Time to clean out the closet? How to delete - CNET

This story is part of Home Tips , CNET's collection of practical tips for making the most of your home, inside and out.

Do your closet doors hardly close or do you trip over clothes and shoes every time you open them? Maybe it's time to relax.

It can be difficult to get rid of pieces that you've had in your closet for a long time, even if you haven't worn them in literally years. But amidst the usual chaos of full-time work and life, the last thing we need is a cluttered closet preventing us from quickly finding that particular blazer or belt. On the plus side, it only takes an afternoon to go from a crowded closet to an organized closet.

It can be difficult to part with some clothes, even though you know that having a decluttered closet will make you feel better in the long run. And sometimes we just need a little nudge or advice to get started. With that in mind, here are four simple and effective tips to help you organize your closet at least until next year. (If you're feeling like cleaning, also consider organizing your fridge, cleaning out the dirt in your Keurig coffee maker, and cleaning your makeup brushes .)

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1. Get everything out and take stock

The first step in decluttering your closet is to empty it completely and give it a thorough cleaning. I recommend taking off everything, including clothes, hangers, and shoes, and laying it on the bed or floor. Also, don't forget to pick up items from shelves, bins, and drawers.

Not only does this give you the ability to dust off your shelves and easily vacuum cupboard floors and baseboards, but it also forces you to start from scratch. Now you can be vigilant and observant of any piece you choose to keep.

Stack all your clothes and start inventorying.

Alina Bradford/CBS

2. Prepare your cleaning supplies

Then you need to bring garbage bags, a marker and tape. Put a strip of masking tape on the first bag and write "Trash" with the marker. Stick a strip of tape over the second bag and label it "donations".

If you have a lot of trendy or designer clothes, consider buying a third bag for items you can sell at a thrift store.

3. Start debugging your clothes

Okay, now that you're done preparing, it's time to get ruthless. They form four decks: Save, Repair, Discard, and Donate (or Sell). The garbage heap and the donation heap are the labeled bags. Maintenance and repair batteries can be on your dresser, a chair, or in a different location from the rest of your clothing.

What to throw away, give away, register or keep:

• If you haven't used it for a year and it's still in good condition, it goes in the donation bag.
  
• If it has holes, worn rubber bands, or irreparable tears, throw it in the trash bag.
  
• If you need a button or have a hole that you or a tailor can easily fix (and promise to fix), place the item on the repair pile.
  
• Whatever is not your style goes in the donation bag.
  
• If it's faded or the fabric has pills, throw it in the trash bag.
• If it's awesome, you like it and wear it, keep it in reserve.
  
• If it's stained, put it on the repair pile and try these stain removal hacks .
• If you don't have it, give it away.
  

Identify the things that worry you

For many of us, we have that one piece of clothing that we always keep as our "goal" outfit, a dress, pair of jeans, or a bathing suit that's too small, but we keep it as our motivation to lose weight.

While it's rewarding to encourage us to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it's not so to keep an item that makes us feel ashamed of our body shape or size. Clothing should make you feel stronger, not make you feel bad. If you have an object that you keep as a motivation to grow to a certain size, give it away so you don't trigger compulsive or unhealthy behaviors. And when you reach that milestone, you can always reward yourself with a shopping spree.

Still in trouble? Try this cleaning method.

For clothes you can't decide what to do with, visit a KonMari Method site. Ask yourself, does that bring you joy? Are you happy with how it fits your body? If the answer to both is no, discard them. These rules also apply to shoes. Do you have holes or extreme wear on the soles? You must go. Haven't used them in a year? On the way to charity. Do you like them and do you wear them? They are guardians.

And if your shoes are a little dirty, you can easily clean them.

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4. Regroup and take action

Your closet cleaning journey is almost over. Now all you have to do is put everything back in the closet.

For the rest, it is important to take care of it immediately. By taking action, you will prevent these items from taking up space and potentially making their way back into your closet.

Place the trash bag in your trash can immediately. Take the donation bag to your local drop-off point immediately. No wait!

Finally, tackle the things that need fixing or cleaning . If you don't have time to edit them yourself, take them to the tailor or dry cleaner right after you drop off the charity bag.

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How often should you clean out your closet?

Now that you've cleaned out your closet, when should you see it again? This mostly comes down to personal preference based on your cleaning habits, but I would recommend at least twice a year between the warmer spring and summer months and the cooler autumn and winter months. And if you really like it, you can review your wardrobe seasonally so you can donate or consign items when they're in style.

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