Keep, Sell, or Donate?
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We are finally well into spring and getting some sunnier days and warmer temperatures. For most people, all the new blooms and open-window weather inspires them to do an annual deep clean and purge of their home.
Even if spring cleaning isn’t on your list of to-dos, it’s likely time swap sweaters and coats for short sleeves and sandals. The seasonal switch is the perfect time to do a quick wardrobe edit before you put your things in storage. Your future self will thank you for making room for new trends.
As you dive head first into the shelves, containers, and hanging storage of your closet, three piles will likely emerge—keep, sell, and donate. Today, I’m sharing my best tips for deciding which items should go where and the next steps to take.
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Donate
Although it might seem counterintuitive (and contrary to the title of this blog) to start with your least valuable possessions, the best way to pare down your closet is by process of elimination. By starting with items that should be donated, you give yourself a more manageable load to sift through and make tougher cuts.
Go through each piece of clothing, shoes, and accessories, removing anything that is showing excessive signs of wear (i.e., pilling, staining, fading, or holes), has not been worn for 6 months or more, or no longer fits. If an item holds sentimental value for you, feel free to hold on to it but find somewhere you can store it for safekeeping that isn’t amongst your everyday wear.
We all have busy lives, but donation is easier than ever and is a great way to reduce waste. Even well-loved clothing and accessories can be recycled to make something new. Or, your ill-fitting former favorites might become someone else’s thrifted treasure.
Here are a few of my favorite places for donation drop-off:
Housing Works - This nonprofit organization is using many avenues to fight the dual epidemic of HIV/AIDS and homelessness. Goods donated to their stores are sold to raise money for our neighbors who need a helping hand.
Dress for Success - This international not-for-profit empowers women to achieve economic independence in a variety of ways, including providing professional attire for job interviews and regular work wear. You can donate work attire (in good condition) via a local affiliate. Find yours using their website!
Goodwill - Goodwill thrift stores’ primary goal is creating jobs. To date, Goodwill has employed more than 96k people with profits from donation of secondhand goods.
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Sell
If you have some luxury items on-hand that are in excellent condition, you can also sell them. If there’s a market for it, it’s an easy way to make a quick buck or start a fund for new wardrobe staples to replace any you might be parting with.
There are countless online sites for selling and consigning clothing and accessories, but not all of them are worth your time. Here are the sites I personally recommend:
The Real Real - This site is a high-end consignment shop for designer brands and gently used luxury items. They do a great job of authenticating items and the community is fairly active, which could mean a quick sale!
ThredUp - The items on Thredup run the gamut. If you have several items of varying brands, this might be a good place for you to list. While you’re there, browse their selection—there are often hidden gems!
ReBag - As the name would suggest, reBag is a site for selling and purchasing secondhand designer bags. If you have handbags in great condition but you’ve moved on to a new style, this is worth looking into.
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Keep
Now, you should be left with a smaller sampling of clothing and accessories to make final cuts from. Go through your items again (and maybe even one more time) and ask yourself what is worth storing for several months. If you need to try on some of your items to check fit, go ahead and take the time to do that.
What you should be left with is an edited seasonal wardrobe ready to be organized and stored. I recommend sorting by category in water and pest-resistant containers. Keep an eye out for year-round staples to return to your closet. Additionally, try to survey what you have left to see what you might need to be shopping for over the next several months. If you dropped a pant size or two and are purging all of your jeans, make a note to look for more to replenish your closet before cold weather returns.
And, if you didn’t do a closet edit before storing your spring and summer attire, repeat this process as you restock your closet.
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