your unwanted items separated, sort the remaining clothes into different categories. Select one category at a time and try on each item to assess whether it should be kept or discarded. This process will help you declutter and organize your clothing more effectively. Remember to be honest with yourself about what you truly need and love, and let go of items that no longer serve you.
Can hoarding be cured?
While hoarding disorder can be a challenging condition to treat, it is possible for individuals to recover from it. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) serves as the primary form of treatment, aiding individuals in exploring the underlying reasons for their difficulty in discarding items and the accumulation of clutter. Through therapy, individuals gain insight into their hoarding patterns and develop strategies to overcome the disorder. With the right support and guidance, hoarding can be cured, allowing individuals to lead clutter-free lives.