How long does it take you to find an accessory or item of clothing to wear in the morning? Have you resorted to shoving your clothes into the crevices of your wardrobe due to lack of space? How many times have you given up on what you wanted to wear because you simply can’t find it?

If you answered yes to any of the above (let’s face it – most of us probably will) then this is the article for you. Shelina Jokhiya of Decluttr ME believes that if you can’t find it within 5 seconds, there is a glitch in your system!

Shelina joins Home Club ME as our ‘Home Organisation Expert’ and is ready to depart her pearls of wisdom for those who want a stress-less de-cluttered life, starting with our closets.

HOW TO DECLUTTER!

Yes, it’s true, it may be painful, but to see the things you want to wear, you’ll have to declutter. If you don’t believe me, just give it a go, it will all be worth it when you can find your items in less than FIVE seconds, freeing your time for an extra cup of coffee in the morning.

Here are my quick-tips to help you start the decluttering process:

Start with a Section at a Time

Don’t make the mistake of taking everything out at once, because all you’ll be left with is mayhem; you will feel overwhelmed and unmotivated; You’ll likely stop before you even get started. Instead, start with one drawer at a time, or one season of clothing; such as winter-wear or swimwear and then move onto the next drawer/category.

Next, I suggest that you move onto hung-clothing such as your dresses, trousers, abayas, etc. Keep your shoes till last, as what’s left will largely inform your decisions on what footwear to keep hold of.

Set A 20-Minute Timer

Try not to exceed a 20-minute time slot for each section; this will help to make it feel bite-sized rather than backbreaking. If you haven’t got hours to spend, 20-minutes a day decluttering one small section at a time will make all the difference by the end of the week.

How to Choose

When deciding what gets the cut, ask yourself these five questions:

• Do I love it?
• Do I wear it?
• Is it in good condition (i.e.: not broken, torn or burnt)?
• Does it fit?
• Is it fashionable?

If you answered NO to any of those questions, it’s got to go!

The 3 Month Rule

If you’re unsure as to whether to declutter the item, keep it and take note of if you wore it within 3 months or not. If it’s not worn within that time, then you know what to do – declutter it from your life.

Three Heaps to Happiness

Use three separate piles to sort your items

• Recycle (underwear, old socks, torn or burnt items)
• Donate
• Sell

Say Sayonara to Sentimentality

Sometimes an item has sentimental value, perhaps you wore it the day you left the hospital holding your new-born, maybe it was what you wore the first time he/she said I love you… But, if you are not wearing it anymore – then don’t let this hold you back. Check whether you have any photos of you in that item of clothing, if you do then frame that picture and donate the item. By doing this you are making sure you are not wasting precious real estate in your wardrobe for items that you are no longer wearing.

The Paper Bag Trick

Keep a paper/laundry bag inside your closet and every time you see something you realise you haven’t worn for a while or want to declutter, throw it in the bag. Once the bag is full, take it for donation or organise for the items into the three heaps.