Time for a Closet Purge

Posted April 21, 2014 by Prairie Wife - 5 comments

I love nothing more than a good spring cleaning, or as I like to call it a purge. While I am by no means a clean freak I do like myhouse to be organized, and somewhat uncluttered. One of these days I will put up a post about my incredibly functional and perhaps a little anally (this word looks very funny typed out) organized playroom. Some of this is the ex-teacher in me and some is because of my mother. No offense (I know she will be reading this) but she is a little bit of a hoarder, and I think my need to purge a few times a year is a direct reaction to this. I know I’m not alone in this because several of my friends admit that their house cleaning (or lack thereof) is the direct opposite of how their mothers kept house. All psychological analysis aside, I have been feeling a major purging itch lately.

This last week I knew it was time for a closet purge! I went through my closet and gave a bag of clothes I no longer wear to a friend of mine and her daughter. But, as you can see from the pictures (it was hard for me to put real “before” pictures up for the world to see) my closet was still a bit of a disaster. In my defense the Cowkids are always going in there and putting on my shoes and using my belts as lassos, but in truth, I haven’t gone through my jeans, shoes, or belts in years. I don’t fold clothes so some of the mess is never going away, and I probably have way too many pairs of boots. Go ahead and judge me, I deserve it! To compound the problem with having had 4 kids in 8 years I have piles of jeans that range from just found out I’m pregnant, totally pregnant, get this thing out of me NOW pregnant, and then back down the line…I just had a baby back off, I might someday be normal again, not looking to bad, and lost it all WAHOO! I keep all my maternity shirts and dresses in storage and switch my regular clothes out when I get to that point (about 5 days after I pee on a stick). Things have really gotten out of control so it’s time for me to buckle down and get to it. Here are some hints for how I purge my closet, and don’t have regrets a week later!

• Give yourself a large block of “uninterrupted” time (naptime, after bedtime or even hire a sitter).
• Start in one spot, with one type of item and work your way around. That way if you have to stop you have a clear starting point for next time.
• Have bags ready for giveaway to friends, donation, and throwaway. It’s easier to get rid of things when you think of how happy they will make someone else (tomorrow is Earth Day so reuse and recycle).
• Put the items in the correct bags or tubs right away so it’s done when you are.
• If you can’t remember the last time you wore it get rid of it (donate or give to a friend)!

  

• This is not the time to be sentimental or regretful. I know you wore that shirt on your 30^th birthday but if you haven’t worn it since, be like Elsa from Frozen and “Let it Go!” I know you spent a ton of money on that sweater and those cute shoes that tore up your feet. Lesson learned, be more cautious next time or return them within the 30 day window. Having them sitting in your closet making you feel guilty isn’t doing anyone any good.
• Try things on and be honest with yourself. Do those pants make your butt look flat? If you don’t feel you look your best in them, why keep them? Are you really going to fit in them “someday”? It’s not admitting defeat to get rid of them, and if you do loose the weight you’ll want (and deserve) a new wardrobe! But, keep them if you feel like you will be wearing them in the near future.
• Admit your weakness and work with them. I will never fold clothes neatly so I need to just make sure I have enough room to put them away the way I do it. My boots always end up thrown in a pile, no sense in stuffing them with paper or cardboard tubes it’ll just make the mess worse (yes this is from personal experience).
• Don’t spend a ton of money on new fangled ideas (Pinterest is a blessing and a curse) and organizers if you know in your heart you won’t really use them.
• Once you have your closet purged follow these two rules to keep things cleaner and organized longer…
  • If you buy something new get rid of something old.
  • Keep an empty Rubbermaid container in your closet for giveaways. Simply throw your old clothes in there and take it to Salvation Army when it gets full.

Good luck and let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear some of your ideas, how do you keep your closet organized?

Categories: For the Home, Prairie Wife Style

Tags: , Closet Organization, lists, organization, Purge, Spring Cleaning, The Prairie Homestead