Getting rid of clothes you no longer wear or want can be a daunting task. Your wardrobe likely contains pieces you’ve held onto for sentimental reasons or with the hope that they’ll come back in style. However, keeping clothes that don’t fit or serve a purpose takes up precious space. Implementing a regular clothes purge is an effective way to clear out your closet and donate or recycle what you don’t absolutely love. Here are useful tips on how to get rid of clothes in the most sustainable and practical ways.
Evaluate Your Current Wardrobe
The first step in any closet cleanout is taking stock of what you actually wear. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself about which items consistently stay in your closet versus making it into your regular rotation. Some strategies for assessing your wardrobe include:
- Go through your closet and try everything on. Check the fit and if you still like the style. Be prepared to let go of pieces that are unflattering or dated.
- Analyze how recently you’ve worn each garment. Clothes that have stayed untouched for over a year realistically won’t make a comeback.
- Sort clothes by category like workwear, formalwear, basics. Identify weak areas that could use new additions.
- Look for duplicates or very similar pieces. Keep the best version and donate the others.
- Consider the cost per wear. Expensive purchases that rarely get used are good candidates for finding a new home.
Taking notes on what you don’t wear will make the purging process much easier and help avoid future clutter.
Establish Your Ideal Wardrobe Size
Before getting rid of anything, determine your ideal wardrobe size for your lifestyle and needs. Here are some tips on rightsizing your closet:
- Aim to only keep enough to fill 50-75% of your storage space. Too much room allows clutter to pile up again.
- Have enough basics and favorite styles to get through 1-2 weeks between laundry loads. Don’t overdo it on redundant pieces.
- Include seasonal essentials but not every trendy piece. Store off-season clothes separately.
- Have 2-3 go-to outfits per occasion like work, date night, exercise. Don’t keep situational pieces you rarely use.
- Only keep as many shoes as you have space to store. Multipurpose pairs get more wear than statement styles.
- Evaluate how often you do laundry and what your storage allows for. City dwellers likely need a more minimalist wardrobe.
Once you define your ideal wardrobe size, it will be easier to weed down to just your very favorite pieces.
Decide What to Get Rid Of
With your wardrobe evaluation and ideal size in mind, you can make informed decisions about what items to remove from your closet. Consider purging the following:
Clothes That Don’t Fit
- Anything too small, too big, or uncomfortable. Don’t hold onto sizes for your “someday” body.
- Pieces that can’t be altered to fit properly. If it would require major adjustments or doesn’t look right, let it go.
- Tight clothes, even if they technically fit. Clingy or restrictive clothes you constantly tug at are not useful.
Outdated and Unflattering Styles
- Trendy pieces from past decades that are no longer your aesthetic.
- Anything that makes you feel frumpy or doesn’t align with your current style.
- Items you were never really excited about but bought out of necessity.
- Pieces in unwearable colors or prints for your lifestyle.
- Shapeless, baggy, or unstructured garments that hang poorly on your frame.
Worn and Damaged Clothing
- Items with holes, stains, broken zippers etc. that cannot reasonably be fixed.
- Pilling fabrics that didn’t hold up over time.
- Faded prints or embellishments.
- Bras with warped cups or straps that dig in. Get re-fitted for new ones.
Unused Occasional Wear
- Fancy dresses or heavy coats worn once a year. Rent or borrow for occasions.
- Costumes, vintage, and novelty pieces you bought for theme parties.
- Impractical gifts or hand-me-downs you feel obligated to keep.
- Athletic apparel and equipment for sports you no longer play.
Duplicates and Excess Basics
- Identify your daily staples in go-to colors. Keep 2-3 of each style.
- Spread out wears between multiples to determine if all are necessary.
- Rotate in new versions and donate old, shabby ones.
Sentimental Clothing
- Decide if you’re holding onto clothes for nostalgia or function. Avoid using closet space for pure memorabilia.
- Take photos of yourself in meaningful pieces you still own before donating.
- Repurpose small swatches into memory quilts or pillows if parting with the whole item feels too difficult.
Anything Else Not Sparking Joy
Per Marie Kondo’s advice, keep only pieces that make you feel confident, stylish, and excited to wear. Don’t settle for mediocre or uninspiring items.
Preparing Clothes for Donation
Properly prepping clothes before donating helps ensure they can start a useful second life. Here are tips for making old clothes donation-ready:
- Wash clothes on a sanitizing cycle and mend any small holes and tears. Stains may be dealbreakers for charities.
- Fold neatly and sort by gender, size, and category. This saves time for sorting volunteers.
- Put delicate items in plastic bags to protect from damage. Sort accessories in sealed containers.
- Remove non-fabric parts like shoulder pads, clips, belts, and badly shredded linings.
- Pull tangled clothing apart and zip up zippers to avoid snags and issues at sorting facilities.
- Research local donation guidelines on accepted items. Some won’t take damaged or soiled clothes.
Taking the extra time to properly organize and clean your donations makes a big difference.
Places to Donate Used Clothes
Finding a charity, thrift store, or organization that accepts used clothing donations is easier than you think. Here are some great options to consider when getting rid of old clothes:
National Charities
Large organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity have local drop-off sites nationwide. This makes donating clothes quick and convenient. Their programs help provide clothing to those facing homelessness, poverty, disaster recovery situations, and employment challenges.
Domestic Violence Shelters
Women’s shelters, often discreetly located, are always seeking clothing donations for families starting over. Contact local organizations to find current needed items in all sizes.
Local Thrift Stores
Smaller resale shops, like those run by churches or community groups, put proceeds directly back into their neighborhood programs. The stock constantly rotates, so all donations eventually sell.
Homeless Shelters
Clothing banks designed specifically to serve the homeless population have an ongoing need. Belongings are often lost during life on the streets. Look for shelters with clothing distributions.
Disaster Relief Organizations
National and global groups supporting victims of disasters like floods, hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes need donations of clothing and other essentials. Materials get dispersed as temporary supplies.
Vintage and Resale Stores
Higher end secondhand stores focused on curated vintage are selective but often take quality consignment pieces, paying you a portion of the sale.
With many organizations aimed at helping those in need, your used clothes can make a real difference in someone’s life.
Alternative Ways to Get Rid of Unwanted Clothes
If donating doesn’t seem like the right option, consider these other earth-friendly methods for keeping textiles out of landfills.
Consigning Your Clothes
Take current styles in excellent condition to local consignment boutiques or online retailers like thredUP and Poshmark. You make a bit of money while your clothes get a reset.
Selling to Secondhand Stores
Vintage shops and even some mall brands now buy gently used pieces outright. You won’t make as much as consigning but you immediately clear space.
Trading In Old Clothes
Several brands like Levi’s and Patagonia offer trade-in credits for sending in old clothes as recycling. Use credit towards new items.
Swapping with Friends
Host a clothing swap to trade styles with similar size pals. What doesn’t work for you may be perfect for a friend.
Repurposing at Home
Upcycle old shirts into quilts, tees into cleaning rags, favorite fabrics into memory pillows. Pinterest has endless creative ideas.
Recycle Unusable Fabrics
If clothes are beyond salvaging, textile recycling centers exist nationwide to properly recycle fabrics into insulation, carpet padding, and more.
Though not as direct as donating, these options keep clothes circulating responsibly.
Tips for Maintaining a Clutter-Free Closet
Getting to a perfectly edited wardrobe is one thing but keeping your closet clean long-term takes discipline. Here are useful strategies to prevent clothing clutter from creeping back in:
Institute a “One In, One Out” Rule
Each new clothing purchase should correspond with something old getting removed. This automatically keeps quantities in check.
Store Off-Season Items Separately
Pack up heavy winter coats or bathing suits during seasons you won’t wear them. Rotate seasonal wardrobe instead of cramming year-round.
Assign a Monthly Purge Day
Pick a consistent day each month to try on and evaluate every item in your closet. Quickly weed out anything you’ve accumulated that month.
Avoid Temptation Purchases
Buying on impulse just because something is cute, trendy, or deeply discounted can quickly lead to overflow. Stick to filling wardrobe gaps.
Consider a Clothing Budget
Limit clothing expenditures monthly or per season based on your income and needs. Cut back if you find yourself exceeding limits.
Wash Before Storing
Heat and dirt degrade fabrics over time. Always launder clothes before packing away to help items last multiple seasons.
Use Storage Tools Sparingly
Space bags, under-bed containers and hangers cram in more than your closet should hold. Use judiciously and edit often.
Revise Your Idea of “Occasional”
Be honest about what fancy or specialty attire you require. Avoid keeping too many pieces for hypothetical events. Rent when needed.
Evaluating new purchases critically and keeping only true favorites prevents creeping clutter.
FAQs About Getting Rid of Old Clothes
How often should you purge your closet?
Plan to fully purge your closet at least twice per year – in the spring as you transition your wardrobe to warmer weather and again in the fall as colder seasons approach. Additionally, a monthly purge of recent acquisitions helps maintain your ideal closet size all year.
What percentage of your closet should be basics?
Aim for approximately 60% basic staple pieces in neutral solids along with 40% statement pieces and prints. Too many loud or trendy garments lead to a disjointed wardrobe. Build around classic staples.
Is it better to donate, consign or try to sell your old clothes?
Donating clothes gives them a second life and helps those in need. Consigning and selling make you a bit of money for quality items but require more time and effort. Choose the option that best fits your priorities and lifestyle. Many people donate some items and sell others.
How much can you make selling used clothes?
This greatly depends on the brands, condition, and original cost of each item. Expect to recoup 20-30% of retail prices on used clothes in excellent condition. Fast fashion pieces won’t resell for much. Higher end labels and rare vintage fetch more. Online consignment tends to pay better than local used clothing stores.
Should you keep clothes that are too big “just in case” you gain weight again?
It’s better to avoid this temptation if possible. Holding onto too large sizes promotes unhealthy relationships with food, exercise, and body image for many people. Keep one or two key transitional pieces if needed, but don’t use precious closet space to store an old body size.
What should you do with clothes that are too worn to donate?
If clothes are damaged beyond repair or donating, utilize textile recycling programs that accept worn out fabrics and repurpose unwearable materials. Some towns even offer curbside textile recycling. You can also repurpose tatty clothes into cleaning rags, pet toys, craft projects or even donate them as scraps for theater productions.
Key Takeaways on Getting Rid of Unwanted Clothes
- Regularly evaluate which pieces in your wardrobe still fit your needs and lifestyle. Be honest about what you actually wear versus hold onto.
- Determine your ideal closet size based on your available storage, laundry frequency and closet organizing habits.
- Sort clothes by category and look critically at areas or styles you have too much of. Identify weak spots that could be better filled.
- Properly laundering and mending old clothes before donating makes them far more useful for charities serving those in need.
- Consigning and selling quality items extends their use while making you a bit of cash. Recycling and repurposing keeps textiles out of landfills.
- Maintain a clutter-free closet by storing off-season items separately, assigning monthly purge days and instituting a one-in-one-out purchase policy.
By periodically renewing your wardrobe based on your current needs and style, you can enjoy a functional closet that makes getting dressed each day a joy. Taking the time to responsibly donate or recycle what no longer fits your life creates space for new favorites while benefiting others.