Between family hoarding tendencies and being surrounded by company swag, I tend to collect more articles of clothing than I need. Fortunately, like most of America, I’m passed peak-closet.
I’ve built up some habits that gently help me keep myself under control.
Know your thrift store
Loving a nearby thrift store helps plenty. It feels good to donate, and then find something you love there.
One for one
I maintain a fairly rigorous donating of one item if I bring a new one in.
No seasonal switchout
I keep all of my clothes in a single closet, no seasonal boxes. That keeps me honest and offers a fixed constaint.
Month of purging
I occasionally do purges of a thing for each day of the month (meaning, one thing on the first day of the month; 15 on the 15th, etc.) and these put a lot of pressure on me to unload those freebie t-shirts that have piled up.
Must-use
Every year or so, I try the reverse hanger trick, in which I flip a hanger around for a garment I’ve used. If I go through an entire season and something hasn’t been worn, it’s got to go.
Does it ‘spark joy’
If not, toss it. That’s the tidying classic. I try to use it too.
