Notes You Need: Here’s a Closet Decluttering Checklist You Can Copy/Paste to Your Phone
If you’ve ever looked at your closet, felt overwhelmed by the clutter, and thought, “How did it get this way?” then congratulations: You are human.
Even if you feel like you’re constantly getting rid of clothes that you aren’t wearing regularly or that you’re actively managing how many new pieces you’re adding to your closet, it can still be easy for things to get out of control fast. Anyone who’s tried on a dozen outfits before finding one they like (and discarding all the rejected ensembles on the closet floor) knows exactly what I mean. Plus, doing a top-to-bottom closet clean out can feel like the very last thing anyone wants to do after a long, stressful week.
Luckily, there are ways to stay on top of your closet clutter regularly that will make getting dressed (and your life in general) way easier. It just takes a little bit of consistency. Try starting a note on your phone dedicated to a regular closet cleanout. Use that note to keep track of exactly how you should declutter your closet every week, month, or year, and it will make all the difference in staying on top of clutter in a way that feels sustainable.
Here’s a checklist you can copy/paste right into the notes app on your phone. Adjust as you need to—subtracting categories, changing the frequency, or adding your own criteria for what stays and what goes:
Decluttering the Closet
Go through everything every 1-2 months:
- Tops 👕
- Dresses 👗
- Jackets 🥼
- Bottoms & jeans 👖
- Shoes & boots 👟👢
- Bags 👜
- Hats, gloves, belts & scarves 🧤🧣
- Pajamas 👚
- Socks & underwear 🧦
- Jewelry 💍
- Athletic clothes & swimwear 👙
Collect everything from one category above, place it all on your bed, then go piece by piece and only keep something if:
- You like it… ️❤️
- And it fits… 💃
- And it’s not broken… ✨
- And you’ve worn it in the past year. 📅
Before you start going through your closet regularly, though, do one massive clean-out. This way you’re starting with a clean state. If that isn’t possible, just keep in mind that even the smallest amount of progress is still progress—especially if you’re doing it regularly.