FashBlog.com

By Jennifer Lynn

We have all been faced with that dreaded and tedious task. I'm talking about the task that makes us cringe. It is that one chore that seems to be never-ending and if you are anything like me, you do it and it seems like it is no time before it is time to do it again. Talk about a thankless job. That is right ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about cleaning out your closet. Whether it is the masses of clothes that you have stacked up in your bedroom closet or the messy pantry, we all will have to encounter closing cleaning at some point in our lives. Very few people give their closet the proper attention despite the fact that on a daily basis they have some sort of interaction with their closet (more than one if they do what they are supposed to and hang up their clothes and put away their shoes). The messy closet is an all too common epidemic that many individuals suffer from. There is a reason why many sitcoms often sport the typical scene where someone opens the closet door only to be almost buried alive by the junk that was stacked inside. So, when it comes to cleaning out your closet, what can be done to make the process slightly more bearable and how can you ensure that your closet cleaning experience is a positive one? When I say positive experience, I mean you actually get rid of stuff and clear out some space, not just re-learn about what you do have and re-learn what you don't wear all over again. I'm talking true progress; Indeed, I'm talking about the Closet Cleaning Pointers.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #1- Have a Trash Bag Ready to Receive the Rejects- As you go through your closet, it is real easy to create a pile on your bedroom floor and contribute to it as you make your way through cleaning out your closet. The purpose of this strategy is to create a pile and then once you have finished weeding through everything, you will bag it up and toss it. While this strategy may seem like a good option, having that extra step of re-bagging your items could cause you to experience a huge closet-cleaning detour. As you weed through your clothes and throw them in the pile, you have chosen to toss them; however, if you are faced with going through your clothes yet once again in order to put them in a bag, you will likely experience a change of heart or perhaps question your initial decision. In other words, you may relent and decide to keep the pair of pants that you were intending on throwing out. Sounds like back tracking, right? Instead, have a trash bag ready to receive the clothes that you will be discarding. Once that bag is filled to the rim, close the bag and either toss it to the side or if you are really on a roll, walk it outside and put it in a trashcan. While this may seem fairly insignificant, if you are trying to get rid of something the best policy is out of sight out of mind. Once it enters that garbage bag, it is gone and therefore, out of sight and out of mind.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #2- When In Doubt, Follow the Three-Step Rule (Set aside, physically try, and decide)- As you are searching through your clothes, if you come across an item that you are undecided on, set it to the side for re-evaluation later. When I say later, I mean once you have finished scanning all your clothes for the keepers and the tosses. There is no point in stopping to critically analyze an item and decide whether or not to keep it. By doing that, you bring your closet cleaning excursion to a serious halt and in most cases, it is a lot harder to get back on track once your stop. Step two of the three-step rule is to physically try that article of clothing on. This emphasizes an extra effort on your part that will aid in the decision of whether or not to keep something. If you visually just see an item, it is hard to evaluate its worth to you. If you actually try the item on, you are either reminded of how great it looks on you or you realize that there is no doubt in your mind that you need to get rid of it because clearly it is too tight, too big, or just does not fit right. Lastly, decide whether or not you are going to keep the item. If you decide to keep it, put it right back in your closet immediately and if you decide to toss it, make sure it goes straight into the garbage bag.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #3- Make an Attempt to Sever Emotional Ties to Your Clothing- Some people may not want to fess up to it but many people keep items of clothing due to the fact that the item has sentimental value. For example, you may keep that sweater because it was the sweater you wore on your first day with your boyfriend and it reminds you of him. You do not wear it but it holds a memory of your first date. While this may seem slightly extreme, sometimes it is harder to get rid of an item if there is an emotional attachment. However, if the item is just collecting dust you should not just keep it in your closet just for the sake of keeping it. Another example is the absolutely hideous fuchsia bridesmaid dress that you wore at your best friend's wedding. Surely you will not be wearing that dress anywhere or anytime soon for that matter. If you still cannot bear to part with the chosen item, make a point to store it in a box and put it in either your attic, basement, or any other location that you may use for storage. Just make sure to keep it away from your closet!

Closet Cleaning Pointer #4- Utilize the Buddy System- While this may take a dedicated friend to be willing to help your clean your closet, if the opportunity is there, utilize it. It is without a doubt that in some cases, two minds are better than one. Besides, you will have a buddy there to laugh with you about your past fashion mistakes. We have all made them. Cleaning out your closet is clearly a case in point for that. If someone is there to help you, with that also comes a second opinion and even better, an opinion that is objective and not subjective. In other words, all emotional ties will be non-existent (unless it is the best friend who gave your that hideous fuchsia dress) and you will get an unbiased opinion. As a little bit of a treat to your friend, treat him or her to either a homeade lunch or dine out once your closet cleaning mission is accomplished.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #5- Shoes, Shoes, Shoes- Shoes are probably the hardest thing to get rid of. I mean, some shoes you buy for special occasions but surely eventually you may need them again, right? When it comes to deciding which shoes are keepers and which are tossers, take into account the overall condition of the shoe. For example, is the pair of shoes in good condition or does the pair of shoes have scuffs or other imperfections that make them look like they have definitely been "used". After you have figured out the condition of the pair of shoes, ask yourself can I see myself wearing this again? If so, where? If you can visualize yourself wearing the pair of shoes on more than one occasion, then by all means keep the shoes because clearly they will be getting some use. If you can only think of one other time that you can wear them again then you will probably be on the fence as far as what to do with them. That is when you will want to utilize the three-step rule. After trying the shoes on, make a final decision to either toss 'em or keep 'em.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #6- How to Handle Trendy Apparel- With the change of the seasons, the trends roll on in and as the season closes, the trends roll on out. When it comes to deciding whether or not to keep trendy apparel, there are several things to consider. First off, while most trends have a set lifespan, you can usually continue to wear an item through the next season and possibly through the following season without it being absolutely detrimental to your image. If an item is more than two seasons old, then it is more than likely time to say your goodbyes. While most trends tend to resurface, it usually takes quite a bit of time. For example, look at bell-bottom pants. They were at their high point in the Seventies, but recently resurfaced in the Nineties. Now, here we are in 2006 and while you may see a few people here and there wearing them, their lifespan has once again expired.

Closet Cleaning Pointer #7 Stains and Snags Oh My- Most people know when to give their clothes a boot and if there are stains and snags, then that just confirms that the time to get rid of the item has arrived. However, there are a few individuals who have a hard time getting rid of their favorite items despite the fact that they are clearly no longer presentable due to the fact that they are garnished with stains and in some cases, snags. As a general rule, if a clothing item is permanently damaged and you have had no success fixing it, then it is time to give that clothing item the boot. Not only does wearing stained clothing look tacky but it also gives off the impression that you do not clean your clothes and other people will have no choice left but to question your own personal cleanliness.

Hopefully, these simple little pointers will help you to achieve success when attempting to clear out that mess of a closet. While cleaning out your closet may not be the most thrilling thing to do, it has its advantages. First off, by getting rid of clutter, you will have a more organized closet, and along with that, comes a more organized state of mind. When your surroundings have order, it is easier for your mind to be in order. On the contrary, disorganization and clutter also contribute to mental clutter and disorganization. Secondly, if you get rid of some old duds then you make some room for some new ones. Have fun closet cleaning and have even more fun refilling it with new clothes!