Is your closet in need of a clean-up but you don’t know where to start? We have a simple solution for you! Set aside a few minutes and get your closet on the track to clean in no time! 

Rather than spending hours pulling out every single item from the closet, consider this experiment as a long-term solution to your closet woes. 

STEP 1: Turn all of your hangers around to face the opposite direction of what you normally do. For most people, this means that the hook on the top now faces you instead of away from you. 

STEP 2: As you wear clothes, return them to the closet after washing with the hangers facing the “right” way. *Note: this means that you will have a mixture of the way clothes are hanging in the closet. 

STEP 3: At the end of the season, set aside 30-60 minutes to go through and remove all the seasonal clothing that you never wore. This visual trick will make it easy to see what hasn’t been touched all season. 

STEP 4: Sort unworn clothing into three piles: Sell It, Donate It and Toss It. Discard clothing according to the method you selected for the next step. 

PRO TIP: If you have special event clothing such as formal wear or costumes, you can separate that from regular clothes and extend the time frame to 1-2 years, depending on occasion. 

This trick can also be applied to folded clothing by facing clothes in the opposite direction. As they are returned to the drawer, replace them the “right” way. Shoes may be placed in the closet facing the opposite direction and returned after wear to the standard position. 

What to Do With Unwanted Clothes, Shoes and Other Items: 

SELL IT 

If the item is in good shape (and you have the time and patience), you can sell used items and recover some of your investment. Be realistic – just because you paid $50 for a new item doesn’t mean someone else is willing to pay the same price for it in used condition. 

Options: Online at Poshmark, eBay, Facebook Marketplace. Locally at Plato’s Closet, Sandy’s Consignment. 

DONATE IT 

If an item is still in usable condition and you don’t have the time or energy to sell it (or you have a ton of stuff you want to unload at once), consider donation. Whether to a friend or agency, there are many others in need who would love that old 80’s hair band t-shirt! If you donate to a charitable organization, be sure to get a tax form for your deduction. 

Options: Online at Buy Nothing Gainesville Facebook groups. Locally at Salvation Army, Haven Hospice Attic, Goodwill, St. Francis House, local churches. 

TOSS IT 

If an item is in need of repair (and you’re not interested in fixing it) or is generally not in reusable condition, throw it in the trash or recycle if available. 

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