A Step-by-Step Guide to Clearing Out Your Wardrobe Efficiently

This guide from Apartment Therapy's Decluttering Cure program explains how to declutter clothes by first understanding why the closet gets messy, then preparing a workspace and sorting items into categories. It advises making quick decisions using established ground rules and separating items into keep, donate, mend, and sentimental piles. The process aims to create a more organized and functional closet.

The Decluttering Cure program operates on a seasonal schedule, running three times per year in January, April, and September, with participants receiving fourteen daily assignments by email. The clothes-focused task is designated as Day 5, suggesting it builds on earlier groundwork about decision-making rules established earlier in the program. The guide emphasizes preparation as much as execution, recommending that participants identify underlying causes of clutter—such as sentimental attachment, impulse purchasing, or ineffective storage systems—before physically handling garments. Sorting by category rather than by location helps streamline the process, and the method accommodates both partial and full-wardrobe sessions, with breaks recommended for larger projects.