Time to Clean Out Your Closet?

First things first. Get two bags:

1. one for toss
2. the other for consignment or donation

Shoes
I love shoes. I have over thirty pairs. But some times it’s good to let go of the shoes you know you won’t wear.

• Have a cute pair of shoes but they are just too small and you never had the strength to toss them? It’s time to cut the umbilical cord. Toss or donate.
• Your awesome pair of Nike tennis shoes but the sole is falling apart. Toss.
• A pair of flip-flops but one of their straps is broken. It’s time to toss those.
• Any shoes you KNOW you’d never wear but just never took the time to get rid of them or felt bad for throwing them away. Toss or donate (I’m giving you permission).

Tops
Possessing a lot of tops isn’t a bad thing. But let’s say you don’t wear half of them. How much space are you using with those unnoticed items? Also, you could donate them to people who actually WOULD wear them or take them to a consignment store and earn credits or even money.

• Cute, comfortable, and all the rest but there’s a stain. Unless you can cover it up in a non-awkward way, toss it.
• You LOVE this shirt but it’s too short. Sometimes you can layer those shirts, but other times, it looks like you’re trying to hold onto a childhood shirt and it can look awkward. Toss or donate.
• Have had the shirt for years but never have worn it and it just sits unnoticed in your closet. Toss or donate.
• Everything is fine except the armpit-mark. You don’t want to walk around knowing that you can’t lift up your arms because you have a noticeable and embarrassing stain under your arm. You’ll feel uncomfortable and stiff. It’s time to toss that shirt.
• The shirt is too small and you tell yourself you’ll lose weight THEN you can wear it. You should probably let it go. It isn’t worth having. Toss or donate.
• Long sleeved but doesn’t reach all the way to your wrist. You can roll them up to make the quartered sleeved shirt. Otherwise toss or donate. Same goes for jackets and sweaters and pullovers.
• If the shirt has a un-repairable rip, button missing and you don’t have the extra, or it’s just old and out of style. Toss or donate.
• When shirts have rips near the bust it looks awkward. Those just toss!

Bottoms
Jeans are probably the hardest clothing to shop for. Different sizes vary in a large mass. 7’s feel like 5’s where 9’s feel like 11’s. A good way to find jeans is to first figure out your size comparing to that certain store. Personally, I shop at Target for jeans because I KNOW my size there. But if I go to Wal-Mart, for an example, I might be a completely different size according to their products. Find your size according to the store.

• If you can’t pull the jeans above your thighs, that’s the sign they are too small. Or if they’re skin tight and hard to move around in and aren’t comfortable. Toss or donate.
• Ripped where skin shouldn’t be exposed. TOSS!
• Just the cutest pants in the world. But they stop at your ankles. Either you can roll them up or trim into Capri’s, or make into Bermudas. But otherwise toss or donate. (Please don’t wear high waters!)
• Short shorts? Toss or donate.
• The skirt is just too short. Or the skirt is supposed to be long but stops at your ankles. (Again, don’t keep things that may look like you’re still holding onto your childhood clothes.) Toss or donate.
• Never wear the skirt? Toss or donate.
• Have a “busy” skirt and never can find anything to go along with it? Toss or donate (don’t let those items crowd your space).
• If the skirt is tight around the hips and when you bend over you expose too much skin, those you don’t want. Toss or donate.

Dresses
Usually girls like to keep dresses from the past and such, which isn’t a bad thing. But sometimes those things just need to be let go of. Maybe some other girl can enjoy a new dress that you grew out of. Who knows.

• Too short? Toss or donate.
• If you have a hard time putting it on because it’s so tight, that’s a good sign of “good riddance”. Toss or donate.
• Zipper broke? Button missing? Ripped? Unless they can be repaired, time to say bye-bye. Toss or donate.

Feminine Articles
What I hate the most about digging through my drawer to find a pair of socks is all the stuff I CAN find. I have found some things that I never knew I had and things I can’t believe I still had! Time to clean out the ol’ sock drawer.

• Holes in the sock? Simply toss.
• Missing the other pair of sock. Toss (don’t donate just a sock).
• Never wear the pair of socks? Toss or donate.
• An out-grown bra you’ve forgotten about. Toss or donate. (I’d suggest to just toss.)
• Holes in your underwear? Eww. Time to get rid of those and get new ones!
• Then whatever else you can find and KNOW you’d never use, toss or donate.

Soon, you’ll be looking at a closet with lots of extra room. Also you can find items you DO need. Remember, don’t hold onto things with a tight grip but with an open palm. Don’t be afraid to let go. You never know who will enjoy your donated items.

I give all my old clothes to younger girls in my church and find pleasure looking at them in MY clothes! It’s such an awesome feeling to know those girls found pleasure in what I found pleasure in. It gives my heart a warm feeling.

Sarah Rance has lived most of her life in a rainy town in Washington. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and loves Cuties and strawberries. Sarah has a big family and loves spending time with them. She is also in the process of writing a movie and hoping to get it filmed in the summer.