| "body"> | | | | that you will fit in it one of these days? I know this |
| Spring is on it's way and even though it may already | | | | is hard, but be honest with yourself. Are you going |
| be tempting to spend the day outside, take a few | | | | to lose enough weight in the near future to fit in it? |
| hours to clean out your closet. You'll be glad you did | | | | If you think you will, give yourself 6 months to fit |
| when it is finally time to dig out those t-shirts and | | | | into those cloths. Put them in a bag with a dated |
| shorts. | | | | note. Set yourself an email reminder, or keep a note |
| Before you start: | | | | on your fridge to check back 6 months from now. If |
| Try to have all your clothes washed and in your | | | | the cloths still don't fit, toss them or give them away. |
| closet before you start, so you have a good idea of | | | | Look over your keeps pile again. Do you notice |
| what you actually own at this point. Wear some | | | | several similar items? Do you have 6 pairs of black |
| comfortable cloths and turn on some up beat music. | | | | dress slacks, 3 pink sweaters etc? Do you really |
| Grab a couple of rags and some all-purpose cleaner | | | | need 6 pairs of black pants? Pick 2 or 3 of your |
| to wipe off shelves and rods in your closet. Grab a | | | | favorites, or the ones that are in best shape and |
| couple of large trash bags and a few empty laundry | | | | toss the rest. Do the same with the sweaters. Pick |
| baskets. | | | | one to keep. |
| Start out by sorting everything into three piles. | | | | Don't forget to look through your socks and |
| 1. Things you will throw away or use as rags. | | | | undergarments as well. Get rid of anything you |
| 2. Things you will give away. | | | | wouldn't want to be seen in. Spend a few dollars on |
| 3. Things to keep. | | | | some new items if you don't have much left when |
| Make these piles outside of your closet. With the | | | | you are done. |
| closet empty, take some time to wipe all the shelves | | | | Now it is time to put your keepers back in the closet. |
| off with a rag and some all-purpose cleaner or some | | | | Take a few minutes to figure out what goes where |
| soapy water. If you have wooden shelves, use a | | | | best. Divide your clothes by season and keep them |
| dusting spray or a barely damp cloth. If you're not | | | | together accordingly. It will make it easy to switch |
| sure what you can use on your shelves, just give it a | | | | your spring and summer items to the back of the |
| good dusting. | | | | closet in the fall. |
| Take some time to sweep or vacuum the floor as | | | | A few last tips for those of us tempted to pull stuff |
| well. Don't forget to wipe the rods and clothes | | | | back out of the do-not-keep piles. If you are planning |
| hangers as well. | | | | on using some items as rags, go ahead and cut them |
| Take a look at your three piles. If you are anything | | | | up now. You can keep them in a plastic bag or small |
| like me, pile 1 and 2 are probably pretty small and | | | | cardboard box in your cleaning supply closet. |
| almost everything in your closet ends up in pile 3. | | | | Take the bags to be thrown away or given to |
| Time to go over the pile again. Here are a few "rules" | | | | charity as soon as possible. The longer they sit |
| to help you figure out what's worth keeping: | | | | around the house, the more tempted you will be to |
| If you haven't worn something in 9-12 months it is | | | | dig something back out. |
| probably not worth hanging on to. You may like the | | | | That's it. With a little luck you'll have enough room in |
| looks of a particular sweater, but end up not wearing | | | | your walk in closet to actually walk into it at this |
| it because it itches. Or you found a blouse you love, | | | | point. You may have found clothes you forgot you |
| but haven't been able to find anything to go with it. | | | | had and you should have a much better idea of |
| If you don't have a very good reason to keep it, | | | | what's actually in your closet. |
| give it away or toss it. | | | | Give yourself a pat on the shoulder for a job well |
| Do you have a pair of pants or a dress that is | | | | done and go enjoy the first spring days outside. |
| several sizes to small, but you keep telling yourself | | | | |