Spring Cleaning: How to Clean Out Your Closet in an Hour

Who’s excited for spring cleaning?! 

De-cluttering your closet is one of the best feelings ever and leaves you with the bare bones of what you love most about your wardrobe. With spring coming up soon, kick off the upcoming season with a solid closet clean out to make room for investment pieces that you truly love. Your closet is not a place to store unnecessary clutter, yet we’re all guilty of having tons of it. So here's your chance to change that.

Keep scrolling to read our super simple guide on how to clean out your closet in an hour. Ready, set, go!

Step 1: Get 4 boxes

First off, you’ll need the proper equipment to get your closet in shape for the summer. Set up 4 big boxes and label them “keep,” “maybe,” “donate,” and “garbage.” We also like to keep a few hangers close by in case we want to hang some items found in the closet.

KEEP: These are your must-have items that you just can’t live without. You wear them on a weekly (or maybe daily) basis and love them with all your heart. These are your staple items, hang on to them.

MAYBE: Keep this pile as small as possible. These are the clothes that you think might have a life in the future for a special occasion. To fight this, live in the present. Can you wear it right now? Do you feel comfortable wearing it?

If you answered no to one or both of these questions, get rid of it. If you truly can’t decide, put it in the “maybe” pile. However, we can’t stress this point enough – keep the “maybe” pile small! You’ll thank yourself later when you have to sort through the pile and make a final decision. We’ll revisit the “maybe” pile in step 3.

DONATE: These are the clothes that no longer fit properly or rarely get worn. This pile should consist of the clothes that have been sitting in your closet for the past year (or 3?) without ever being touched. Make sure that they are clean and still in decent condition.

REPURPOSE: The repurpose pile is for clothes that no longer belong in your closet and aren’t fit to be donated. Holes, tears, sweat stains and any other stubborn stains are all signs that you shouldn't be passing those items to others. 

You may still be able to find uses for these items though! Cut fabric into smaller pieces to use as rags for cleaning or donate bedding and towels to a shelter. Some schools also take donations of scraps for arts and crafts projects!

Step 2: Start sorting

Be ruthless and move quickly, you only have an hour! Start by taking ALL of your clothes out of your closet, your dressers, and anywhere else you keep them, and dumping them into one massive pile. It sounds intimidating, but it’s the most effective way at tackling the monster in your closet – head on! Move as quickly as possible and don’t overthink it. If you love it, keep it. If you don’t wear it, get rid of it.

While sorting through your clothes, ask yourself these questions:

     Have I worn this item in the past 12 months?
     Do I feel comfortable when I wear this?
     If I went shopping right now, would I buy this?

If you answered “no” to one or more of these questions, get rid of it. The only items that should stay are the ones that you want to wear now. If you paid a hefty price tag for an item but never ended up wearing it, try reselling it. You won’t get the full price you paid for it, but at least you can try and make a bit of cash while cleaning out your closet. Double win!

Step 3: Put everything in it’s right place

Organize all the items you’re keeping and hang them neatly in your closet. Donate the donation box, and toss the garbage pile. Remember that “maybe” pile you made? Keep it for 6 months. Any clothes that you pull out of the box within those 6 months can stay, get rid of anything else.

Step 4: Bask in your uncluttered glory

Take a step back and appreciate all your hard work. Living an uncluttered life makes room for living with intention and meaning. When shopping, purchase quality pieces that will last you a good few years and pair well with multiple items in your wardrobe. Investment pieces are always in fashion!

And did you know that our Sakura Convertible Dress can be styled in 21+ different ways? Forget about shopping for a new dress every time you have a special occasion. There’s a Henkaa for that! Our Ivy Convertible Dress is also a great choice for your everyday routine and can be styled in 10+ different ways. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Henkaa’s got your back.

Don’t put it off any longer, use our guide on how to clean out your closet in an hour to kick start your spring cleaning routine this season. Good luck!

Written by Paulina Gugala