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How to Organize your Closet – Step 1: Clear Clutter

December 9, 2013 By Alan S. | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

The Dappered philosophy is all about looking good without costing an arm and a leg. While that usually means finding great pieces and even better prices, this series is about how to store what you’ve already got. We’re going to look at how to clear the clutter, how to outfit a closet, and how to use that closet to its full potential. Top Photo: Magnus D.

Before you can build your closet up, you’ve got to tear it down. Clearing the clutter is an important first stage because it’ll let you know what you’re really working with. Once you know what you’ve got, then you can design your new closet around it. If you have lots of collared shirts, you’ll need lots of rods. If you have lots of sweaters, you’ll need more shelves/drawers. You get the idea. So on that note, let’s just dig right in. No really. We might have to dig.

awful closetSomeone get the backhoe
.

SEVEN STEPS TO CLEARING CLOSET CLUTTER

1. Wash everything you own

The is step one for good reason. You’ve got to take inventory of everything you’ve got. Get it clean and put away where it belongs. That way you can survey your wardrobe in its entirety.

2. Slash and burn

Now we’ve got to thin the herd. Don’t stress too hard about what to keep and what to get rid of. We’ll worry about in the next steps. The most important thing here is to get rid of the things you obviously don’t want anymore. Using a numbering scale can help. If it scores a 5 out of 10 or worse, get rid of it. There are some suggestions coming up in step #7 if you need more help, but just make sure you scroll back up for steps 3 through 6.

3. Adopt the “Reverse hanger technique”

Now that we’ve gotten the stuff you obviously don’t want any more out of the way, it’s time to work on the less obvious stuff. This is a technique used by professional organizers. I’m not sure that it has a name so I’m just calling it the “reverse hanger technique”. Catchy, right? All you have to do is take all of your hanging clothes and hang them from the back of the rod instead of across the front like you normally would. Pull items from the closet and wear them as normal, but when they’re washed and go back into the closet, hang them as you normally would on the front of the bar. This will help you differentiate between what you have and haven’t worn.

Reverse hanger techniqueThe reverse hanger technique in action.

4. Do the same with folded clothes

Just because it’s not on a hanger doesn’t mean you can’t use the same technique. Use two different piles or two different drawers – whatever works for you. The key is to separate what you have and haven’t worn. How you do it is not nearly as important.

5. Wash clothes often

The secret ingredient to making the reverse hanger technique work is to wash often. If you’re not washing often enough, you’ll start wearing clothes you normally wouldn’t keep just because they’re clean. So keep your closet stocked with what you would rather be wearing. Most of us know when we’re well overdue for laundry. Try not to get to that point during this process.

6. After 90 days, decide on anything that hasn’t been used

If you haven’t used something in 90 days, what are the chances that you ever will? Of course, seasons and weather affect what you’re wearing so take that into account. There will also be exceptions for items like tuxes, but you get the idea. It’s decision time.

7. Judgement day

Now that you have all these unworn items, it’s time to go through them. You’ve got several options.

  • If it’s damaged, just throw it away. That’s probably why it hasn’t been worn. If it was worth wearing, you would have fixed it.
  • If it’s worth something, consign it. Craigslist and ebay are also options. Another great option is the Swap and Shop forum on Dappered Threads.
  • Anything left can be donated. There’s no sense is tossing out something that someone else may be able to use.
  • If you’re going to keep it after all of this, you better have a damned good reason.
  • If it’s a 40R jacket or a 12D pair of shoes, you can always just give them to me for all of this helpful advice!

Coming up tomorrow: Part II: Outfitting your newly cleaned out closet. On Wednesday, Part III: Building a System for moving forward. When not de-creasing shoes or keeping his closet in good shape, you’ll find Roving Style Contributor Alan S. participating as an active member on Threads.

Just donate it alreadyDo it for Macklemore! Do it for you!

Filed Under: Accessories, Clothing Tagged With: a guy's guide to organizing a closet, creating a man's closet, how to organize a closet

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Comments

  1. kryogenix says

    December 9, 2013 at 4:06 AM

    Perfect timing for this series. I look forward to each article. I’ll be using some of these helpful hints in the very near future,

  2. Jason M says

    December 9, 2013 at 5:09 AM

    Literally just cleaned my closet this past weekend. I’ll definitely be incorporating the reverse hanger technique!

  3. Jack says

    December 9, 2013 at 5:47 AM

    Great series, but I’d just like to say, if you’re a 40R or a 12D, you can give them to ME TOO! (Heh)

  4. fattsmann says

    December 9, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    To declutter one’s closet, one can clutter someone else’s. 😛

  5. ARP says

    December 9, 2013 at 7:49 AM

    If it doesn’t fit right, get rid of it. If you’re going to get it tailored, lose weight, etc., then give yourself a certain amount of time to accomplish that.

    I have a number of items that I can’t make myself get rid of because I’ve only worn them a few times. But the reason I’ve only worn them a few times is that they just don’t fit right. I feel like a chump for having spent the money, so I hold on to them.

  6. BA says

    December 9, 2013 at 8:28 AM

    Great idea for a series of posts. Much needed in my abomination of a closet for sure.

  7. Vanquish says

    December 9, 2013 at 8:47 AM

    Looking forward to this series. Been working on cleaning out and organizing my closet as well recently.

  8. Alan says

    December 9, 2013 at 8:49 AM

    It’s a burden that I would be willing to accept.

  9. Tom says

    December 9, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    That reverse hanger technique is a great idea. Mark me down for my Monday quota of one new thing learned every day.

  10. Sigtweed & Corduroy says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    Regarding donations, one might consider researching different outlets that may be in need other than Goodwill also. Personally I am particularly fond of programs like Working Wardrobes that help in-need people get business clothes and interview-ready for job opportunities.

  11. tomservo says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:01 AM

    So guys, what is an “appropriate” number of shirts or pants to have on hand?

  12. Matt says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    Yes! I’m due for a closet clean out. I think twice a year is a good frequency for culling. One trick I developed a while back particularly relevant to #5 was to reduce my collection of underwear to 7 pair. With only a weeks worth of undies, I’m forced to do laundry at least once a week. When I do laundry frequently I don’t need as many “good clothes” and I’m never forced to wear that thing that ugly thing I only keep in the closet for when I really need to do laundry. Now that I’ve been doing that for a few years I find I’m much less prone to wanting to hang onto something I don’t really like, or to want to buy something I don’t really love.

  13. Dan J. says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    If you hit triple figures, you’ve probably gone a bit far.

  14. Matt says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    If there are all these 12Ds out there why are all the shoes in the Swap and Shop thread like 9b and such? Come one guys share the wealth!

  15. southy says

    December 9, 2013 at 1:58 PM

    By the same token, if it doesn’t fit right but COULD, get that thing tailored. I just recently ran up a $200 bill at the tailors on clothes that I hadn’t really worn, but now that they all fit I love them. Money was much better spent than blowing the same amount on new stuff that may or may not fit right, need tailoring, or even make it into regular rotation.

  16. ARP says

    December 9, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    There’s no hard and fast rule. I would say you’d need a 1-3 blue, 1 or 2 white, and 1-2 striped shirts. They should be oxford and straight collars. After that, it becomes more optional, but I would suggest 1 gingham, 1 houndstooth or herringbone, 1 checkered/grid and 1-2 other solid colored shirts (e.g. grey and a green). So that’s 10-12. Re: Pants. I would say 1 dark grey, 1 light grey, 1 blue, 1 black, 1-3 pairs of khaki’s or Chinos. So 6ish pants. Next time you get a suit, have two pairs of pants made, so you can wear them with your suit and don’t have to worry about them wearing out.

    Me, I have about 16 or so shirts and about 12 pairs of pants (I live in DC, so have a few pairs of linen pants for the heat). Honestly, I feel have too many and will be downsizing once they wear out.

    As I’m sure you’ll hear, its better to have fewer items that fit better than a bunch of stuff that doesn’t. As inspiration, I work with a guy from Italy and he has 2 really nice custom suits and 1-2 pairs of additional pairs of pants. He has about 4-5 shirts (that I can remember since I decided to keep track) and I don’t ever think he looks like he’s wearing the the same thing every day.

  17. Connor Delaney says

    December 22, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Seeing as how we’re both the same size for jackets and shoes, send your unwanted stuff to me Alan S.

  18. khordkutta says

    December 23, 2014 at 8:06 PM

    ive gon waaaaayyy too far then..lol…dayum, in TOTAL, ALL types of shirts, not undershirts, I have dayum near 300

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