Decluttering Tips – Getting Rid of Shoes, Clothes and Bags

Whether you are the type of person who goes through their wardrobes regularly and gets rid of practically everything, or the type of person who goes through their wardrobes only when they start to overflow, it never hurts to have a few pointers on what to get rid of and what to keep.

When it comes to clothing and the items in your wardrobes, they are often more difficult to get rid of than other things. If it’s your own clothes, you may feel that you will fit back into them soon. If it’s your children’s clothing, it may feel like you are letting go of a part of their childhood, even when the clothes don’t fit at all anymore. Either way, shoes, clothes and handbags tend to be some of the hardest clutter to get rid of.

Start With Kids Clothes.

The best place to start is with children’s clothing. Start by getting rid of the things that are obviously too small. If it doesn’t fit your child anymore, it’s never going to again, and it is best to just give it away if it’s in good condition, or throw it away if it’s not. If you do have more children that it may fit, you can hand it down to them, provided that it’s something they would like.

If you have two boys, and the older one loves jeans, while the younger one wouldn’t be caught dead in them, handing the clothes down may not work out too well, but handing down school uniforms may work out quite well and save you some money in the long run. The next thing you want to look at are the clothes that may be questionable. Have your children try them on, so that you can tell what fits and what doesn’t. Anything that fits and that your child likes to wear is kept. Anything that does not fit gets handed down, given away or thrown away, depending on the condition. By the time you are done, your child’s wardrobe should be down to just items that they love, and that they can wear.

On To Your Wardrobe.

The next thing to tackle is your own wardrobe. Look at your clothes. Check the condition of your clothes first. Any clothes that are faded, worn thin, or have holes in them should probably be thrown away, with the possible exception of a single outfit to use for major projects where you don’t want to ruin your nice clothes. The next thing you want to look at is fit. Try on your clothes.

Do they fit you properly? Are they too tight or too loose? If they don’t fit you properly, you may want to consider donating them. Even if you think you may lose weight, and fit into those too tight clothes again, keep in mind that if you can lose that weight, you deserve brand new clothes anyway. If they are too loose, they give you an excuse to gain that weight right back. The only exception on clothing that is too loose would be something that you absolutely love and can have taken in. Otherwise, let it go. Make sure that you are only keeping things that you love and will wear, and as long as you do this, it will reduce the clutter.

Lastly Accessories.

Finally, you need to tackle your accessories, including shoes and handbags. As you go through these things, make sure that you check the condition before anything else. Be on the lookout for ripped liners in purses, worn soles on shoes, and scratches and scuffs on shoes. Anything that is worn out does not belong in your house. The next thing you want to look at is comfort and fit. Even for adults, your feet will occasionally change shape or even size, and you may occasionally need to get rid of shoes that just don’t fit right anymore. Once you have made sure that all your shoes are wearable, then it is time to figure out what they go with. Make sure that each pair of shoes and each handbag in your wardrobe actually goes with your clothing. There is no point in keeping shoes and handbags that you have nothing to go with.

By the time you are done, you should have a wardrobe full of clothing for both you and your children that fits properly, looks good, and is not so overwhelming.

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