Decluttering your wardrobe doesn’t have to be a drag. This quick guide will help you refresh your closet efficiently while also helping out the community and making you a bit of cash!

Story by Manuel Valdez

The first thing you should do is look at your closet in its entirety and just relax. It may seem like a big job for just one brave soul but you can definitely knock it out in one afternoon.

Start with clothes that are no longer appropriate for the current season’s weather. Ask yourself, “Did I wear this item during the months when it was most appropriate to wear it?” If the answer is no, set it aside in a pile to sort through later. It is never a good idea to keep clothes that you haven’t worn in the last six months. Any items that are left over from that decision and are still in good enough shape for the next season should be stored in a bin or bag under the bed. Storage bins are the perfect organizers to keep these pieces out of the way for your more weather-appropriate wear.

Now look at the clothes left over. Again, evaluate the amount of time that has passed since you last wore certain items. Is that pink crushed velvet top a go-to item or a once-in-a-lifetime event? These items are taking up space in your wardrobe and they really do have to go, so throw them in the pile. If you find that you really can’t part with certain items because of their monetary or sentimental value, you could also store them in bins under your bed.

After this second elimination round, it’s time to do quality control on your wardrobe. If you have items that are damaged but can still be salvaged, put them in a bag and store them so that you can repair them in your spare time. If an item is beyond saving, you’re going to have say your final goodbye, recycle the fabrics you can and throw away whatever is completely unusable.

Finally, figure out if you think these clothes still suit your style and live up to what you think looks best on you. If your clothes don’t have the right fit or look then they shouldn’t have an all-expenses-paid residency in your closet. Boot them over to the pile.

Now that your closet is nice and clean, it’s time to take on that giant pile you’ve been putting together. You have three options for this pile: donate, sell or both. Donating your unwanted clothes is a great way to give back to the community and minimize clothing waste. If you live in the Austin area, consider donating to SAFE, Austin State Hospital, the Dress for Success Program or any other local donation program. If you want to try to make a little bit of money off of your no longer needed clothing, stop by Plato’s Closet and see what they can offer you. You could also do both methods by trying out a resale shop and taking the remainder to a local donation site. Either way, your clothes are going to good reuse and helping folks out!

Repeat these steps with your accessories, shoes or whatever else is cramping your closet style. Spring cleaning your closet will take away the stress of an overloaded closet and allow you to donate to people in your community and potentially make money. Get with this triple win to kick off your spring season.