Decluttering clothes - how on earth do you do it?

[Scootergrrrl]

I need to get rid of the piles of clothes scattered around the house before we move - is there a rule for decluttering clothes and shoes?

If i haven't worn it for over 9 months then it goes in the bin

Anything that's hanging neatly in the wardrobe or folded in the drawers can be chucked out.

Everything you actually wear is probably in the piles around the house/washing machine/ironing. Works for me.

I'd say 12 months as the cut-off, to cover a whole year's worth of possible occasions/weather. Maybe get a blunt friend in, who can tell you what suits you and what doesn't, too. Also they don't have the emotional connection to the clothes that you have, so can persuade you to be more ruthless than you might otherwise be.

are you talking yourself or your children?

for kids - (we don't have that many in the first place as not much storage.....) I am pretty ruthless - keep it to a handful of jeans and tops and dresses. Anything stained or stretched or just too lived in I don't save for the younger siblings.

We were talking about all of us - particularly DD who has hundreds of clothes. I've got a fair few too

Any similar rules for shoes??

the only exception to the 12 month rule (above)is wuth classic evening wear or work suits etc (unless you will not be working in the next 12 months) and you should also keep an outfit suitable for funerals as the last thing you will want to do in those circumstances is go shopping (speaking from experience!). Otherwise be ruthless - do not say to yourself "maybe I will wear this one day" or "I will fit into this again one day" - YOU WILL NOT!!!!

12 monhts rule definitely; except for aboslute classics/eveing wear.

Kids- if you wouldn't pack it for a holiday and wouldn't let them play out in it or wear it to a party then it probably needs to go.

If handed over bags of clothes from friends, go through it before the dc do as the things you hate they will love and wear daily to mortify you.

If wardropbe rail is straining, then lots needs to go.

You mean I'll never have the figure I had when I was 18 again? Rats

Five bags GONE - I'm a decluttering demon (I've run out of steam now though and feel I deserve a nice gin and tonic )

Well done you . Definitely a large gin and tonic (maybe 2 - in the interests of decluttering the gin, you understand).

wow! that is a lot. I don't think I'd have 5 bin bags of clothes!

I get all my stuff out on the bed, go through it, smile, remembering the last time i wore it, remember how i love the feel of the material and the colour, then I put it all back

Pedal bin bags - not big ones!

I did this recently as I have lost 2 stone at WW. Refuse to be a bigger size again. Alos finally said goodbye to my pre-children shoes. Lots of heels that I never wear.

It feels great. My local charity shop is overflowing

The saleable ones are going to the charity shop and anything which is not really resellable is going to the local homeless project. Don't worry - the reason I've got into this untidy state is that I can't bin ANYTHING!