QUICK TIP TO PURGE YOUR CLOSETS
by Lori Hursey

One of the best tips I’ve ever read is a quick and effortless way to purge your closet of unused items.  As the weather begins to turn warmer in the Spring or cooler in the Fall, go through your closet and turn all of the hangers around backwards on the rod (so that the hook is facing you instead of the back wall).  When you wear and launder an article of clothing, return it to the closet rod as you normally would (with the hook facing the back wall).  At the end of the season the clothes hangers that are still backwards are holding items that you didn’t wear.  You can then decide if they are special occasion items that you want to hold onto for another year, or if it’s time to consign or donate them to charity.  Most of these clothes can be removed from your closet. 

Even if it is something that still fits you, there is a reason you didn’t wear it all year.  If it isn’t flattering, is too faded or worn, etc. take it out of your closet so you can remember to buy a newer replacement shirt that you will wear.  An added benefit of turning your hangers around backwards is that you are more likely to vary your outfits instead of wearing the same handful of shirts routinely.  When I choose my clothes for the day or week, I try to choose hangers that are still backwards because I know they haven’t been worn yet that season and that I’m not being repetitive.  For folded items and shoes, attach a clothespin at the beginning of the season.  When you wear the item, remove the clothespin until the next cycle begins. 

The average person wears only 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.  Which means that the remaining 80% of your clothes are taking up space and only worn 20% of the time.

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