This Is How to Declutter Your Clothes Like a Pro Organizer (You’ll Never Go Back!)
Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure is a free two-week decluttering program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 14 assignments delivered to your inbox.
When it comes to closet organization, decluttering your clothes is so important. Whether it’s taking stock of items you no longer love, that don’t suit you, or are beyond repair, it’s important to regularly declutter one of the main spots where you store your wardrobe. Here’s how to do a quick closet refresh.
Day 5: Declutter your clothes like a pro organizer.
Let’s dedicate some time to decluttering your clothes using a method I learned from a pro organizer. Here are the six steps to follow.
- Before you start decluttering, think about why your closet always gets so cluttered. Are you holding onto anything sentimental or that no longer fits? Do you have an impulse shopping habit? Is the way your clothes are organized not working for you? Understanding this will help your closet have a better chance of staying organized after you’ve decluttered and reorganized.
- Prepare yourself and your workspace. Make this process as manageable as possible, whether that’s going only section by section vs. the entire wardrobe, or setting aside 30 minutes or an hour plus breaks in between. As for your workspace, lay your sheet on top of your made bed or the floor for where you’ll be putting clothes down. Grab your outboxes and trash bags, too! You’ll need them.
- Take everything out — whether that’s just a section or the entire wardrobe. Sort items into piles by categories: These might be different types of tops (tank tops, long-sleeve shirts, etc.) or clothing types (jeans, tops, dresses, etc.), depending on how much stuff you’re working with.
- Make decisions on your items quickly by asking yourself the ground rules we set up on day two. Other things to consider: Do you actually like this item? Or, if you have duplicates or similar items, pick out the one you like best.
- Start reorganizing into new piles — what you’ll keep, what needs to be donated or sold, and what should be mended before being placed back in your closet. If you come upon anything that has sentimental value for you and you can’t make a quick decision on it, put this aside. We’ll be dealing with sentimental things another day.
- Put the items you are keeping back in your closet in an organized fashion. Place donated and sold items in their respective outboxes, and anything that needs fixing into the maybe outbox!
PRO TIP: If you notice your closet organization is lacking, consider implementing new systems and products that’ll work wonders in your space, like slim hangers, double hang rods, or storage containers.
What stood out as clear “yes” and “no” items for you in your closet? Tell us in our community forum!
More ways to participate in the Decluttering Cure:
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the 2025 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
- Join the conversation by checking out the Decluttering Cure board in our community forum.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
- See all the winners from our 2025 Organization Awards to get your home organized.
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.