Monica Ricci

Article Summary:

Purging the enemies in our closet to achieve organization.

Closet Organizing: How to Purge

If you dread going into your closet, now is a great time to clean it out and switch your wardrobe for the upcoming season! During the switch, do yourself a favor and purge as you go.

There are four types of clothes in your closet:

Best Friends - Clothes you love, that you wear most often.

Acquaintances - Clothes that you like, that fit you and that you wear from time to time and are generally happy with.

Distant Pals - These are the rarely worn essentials that serve a special purpose, such as cocktail dresses, formalwear and holiday fancies. You don't wear them all the time, but when you need them, you really need them.

Enemies - Enemies are clothes that don't go with anything else in your wardrobe, don't fit anymore, are a bad color for you, or make you feel unattractive when you wear them. We all have a few enemies in our closets. Get rid of 'em!

Questions to ask yourself when deciding what category your clothes fall into:

  • When did I wear this last?
  • Does it still fit?
  • Is it still in style?
  • Does it need to be repaired or altered, and will I have the work done?
  • Does this look good on me?
  • Do I love how I feel when I wear it?

The secret to closet success, is that you must tell yourself the absolute truth when asking those questions! You will create a lot more usable space in your closet and you won't even miss those clothes you got rid of.

Whether you realize it or not, your closet holds many items that someone else in the world would really love and appreciate. Once you've weeded out those pieces that are no longer serving you, consider donating your old clothes to a homeless shelter, Goodwill, or another charity where they will be given or sold to those who need them. It's a win-win!

Monica Ricci has been an organizing and productivity specialist since 1999. She offers onsite consulting, as well as motivational seminars and workshops, which teach effective organizing and simplifying and effectiveness strategies for home and work. Reach Monica at www.Catalyst Organizing.com or ph: 770-569-2642.

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