I love doing a good closet cleanout. Even when I was a teenager, I would regularly go through my closet and choose items to declutter and pass down to my mom’s friend’s daughters. (Side note: did anyone else have this kind of clothing exchange setup as a kid? I distinctly remember being so excited whenever I’d get ahold of a bag of old clothes from an older girl!)

That feeling I get whenever I’ve purged everything that doesn’t fit me or feel like me is a special kind of high that gives me a fresh optimism toward what’s in my closet. So when I found myself in a wardrobe rut, I knew the first step was a good closet cleanout.

So, let’s talk about how to clean out your closet. Everything in this post is what I plan to do this very weekend as I clean out my closet and let go of what’s not working.

How to clean out your closet

With a bottle of wine handy (ha ha.) Actually, I don’t drink while I’m doing a closet cleanout, because I will quickly lose motivation and end up stopping halfway through. However, I am very pro having a glass of wine at the end as a little celebration (hey, closet cleanouts are a lot of work!)

I actually think about the closet cleanout process in two phases: prep work and the actual closet cleanout (because there’s a little prep work involved.)

Closet cleanout prep work

First things first, all the laundry needs to be done. You cannot properly do a whole-closet cleanout if your whole wardobe isn’t there. Makes sense, right?

Also, if some items are terribly wrinkled, give them a quick pass with the steamer. This doesn’t have to be perfect, but I find that if an item is looking its worst, I am WAY more likely to throw it on the donate pile (whether or not I actually like it.)

8 rules for a successful closet cleanout

Before you start going through what’s in your closet, set some ground rules about the process. Here are the 8 rules I live by whenever I do a closet cleanout.

1. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t belong in your closet

Donate it, sell it, put it away in a bin to try after you’ve lost some weight (if it’s too small and you want to lose weight), or put it aside to get altered (if it’s too big.)

2. If you haven’t worn it in over a year, get rid of it

Or, if it’s sentimental, store it.

3. Get rid of duplicates

What’s a duplicate? You decide. For some people, more than one black sweater is a “duplicate.” Other people (like me) feel that a crew neck, v-neck, and cardigan version of the black sweater have their own, unique wardrobe functions to fulfill. Here’s a good way to measure: if it’s the same color and category, does it change or copy/paste the overall vibe of an outfit when you wear one vs. the other? If the answer is yes, there’s a good chance have a duplicate on your hands.

4. If you’re only keeping it because you’re worried you’ll need it, toss it

The suit from before you became a SAHM? Donate it. The dress you wore to prom? Store it. The button-up shirt you never reach for but you’re afraid you’ll need it? Let it go, friend. These items are only taking up valuable space that belongs to the clothes you actually wear.

5. If the only problem is it needs an update, keep it

I know, I know, it probably feels like you should get rid of outdated items posthaste. However, these items do work for you and you are wearing them, so they’re still important. Sure, maybe your favorite black dress is looking a little worn or you want a fresher cut of medium-wash jeans. For now, keep it and make a note of the needed update. Looking for suitable replacements is going to cost you time and money, which is exactly why you shouldn’t toss and replace all of these items at once. Styling and studying them is going to help you make a more informed purchases, in an order that makes sense. Plus, holding off on going shopping for a little while is going to help you save more money and time to find the best-quality replacement.

6. Don’t wait for something to spark joy

I love Marie Kondo as much as anyone, but if you’re waiting for a plain white t-shirt to spark joy, you’re going to be waiting a long time, friend. Sure, there will be items that spark joy for you, but for most of us, the backbone items in a wardrobe don’t inspire that kind of reaction. Even if it’s something I love and enjoy, a single basic on its own doesn’t necessarily spark joy for me—that only comes when I’ve styled it in the right outfit.

7. Realize emotions play a huge part

Whenever you start handling and evaluating the items in your closet, emotions almost always come up. Here are a few of the most common ones for me:

• Shame. Why doesn’t this fit my body? Why didn’t I return this on time? Why am I not brave enough to wear this?
• Nostalgia. I wore this when we signed the contract on our house.
• Guilt. Someone bought this for me as a gift. I paid good money for this.
• Fear. What if I get rid of this and then I need it?

It almost makes you want to close the closet and just deal with it later! But if you don’t deal with the emotions, it’s harder to let things go and build a wardrobe you actually like. And here’s what I want you to know: these thoughts are normal, and they can be both true and completely okay.

It’s okay if you (or someone else) spent money on something and you get rid of it if you’re not using it. You can store special items outside of your closet (or even get rid of them) and still keep the good memories you made while wearing them. It’s neutral if something doesn’t fit your body; fit and sizing is just useful information about getting dressed. If something doesn’t fit, hasn’t been worn in a year, or is a duplicate, you probably won’t need it. And if you do? That’s okay. That’s what stores (or storage bins) are for.

8. Stop buying new clothes

Do not add anything. We are on a no-buy, as of yesterday. Whether you already have a well-defined personal style or you’re in the process of finding it, the closet cleanout is NOT the time to buy new clothes. I suggest a no-buy period of at least one month during and after a closet cleanout.

Closet cleanouts are a weirdly vulnerable time, because you are forced to address the clothing style and inventory you’re working with (and, let’s face it, if you’ve committed to a closet cleanout, you are probably feeling unsatisfied with your wardrobe on some level.) You are trying things on and evaluating your body and your feelings and the passage of time and there are so many feelings involved in this.

It is SO tempting to just order everything that seems to be missing form your closet as soon as you clean it out to make things “better.” I am telling you from experience: this will not make things better! It will almost certainly end with another closet cleanout six months down the road where you’re asking yourself why you spent all this money on clothes you didn’t really like. Give yourself—and your new closet—some room to breathe before adding anything else back in.

My step-by-step closet cleanout

When the prep work is done and I’ve thought through my rules, it’s time to move on to the actual closet cleanout.

Get dressed (but not too dressed!) before doing your closet cleanout

First, I get dressed in something comfortable (I’m partial to Gap’s sweats), wash my face, and pull my hair back. I feel like getting out of my PJs gets me in a better frame of mind that I’m taking this process seriously. That being said, I don’t worry too much about hair and makeup, because then it’s more difficult to try on clothes if I’m worried about getting makeup on something or messing up my hair. The goal is pulled together but not totally “done.”

Settle in for the long haul

Bring a bottle of water, put on your favorite background show, cue up your favorite podcast or playlist—we’re gong to be here for a while!

Take all of your clothes out of the closet

…And the drawers, storage containers, and shelves. Yes, everything. Wherever the clothes in your wardrobe live, get them out. I also include accessories like scarves, belts, and shoes. Throw them on your bed. You have to sleep in that bed later, so you’ll have extra motivation to get the job done.

While your closet is empty, clean it

Be honest, when was the last time you had access to your closet baseboards? Move in day? Yikes! Take advantage of the empty space to dust the shelves, wipe down surfaces, and run the vacuum.

Sort your clothes

The goal here is to handle every item and decide what you’re going to do with it. Pick something up, hold it at arm’s length so you can get a good look at it, and decide what you’ll do with it. I like to sort my clothes into 7 categories:

• Love it: Self explanatory.
• Maybe: I think I want this…but I don’t know what to do with it.
• Repair: Missing buttons, has stains, needs alterations, etc.
• Relocate: I want to keep this…but it’s out of season, sentimental, or it doesn’t fit right now.
• Sell: I don’t want this, but it’s probably worth some money used. (Designer brands, popular brands like Sezane or Madewell, and natural/premium fabrics like cashmere are good examples.)
• Donate: It’s still in good condition, but it’s probably not worth my time to resell (T-shirts, sweatpants, and affordable brands like Old Navy are good examples.)
• Trash: I don’t want this and it’s stained, beyond repair, or worn out (underwear and socks are good examples.)

Maybe you don’t need all 7 categories—or maybe you’d like to add a few of your own. It’s up to you! At a minimum, you’ll need two: “keep it” and “this has to go.”

If you’re not sure about it, try it on

Remember that “maybe” pile? It’s time to try on those items and make a decision. As yourself the following questions:

• Do I like the fit?
• How do I imagine styling it with the items that were in my “love” pile?
• What made me feel unsure about keeping it?
• What was my vision for this item when I bought it?
• How have you styled it that felt really good (and does that still feel good?)

Make a decision about the item and sort it into the appropriate pile. Still can’t decide? Then place it in the relocate pile to store and see if you find yourself reaching for it in the next few months.

Deal with anything that isn’t going back to your closet

• Throw out the trash.
• Box up donations, label them, and put them in your car. Take a few moments to make a donation plan—find a donation center on Google maps and pencil a donation drop off into your calendar.
• Set your resale items aside for photographing and listing (pencil that into your calendar, too.)
• Put “repair” items in a tote and pencil in a trip to the cleaners/tailor (or put them in your own laundry/sewing area if you plan to do the repair yourself.)
• Pack “relocate” items away in appropriate bins or storage bags. I personally keep a rubbermaid bin of sentimental clothes and pack away out-of-season items and clothes that don’t fit in a couple of Ikea garment bins underneath the bed.

Put everything you’re keeping away

Now is your big chance to set up an organizational system that works well for you. I organize my clothes by item type (sweaters/tops/denim/pants/skirts/dresses/outerwear). I further organize tops by sleeve length and arrange each item type in ROYGBIV order (with white and black as the bookends.)

If you have the energy at this point, I highly recommend ironing or steaming everything so your closet is truly grab-and-go.

Bonus: make some outfits

This is when you can grab that glass of wine and have some fun! Now that you know what you’re working with, play with your closet a little bit. No need to try everything on; just start pairing things together and see what you come up with.

Can you add something to your go-to outfits to take things to the next level? Can you pair some items together that you hadn’t thought about before? What about those “maybe” items that made the cut—can you incorporate them into some outfits? Lay everything out on your bed and take a picture so you have an easy reference when you’re getting dressed.

Make notes as you go

Throughout the closet cleanout process, I inevitably start finding holes in my wardrobe. Oh, this would be so cute with wide-leg pants and I don’t have any of those. This jacket is okay, but what I really want is the barn jacket I saw on Instagram last week. Oof, I have leaned so hard into mom life that I don’t have any “going out” outfits to wear.

Do not shop! Remember: you’re on a no-buy. Just make a note, carry on with your scheduled no-buy, and come back to the list later.

That’s my closet cleanout process!

I usually do a major closet cleanout during the shift from cold to warm weather and again when summer turns to fall—or anytime I’m feeling like I’m in a wardrobe rut—with a smaller edit to transition from spring to summer and fall to winter. How about you?

If you enjoy my blog and reading about skincare, style, and mom life, I also write about all of these things on my Substack, Aesthetically Inclined. I’d love it if you’d subscribe!