Cleaning out your Closet!

It's a dreaded job... cleaning out my 17 year old daughters closet! ... and it is a job I am in the midst of tackling this weekend!

Kids grow so fast and fashions change for them so quickly, what was in and a must have item last week, is casually tossed to the floor of the closet this week! So, when I asked her to clean out her closet and go through things to donate, she didn't jump off the couch and get right to it... and neither did I.

So, how does your closet look? The cold spring has made me put this job off a little longer than usual but here are some tips I have found that help.

1. Take everything out of your closet and make three piles:

- Pile #1 is the "keeper" pile. This is all the items that actually fit and you wear.

- Pile #2 is the "maybe" pile. These are the items that still fit but you don't always like to wear them for one reason or another. Maybe a blouse is missing a button, or you don't have something to go it.

- Pile #3 is the "no way am I ever going to wear that again" pile. It doesn't fit, it's ripped, it's ugly, out of style or you're wondering why on earth you ever even bought it!

2. Now go back to pile #1 and hang all these items back in your closet. Anything you hang up, turn the hanger backwards (I'll explain why later).

3. Now go to pile #2. Figure out why you don't wear it. Replace those missing buttons. If you love it and don't have anything to wear it with, take a picture so the next time you go shopping you have a handy reference (First, go through the items in your closet and see if you overlooked something that may match it. Now that your closet is emptier, it is easier to find things.) Don't put anything back in your closet until it is repaired, washed or a picture is taken of it! Make sure to turn your hanger backwards when you hang it up.

3. Go to pile #3. Any items here that are beyond repair, throw away. If you can repair them, do so and donate to a good cause or take to a consignment store, or have a garage sale! Then you have money to go shopping with!

Now, you have your pictures of items needing something to go with them - so it is time to go shopping! You may want to make a list ahead of time of what you are thinking of purchasing, so you don't get sidetracked while shopping.

So, why do I want you to turn your hangers backwards? During the season when you wear anything from your closet, turn the hanger back around. At the end of the season, you will know what items you wore and what items you didn't simply by looking at the hangers. Anything with the hanger still backwards was obviously not worn and will go in the maybe pile next time you clean your closet!

Hopefully these tips will make closet cleaning not such a horrible, dreaded job for you - so go to it! Then come see us at Maggie Anne's with your pictures and list of what you need!