April is here, which means it’s time to rotate your winter clothes out and start bringing in your spring pieces. It’s also the perfect time to learn how to clean out your closet in a way that actually sticks. If you’re still sharing closet space or working with a smaller space, you know exactly what I mean when I say the seasonal swap is a whole production. For years, my clothes lived in bins that I rotated in and out twice a year. It worked, but it also meant I was constantly dealing with stuff I should have gotten rid of a long time ago.
When I finally created my own closet room, that problem went away. Everything is accessible year round, which honestly made it easier to see what I actually wear and what’s just taking up space.
But here’s the thing. Even with a dream closet, letting go of clothes is hard. We attach meaning to things. That top you wore on a great trip. The jeans that fit perfectly five years ago. The dress you spent too much on and wore once. Getting rid of something can feel like letting go of a version of yourself, or admitting that something didn’t work out the way you hoped. I get it. I’ve been there.
The good news is you don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to be harsh about it. This three-day challenge on how to clean out your closet is designed to feel manageable, and by the end of it you’ll actually enjoy opening your closet doors in the morning.
3-Day Closet Cleanout Challenge
Day One: Get Organized Before You Clean Out Your Closet
Don’t grab the donation bags yet. Today is just about getting organized. Go through everything and group it by category: jeans together, pants together, skirts by hem length, dresses by sleeve and hem length, tops by sleeve length. Then put it all back.
That’s it. No purging, no decisions. Just get a clear picture of what’s in there. This step makes day three so much easier because you’ll work through one section at a time instead of facing one overwhelming pile.
Day Two: The Easy Stuff
Today is for the things that are already done, even if they’re still hanging in your closet. Pull anything with stains, tears, fading, or wear that can’t be fixed. Shoes that hurt or are just worn out. Anything with a broken zipper or damage that isn’t worth repairing. The stack of promotional t-shirts you’ve been holding onto. Clothes you’ve been meaning to get rid of for years but keep moving from one closet to the next. Anything you wouldn’t buy again today.
These aren’t hard decisions. They’re just overdue ones.
Day Three: How to Clean Out Your Closet for Good
This is where knowing how to clean out your closet really comes down to being honest with yourself. Our style evolves, and what felt right a few years ago might not be where you are now. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean you made a mistake buying it. It just means you’ve changed, and your closet should reflect that.
Work through one category at a time and try everything on. Ask yourself: do I like this? Does it fit and flatter me right now? Do I like how I feel when I have it on? Would I buy it again? Where would I actually wear this?
If something doesn’t fit and you’re not ready to let it go, find a place to store it outside your main closet. Your everyday closet should only hold what you’re actually wearing right now.
One trick that’s really helped me when I clean out my closet: as you hang things back up, turn the hanger the opposite direction from how you normally hang them. When you wear something, turn the hanger back around. By the end of the season you’ll have a clear visual of what you never reached for, and those final decisions get a lot easier.
If you’re on the fence about something, keep it for now. This isn’t about being ruthless. It’s about ending up with a closet full of things you love and actually wear.
the payoff
A closet cleanout isn’t just about getting organized. It’s about making getting dressed feel easier and more enjoyable. The goal isn’t a perfect closet. It’s a closet that works for you. When you can open the doors, find what you’re looking for, and actually feel good about what’s in there, getting dressed stops feeling like a chore. That’s worth the three days.
Take your time with it and complete one section at a time. And if you do the clean out your closet challenge, I’d love to hear how it goes. Drop a comment below and let me know!
Thank you for reading!
Other posts you might like:
How to Rediscover Your Wardrobe
How to Create Outfits By Shopping Your Closet
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Having an organized closet really makes a difference! I love going into my closet because I regularly assess what I have. I don’t often pull out something to put in the donation pile, but I make sure what is still hanging deserves to be there. I do rotate things twice a year and that usually is when a few things don’t make it back on the hangers.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
This is such a good thing to do now. I love your tips Jill! I want your closet room! 🙂
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
I like having all my clothes out like you and I find it easy to purge (although I try to DIY it first) after wearing something that test doesn’t do it for me.
It’s nice because I don’t have to try to do it all-in-one day. I just do it throughout the year as i’m wearing things.
Xoxo
Jodie
I have cleaned out my closet in the past but I have always made it a one day ordeal. I think that has been the problem, I rushed through it. I am pinning this post and will try this method.
Thanks Jill!
A closet room sounds lovely! I have a closet hallway (it is long and runs along one length of our bedroom with 2 doors) and I share it with my husband. I love all of these ideas!! I am pretty good at getting rid of what I’m not using.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I have been doing a version of this all week. The entire end of my closet is three Kallax units from IKEA. They hold almost all of my sweaters which are grouped by style, season, etc. I was merciless as I went through them. I had so many tunics, and I realized I’m not that person anymore. I did the same with the other categories in my closet though I wasn’t quite as brutal with my dresses. I still need to go through skirts and tee shirts. I’m really happy with what I’ve accomplished. I think what made the most sense for me was realizing who I am right now and making sure those clothes fit her aesthetic. Anything that didn’t is in the donation pile because, honestly, should I evolve again (and I probably will), I’d buy new stuff. Thanks for another enjoyable post, Jill!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I definitely need to reorganize my closet again soon. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and enjoy your weekend! XO
Such a helpful and motivating post! I love the idea of breaking closet cleanout into a simple three-day challenge—it makes the whole process feel so much more doable instead of overwhelming.
This closet cleanout post is just what I needed, Jill! This is so helpful and I think your day one tip about just organizing things is genius. I’ve never seen that anywhere before or would have thought of it myself, but I am definitely going to do that when I work on my closet (it’s been on my to-do list for too long now haha!).
Hope you have the best weekend! 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
That’s a dream closet!!!! Wow! Maybe one day when the kids are all gone but I am in no rush to have that happen. But it’s still fun to dream of not carrying tots of clothes up and down to storage. Anyway, these tips are amazing and really allow someone to slow the process down. I am not super attached to things and have had to learn that not everyone is like me, like last night when I was ruthless cleaning out my friends closet. Hahahaha.
Bo bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
I like the new look of your blog. It is very clean and easy to read. And that closet is a dream!! We have 2 spare/guest rooms that could be converted to a closet room but I think I would never get rid of anything ever if I had that much room. Ha!! I like the idea of turning the hanger backward on pieces you haven’t worn but still like.
Love these tips! I’ve been much more mindful this past year about cleaning out our closets, and being totally honest with myself about items I haven’t worn in a while that can be donated or added to Poshmark. Gamechanger!
I am well overdue a wardrobe clear out, so this came at just the right time! Love the idea of putting the hanger the other way around
Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/