As the cold weather creeps into Boulder, you’ll soon turn to sweaters, cardigans, and crewnecks. Those are some bulky clothing items, and your closet may be cramped for space, which makes this the perfect time to slim down your wardrobe and the pieces you have in your closet. Here are a few tips and tricks on cleaning your closet and getting ready for winter!
Make a plan
When deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, or deciding on your “maybe” pile, having a plan to follow makes it easier. Think about what you like to wear, where you go most often, and how much space you have. Having a balance of different options is best.
“One thing in, one thing out”
Adopting this mentally makes sure that your closet is never overflowing with clothes. Plus if you bring in a new shirt, you can donate an older shirt that you simply don’t wear enough to keep around.
Be realistic
Know that you can’t keep everything, or get rid of everything. Think about how many items you want to clean out from your closet. It’s okay to only remove three or four items. When it comes to deciding what to keep, think about these questions;
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Would I buy this today?
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When was the last time I wore this?
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When will I wear this in the coming months?
Try the “maybes”
Put your “maybes” at the front of your clothing choices, and try to wear them at least once before deciding if you keep, or get rid of them. You might be surprised by how much you like that shirt that you haven’t worn in a while, or that pair of pants that has been stuck at the bottom of your drawer.
Donate!
When it’s all said and done, the clothing you decided to remove from your closet can find another home if you donate them. There are multiple ways to donate your clothes. From a clothing drop-off bin located around Boulder, or one of the second hand stores such as the Salvation Army, or Goodwill.
Also, make your closet cleanout fun! If you and your friends decide to clean out your closets on the same weekend, you could do a clothing swap before donating the rest of your clothes. Play some music, listen to a good podcast, or have friends over to give their opinions. The Environmental Center is also having a DIY Sweater Upcycling event; Turn down the heat, turn up the funk! This is a student-led workshop on how to upcycle clothing and mitigate climate change through behavior change! The event will start with food and a presentation about the fashion industry and energy consumption. Attendees will then be led through 101 machine sewing techniques and start doing patchwork on their sweaters! Bring any sweater or hoodie you need to either repair or want to add some patchwork to (fabric for patchwork will be provided).