How to Clean Out Your Closet for Spring in 6 Easy Steps
A few years ago, I came across an article by Alison Syrett at Lucky Shops (now defunct), “How To Clean Out Your Closet For Spring: Six Easy Steps To Start Now.” I tried her system because it broke down the seasonal wardrobe changeover into one task a week for six weeks. Age doesn’t matter; I’ll bet we can always use an easier way to do things.
You never know (in Michigan, anyway) when the warm weather will stay. Many years, I would put away my Winter things and pull out my Spring/Summer clothes when the weather got nice and then a cold snap would send me looking for things I had just put away. What a drag! A gradual changeover works so much better and gives you the time to get things taken care of at the dry cleaners, the shoe repair and the place where you donate your old things.
So here it is: I am now sharing with you this super easy and effective system!
1. March, Week Three: Kick Off With Accessories
From hats to gloves to scarves, everything should be organized into three piles: trash, store and fix. The first, obviously, can be dropped at your local charity. My husband and I take our old clothes to the homeless shelter every year. Everything else gets cleaned (whether professionally or at home is your call), and properly mended before being stashed for next year. You may want to leave one hat and one wrap out, just in case. Fill the empty space in your drawers with some sunglasses — those are the best way to make an outfit seem more Spring-like without actually wearing lightweight clothing.
2. March, Week Four: Dig Into The Coats
Now that it’s “officially” Spring, it feels far more seasonally appropriate to wear heavy layers under jackets than the other way around — so break out the trenches, bombers and anoraks, and pack up the bulky stuff! Begin by deciding which styles you’d like to get rid of, and plan on storing your cast-offs through the Summer. Charities are always looking for coat donations during the holiday season, so it’s best to hold on to your spares until then. Looking to sell? Same deal: Everyone’s too busy buying shorts and tank tops to be interested right now. Anything you want to make use of next season should be — no exceptions — professionally cleaned. Think about it this way: These pieces have endured four straight months of mud, sweat, coffee spills and who-knows-what. Should it all really marinate untouched for another six?
3. April, Week One: On To The Pants!
While it might not be sunny enough for bare legs, wool, tweed and corduroy trousers no longer feel right for the weather. Because you’ve probably been washing these periodically, you don’t necessarily have to clean them again before storing. You should, however, add any styles you’re tired of to the donation/to-sell box you’ve set aside. All your denim can stay put, but you might want to add some light-rinse, distressed styles to the mix.
4. April, Week Two: Assess Your Shoe Situation.
Worn-down soles? Salt stains? Torn leather? See what kind of damage Winter has done to your boots, and decide what’s worth paying a cobbler to fix. But when you get your shined-up footwear back, be discerning about what goes in storage. Not only will knee-high shapes help you go tights-free without freezing, but some ankle-high styles work straight through Summer. As for adding something lighter to the mix, canvas sneakers, brogues and oxfords are good bets, while sandals should remain in storage a bit longer.
5. April, Week Three: Finally, The Sweaters Can Go!
Not every single one, of course. Pack up the most aggressively Winter-y designs (hey there, Fair Isle knit with the embroidered penguin patch, we’re looking at you), and pick two to three mid-weight options to have on hand for the next six months — these are insurance against any surprising twists in the forecast (or someone over-zealously cranking the AC at work). And keep the wool cardigans on hand year round because they become useful as jackets in the summer. Of course, be sure to launder everything that gets boxed up, placing the items to donate in your donation/to-sell box. Don’t bust out the camisoles and cropped t-shirts quite yet, though! Until it’s comfortable enough to show more skin, stick with the button-downs and blouses you have on hand — just skip that heavy-knit top layer!
6. April, Week Four: Attend To The Stragglers
At this point in the game, you can finally stop worrying about unexpected blizzards and sub-freezing conditions. Go ahead and wrap up all those in-case-of-emergency items you left out (plus anything you might have just missed — there’s always something!), slowly adding breezier pieces as the temps heat up.
Is this wardrobe transition method helpful to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Like this post? You might also want to read: “Does Professional Advice Guarantee an Organized Closet?“
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Angie
This makes the whole process less overwhelming, and to a degree I have done some form of this before but I like the week by week approach. Just founf your blog by seeing your comment on Brenda Kinsel’s post, I will follow you now too! Thanks
Great to meet you, Deanne! I hope I continue to be helpful to you in many ways. 🙂
This is really a good idea! I’m in. 🙂 Thanks for the post. Lise
You’re welcome, Lise! I’m glad it’s helpful to you. It sure is to me. I like doing things one step at a time; it makes big projects a lot easier. 🙂 Angie