Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of going through your child’s messy closets and overstuffed drawers? We have ideas for how to pare down children’s clothing and implement a system that works to manage it all.
- Own less. Keeping items that don’t fit or aren’t loved is a recipe for clutter. Keep only what is seasonally appropriate, fits well and is comfortable or necessary.
- Place a bin in your child’s closet for outgrown clothes. As soon as you notice an article that is too small, toss it in the bin. When the bin is full, remove the outgrown items from their room.
- Utilize drawer organizers to organize and categorize clothing. For example, place bathing suits in one bin and socks in another. This way, your child can quickly find or put away his/her clothes. (The Skubb organizers from Ikea are inexpensive and work well in dressers and closets.)
- Consider hanging your child’s clothing at an accessible height. This fosters independence, enabling children to put away their laundry beginning at a young age.
Once you’ve followed these steps, you’re ready to store, donate or sell the items.
Store: Commit to storing only items in good shape. If a sibling will be able to wear the clothing, pack the pieces in a bin and label by size. Keep a separate bin for shoes and outerwear.
Donate: If the clothes are in good shape but can’t be used by your family, pass them along to a friend or neighbor, or donate to a thrift store or another organization.
Sell: Consignment shops purchase gently-used clothing, but don’t expect a huge payout. Consider listing clothing on Facebook Marketplace in low-cost lots. If you have high-end items, search for Buy/Sell/Trade groups on Facebook. There is a large online resale market for brand-name kids clothing.
Once a system is in place, revisit the closet quarterly. It becomes a quick process, and the benefits of a streamlined wardrobe for your child will be impactful. Hooray for no more frazzled mornings, searching for something to wear!
