How to Declutter Your Closet in 4 Easy Steps
I love our home, but I have to be honest. The clutter became OUT OF CONTROL earlier this year! With a toddler running around our home and another little one on the way, I’ve decided it’s time to kick the clutter to the curb for good. I’m slowly but surely organizing every inch of our home before our baby arrives in August, and my first project was tackling our master closet.
Instead of simply cleaning up like we normally do, my husband and I decided to declutter our closet once and for all. Now that we’re finished, I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to walk into an organized space each morning! Keep reading to learn how to declutter your closet in four easy steps and see why is such an important part of our laundry routine.
How to Declutter Your Closet in 4 Easy Steps
Step 1: Only Keep The Items That You Truly Love
Step one is the hardest and most important step of the decluttering process. Take a weekend to take every single item out of your closet and really think about which items you should keep. When I first started decluttering, it was hard for me to let go of items that I liked but didn’t love. The thing that helped me the most was thinking about if that item was adding joy or stress to my life. For example, I felt obligated to keep functional items (even if they didn’t fit properly) because I didn’t want to replace them; however, I never wore those items. Instead of adding function to my life, they were taking away space from things that I did love and adding stress to my life by making my closet cramped and messy. As soon as I started using this thought process, streamlining my wardrobe was so much easier.
If getting rid of clothing and accessories is difficult for you, I recommend going through this process several times. My husband and I must have had at least five rounds of decluttering our things and each time, the process was so much simpler. As soon as we’d get rid of a few things, we’d see and feel a difference in our closet and life that inspired us to get rid of even more things the next day. I know it can seem scary, but I promise you—holding on to things that you don’t love will only add stress to your life and clutter to your home.
Step 2: Store Your Items Properly to Maintain Their Condition
Once you’ve whittled down your closet to your favorite items, it’s time to take care of them. One of the best parts of a clean and organized closet is the ability to properly store and maintain your clothing, which will help your clothing and accessories last longer. As we were getting rid of items we didn’t want, my husband and I also got rid of any hangers that weren’t part of a matching set. Using matching hangers will help you store more clothes in your closet and give the space a streamlined look.
Once we got our clothes organized, we realized how poorly we’d maintained some of our clothing. For example, can you see how wrinkled some of my husband’s shirts are? He had quite a few shirts in his closet that he loved, but they were so wrinkled that he never wore them. Now that we’ve whittled down our collection to only our favorite items, my husband and I have the energy to properly take care of each and every item and finally have a proper laundry and ironing routine!
My favorite way to keep my husband’s shirts looking smooth and like-new is to iron with . My mom always used ironing spray on our clothes when I was a child but unfortunately, we just had so much clutter in our home for a few years that I stopped ironing as much as I used to. Now that we’re back on track, I’ve been using Faultless Premium every time I iron, and the results are incredible. This ironing spray is the same brand that’s used by dry cleaners, so you’re getting the same professional quality and look without the professional price. Using this at home is a fraction of the cost we normally spend on dry cleaning, so it’s also saving us a big chunk of money each month!
If you’re not sure how to use ironing spray, the process couldn’t be easier. Simply lay out the item you’d like to smooth on your ironing board, spray the section you’re ironing with , and iron until the section is completely wrinkle-free. Adding an ironing spray to our laundry routine has made a huge difference in the appearance of our clothing. My husband’s dress shirts look and feel brand new again, so he’s also wearing more of his shirts than ever before. Properly maintaining our clothes helps them last longer and helps the items look better on your body when you wear them, which means you’ll wear them more often and get more value from each item!
Here’s a before and after of one of my husband’s shirts. Ironing with ironing spray only took a few minutes, but this shirt completely transformed. Goodbye floppy collar and stubborn wrinkles! Definitely pick up a bottle of during your next trip to Walmart. It’s extremely affordable and will make a huge difference in your weekly laundry routine!
Step 3: Add Functional Storage Wherever You Can
Our shared closet is rather compact, so I make it a priority to add functional storage wherever we can. Instead of using our closet’s shelves to stack folded items, I added small baskets to organize smaller items like socks and undergarments.
We also have a small gap between the top of our shelves and our ceilings, so I added large bins to organize items that we need to keep but don’t use frequently, like travel accessories, out-of-season clothing and accessories, and sports gear. No matter the shape or size of your closet, try to find creative ways to add additional storage space. I recommend choosing baskets and bins with opaque sides to maintain a streamlined space. Also, try not to overstuff your baskets. Ideally, it’s best to be able to see every item in the bin without digging through items.
Step 4: Understand It’s A Process – Not A Project
Once you’ve decluttered every inch of your closet, you’re still not done. Even the most organized space can turn into a jumbled mess in a few days if you don’t maintain good habits. If one of your new organizational methods isn’t working for your family, switch it up immediately to something that’s more practical. If you notice you can’t find any clothing you like, it might be time to get rid of a few more items. Decluttering isn’t just a project—it’s a continual process that you need to actively participate in each and every week. Walking into a clean space each morning will bring you so much peace that you’ll want to keep your space organized and clutter-free!
Before you start decluttering your closet, head to Walmart and pick up a bottle of . It will help you keep your clothing in tip-top condition and help your favorite items look and fit better!
