Written by The Strategy

The sun is out (occasionally), the weather is warm (slightly), and the birds are chirping (minimally). You know what that means… spring!

While it may not be the nicest time of the year, it’s certainly better than the cold, hard winter. We’ll take some gloomy rain over blizzards any day of the week. Springtime means comfortable temperatures, longer days, and spring cleaning. Whether you need to clean out your apartment, closet, makeup, or cameral roll now is the time to get started. 

There are many theories on the best way to organize your closet, mostly taking on the challenge of what stays and what goes. Theories like flipping the hangers of the clothes you wear vs don’t wear can get confusing and, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tired this and failed after messing up your own system. Having gone through a few wardrobe organization books, tips, tricks, and trial and error, I’ve combined a couple of ideas to give me the system I have now.

The most successful way I have found for spring closet cleaning is to sort things into piles and then hide some of it from myself. 

Really. 

It looks a little bit like that scene from Clueless!, but it works for me. 

One pile is for Definitely Staying, one is for Definitely Going, and one is the Maybe pile. If we have a more in common than our forgetfulness toward hanger positions, you will also have the most difficult time choosing the pieces that you are for sure saying goodbye to. The rule for this is that if it is damaged beyond repair, holds little to no sentimental value, or can be easily replaced, it goes. If you’re really struggling with letting something go, it gets a Maybe. 

The Maybe pile gets to be folded neatly and placed into a bag of your choosing to keep near by, but relatively out of sight. If you desperately find yourself reaching to take something out of the Maybe bag and wear, it stays. 

Pretty simple, I know.

When it gets to summer, or the next time you feel like organizing your wardrobe, take out the bag and go through it again. The most important things to remember are that you can’t keep everything, and that it is okay to keep some stuff. Clothes hold memories. And it’s perfectly fine to hold on to them even if you will never actually wear them again. Spring cleaning is about cleaning, not clearing.

You’re welcome.

Written by Katrina Garofalo