How to Declutter Your Closet (for Kids)

Co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO®

Last Updated: February 2, 2024

When you walk into your closet, do you have a hard time finding something to wear? Having a closet packed with too many items can make it difficult to sort through your things on a daily basis. Here's how you can declutter your closet and streamline the process of finding your clothes and other items in your closet.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Started

1
Find a time that will work for you. If you have activities to do in the next 2 hours, don't declutter your closet. Declutter your closet when you have a lot of free time between activities. This way, you can ensure that you get the job done, instead of giving up halfway through. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.}
- For example, you might find it easiest to do this on a weekend when you don't have any plans, or during a school night if you finished your homework and studying early and still have a few hours before bedtime.
Clean the rest of your room . Make your bed, organize your desk, and throw away trash. If you clean the rest of your room before cleaning your closet, you will have more space to work and you will be more motivated. ^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.}

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3
Make three piles for your clothes. The first one should be for clothes you are going to keep. The second pile should be for clothes you are going to donate to charities. The third pile should be for clothes you are going to throw away.
- Throwing away clothes should be a last resort. In most cases, clothes should be in a good enough condition to donate. The only clothes that you should throw away are underwear, socks, and clothes which cannot be fixed due to their condition. Even then, you can get fabric recycling bins, which are a more environmentally friendly option.
- You can also upcycle old clothes, with your parents' permission.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Decluttering Your Closet

1
Take out all your clothes, and sort through them, one section at a time. If your closet has multiple drawers or shelves, declutter them one at a time. Working one section at a time can make the process seem less overwhelming, and it might be easier for you to see the progress you're making as you make it.
- For hanging clothes, you could work on warm weather garments and cold weather garments separately.
- You may find it easier to go through your clothes by category, rather than where it is kept.
2
Get rid of clothing that is too small. If an article of clothing is too small now , get rid of it. If it is in decent condition, you can donate it. ^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.} If it is in bad condition, throw it out, as you might not find a person who is willing to wear it.
- Clothing in "bad condition" might have holes, rips, or stains. It might also be fading. This also includes used undergarments, especially ones that are stained.
- Keep clothes that are too big for you. You might grow into clothing that is too large for you currently, so don't donate it just yet. Of course, if you don't like the item, then donate it or find another use for it.
If an article of clothing doesn't express your style, then donate it. ^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.} However, don't donate clothing that your parents might want you to keep for a specific purpose, such as a formal outfit or school uniform. Your parents spent money on it for a reason, and you should continue to wear it.
4
Throw away the clothes in the "trash" pile. Clothing that you should throw away includes:
- Undergarments that you cannot wear
- Socks that don't have a match
- Clothing with holes
5
Return the clothing in your "keep" pile to your closet. Fold or hang it neatly after you've finished decluttering. Put everything you've decided to keep back in its drawer, shelve, or rail. Put the clothes in the "donate" pile in a bag or box so that your parents can go through the items.
- If you have smaller siblings or family members, your parents may consider giving clothes from your "donate" pile to them.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Organizing Non-Clothing Items

1
Organize your shoes . Group shoes according to season. Put summer shoes together, winter shoes together, and shoes that you would wear in the spring and fall together.
- If you don't want a specific pair of shoes, you can donate them to any organization that takes them. Just make sure to ask your parents first.
- If you're donating a pair of shoes, make sure that they are intact and in good condition. Clean any shoes before donating them.
Group them by type. If you want to donate or give away an accessory, make sure that it's clean and there are no holes or other indicators of bad condition.
3
Look through storage boxes. You might find things you didn't know you owned! Put non-clothes items in their appropriate place. Sort through clothes using the methods in the first section of the article.
- As with clothing, shoes, and accessories, take some time to sort through these items and determine which you want to keep, donate, or throw away. For instance, used books or toys can often be donated.
- If you have any loose items lying around your closet floor or shelves, and you want to keep these items, it can also be helpful to find a sensible storage box or bin to put them in.
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Expert Q&A

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How can I declutter my closet fast?

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®

Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Answer

Start where you can have a quick win. That could mean organizing your socks or anything that will make you feel accomplished and ready to move on to other tasks. The last thing you want to do is start out with a giant project, as you may feel defeated very quickly.

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Tips

Ask your parents to help you with anything you're unsure about.

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Rather than picking out what you want to get rid of, pick out what you want to keep. You will do a more thorough job this way.

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Wash the clothes that you want to donate. Make sure that they are free of major stains.

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Warnings

Think twice before giving away clothing that is worth a lot of money or clothing that was given to you as a gift, especially if the item was given by a relative or friend.

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Be careful about getting rid of clothing you've never worn. If it still fits you, consider keeping it. Your parents might want to see you in it. Of course, if you never plan on wearing it, donate it.

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[1]

Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

[2]

[3]

[4]

How to Declutter Your Closet (for Kids)

Steps

Getting Started

Decluttering Your Closet

Organizing Non-Clothing Items

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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