Does anyone else have a closet full of clothes but never anything to wear? I seem to encounter this problem at least once a week and it annoys me because it LOOKS like I have so many options. My problem is I feel super guilty about throwing something away unless it’s indecent to wear in its current condition. I’d love to donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army, but every time I gather a bag or box, it ends up sitting in my garage. I also have a hard time parting with clothes that have ANY sentimental value to them. If I can remember who and/or why an item was given to me, I’m determined to keep it forever. Take those issues and combine them with all the physical changes that occur during and after pregnancy and you end up with a closet that is stuffed to the brim.

Does your wardrobe have categories? Mine does, although you probably wouldn’t be able to recognize my “system” for organizing them. At the front of my section of the closet (gotta share with the husband 😉 ), are my every day clothes. Simple but nice shirts that are usually tossed with jeans or khakis and make me presentable to the world on an average day. After those come my other season clothes. For example, it’s summer right now, so I don’t need long sleeve shirts and sweaters. Then comes a random mish mash of things that I can’t get rid of for various reasons, one of the most common themes being that I WILL fit into that again. Following that is a collection of business attire and the few coats that I own. Oh, and way in the very far back corner of my closet that is barely reachable are my few pieces of formal attire. If I was sure any of them would fit, I’d have pulled one out and participated in The Mommyologist’s Mom Sexy Prom. But I don’t want to risk being depressed about my physical shape, so they stay tucked in the back for me to daydream about the times I wore them and where I’ll wear them again.

I almost forgot about the four dresser drawers that explode all over the floor every time they’re opened. The amount of clothing I have and don’t wear is absolutely absurd, and I’d like to do something about it. I’m going to start small and start with the dresser drawers.

The drawers contain ancient t-shirts and shorts that I’ve slept in since I graduated from high school. That was ten years ago. Why do I still have these? I’m married to a wonderful man who makes good money and we have a child, I should be able to have proper sleeping attire. So why don’t I? Because I have a hard time spending the money on things that I don’t NEED. This comes from growing up in a super frugal household. In the past year I have made strides to change my wardrobe, but find myself gravitating back to the old faithfuls.

Step 1 of purging my closet is going to be removing all the old t-shirts and shorts. I think I can empty an entire drawer just by doing that. Step 2 is going to be removing all the clothes from my closet that I haven’t worn since BEFORE my wedding five years ago. Step 3 is where it starts to get hard. I decide what clothes I really never will wear again for whatever reason and either toss them or donate them. Step 4 is getting the bags of sorted clothes to their appropriate destinations and Step 5 will be admiring the space that I have reclaimed and hopefully be happier with less clutter.

Do you have a clutter or organizational problem in your home? Would you like to get rid of that problem? What’s your five step plan to solve it?