Blog Post Sept
5, 2012
I was that kid all the parents loved having over because my
idea of fun was cleaning out a messy closet or organizing a room and
truthfully, I still think it is fun and offer my services regularly as my
“gift” to friends. Remember the scene from the movie “Sex and the City” when
the girls are helping Sarah Jessica Parker clean out her closet before she
moved out of her apartment? Now THAT’S my idea of a fun girl’s night out event.
So it will come as no surprise that I created and present a
workshop on this topic complete with handouts and props. Pointers from this
presentation landed me a spot with Tacoma Perry on FOX 5 News where I helped
this TV personality purge her closet using my 6 pile process. It is airing as a
piece for National Procrastination Day, which is Sept 6th. We all
procrastinate about some things and hers was her closet so it was a perfect
fit.
I will share my 6 piles and a little bit of explanation on
each.
First the piles:
- Keep
- Sell
- Donate
- Toss
- Mend/dry
clean
- Archive
Keeps are the
clothes that you wear with confidence and grace. They have earned the right to
take up space in your closet. You feel good and comfortable whenever you wear
them. Rehang them on matching hangers.
Sells are the
pieces that are mistakes, you purchased them on impulse, or they were a gift,
on the clearance rack or for whatever reason landed in your closet but they
don’t feel right for you. They are in style, have little or no wear and have
value in the resale marketplace. These you can take to a consignment shop.
Leave them on hangers…..please!
Donates are the
pieces that you loved but no longer work for you. It could be size, style or
wear but they are not up to consignment shop standards. However, they may have
value for a thrift store and bring needed cash for a good cause. And speaking
of good causes, I just found a thrift store with a great cause where I plan to
send some of my donates but that’s a topic for another day. Put donates in
black bags.
Toss is a pile
for clothing too worn or torn or damaged to sell anywhere. I have volunteered
at thrift stores and know how time consuming it is to go through bags of
clothing that should have been trashed. It is a waste of precious time and man
power, so don’t do it. Remember, you want to support this charity and not waste
their time with your donations. Put tosses in white bags.
Mend/Dry Cleaning
is a pile that must be dealt with regularly. Don’t let it pile up for weeks in
your closet. Get those clothes back into your rotation quickly. I like a
laundry basket for these.
Archive is the
pile for things that you just can’t part with but at the current time is not
earning its keep in your closet. It could be a few items you love but cannot
fit into right now or a cool top from the 70’s that you break out for every
retro party. The key is that your closet needs to be a reflection of what you
need for life right now. So, everything cannot go in this pile, only a select
few special pieces. Giant Ziploc bags that fit under the bed work perfectly for
this pile.
So there you have it, now get started. There are tons of
consignment shops to chose from, each with its own special niche, waiting for
you to show up. Be sure to check stores’
websites for consignment specifics.
Happy Purging!!
--Bonnie Kallenberg
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