Declutter your wardrobe: How to organise your clothes

Is your wardrobe full of clothes you hardly ever wear? Over time, forgotten pieces pile up, new purchases add to the clutter and clothes hidden at the back of the wardrobe disappear from view. The best way to declutter your wardrobe is to take everything out, sort each item consciously and give every piece you keep a fixed place. Methods such as the Marie Kondo approach, the three-box method and seasonal storage can make the process much easier.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to declutter your wardrobe, create more space and organise your clothes so that everything stays easy to find.

1. Set aside enough time and prepare your space

Depending on the size of your wardrobe, allow around two to four hours for a thorough declutter. Choose a large, well-lit area where you can easily assess the condition of each garment. A full-length mirror nearby is useful if you want to try on pieces you are unsure about or put together new outfits.

Decluttering can become tiring after a while. Put on your favourite music, plan a small reward or ask someone to help you if that keeps you motivated.

What you need to declutter your wardrobe:

• Large, sturdy rubbish bags
• Boxes, bags, baskets or storage containers
• Masking tape and pens for labels
• A microfibre cloth and cleaning products
• Enough floor or bed space to sort your clothes
   

2. Empty your wardrobe and get an overview

If possible, empty your entire wardrobe before you start sorting. Seeing all your clothes at once makes it easier to understand how much you actually own. It also gives you the perfect opportunity to clean your wardrobe thoroughly. If the task feels overwhelming, work category by category instead. You could start with tops, for example, before moving on to trousers, dresses or jackets.

Place similar pieces together and ask yourself:

• Do I own several almost identical items?
• What do I wear all the time?
• Which clothes had I completely forgotten about?
• Which pieces no longer fit my lifestyle?

3. Look at every item and make a conscious decision

Instead of asking whether you might need something one day, focus on whether it deserves a place in your wardrobe today.

Ask yourself:

• Does it fit well and feel comfortable?
• Does it suit my current style?
• Can I combine it easily with other clothes?
• Would I buy it again today?
• Have I worn it during the past year?

Start with the easy decisions, such as badly damaged or worn-out clothing. Then work your way towards the pieces that are more difficult to assess.

What should you do with unwanted clothes in Switzerland?

Have you sorted out clothes you no longer want to keep? Old clothing does not necessarily have to be thrown away. Some pieces can be repaired or altered, while others can be sold, given away or donated. This means they are not wasted and may get a second life.
 

Repair old favourites

A new button or a small alteration can turn neglected clothes back into favourite pieces. This is often particularly worthwhile for high-quality clothes or items you otherwise enjoy wearing.
 

Sell high-quality clothes

Selling unwanted clothes allows you to recover at least part of their value. However, you usually need to invest some time in taking photos, creating listings and arranging shipping or collection. Selling is therefore most worthwhile for high-quality, barely worn clothes with a reasonable resale value. That way, decluttering remains motivating instead of ending with a box of unsold clothes sitting in your cellar.

Good options in Switzerland include:

• Ricardo for higher-value individual items and brands
• Tutti or Facebook groups for simple local online sales
• second-hand shops in your area
   

Donate clothes in good condition

Even if an item has little resale value, it can still be useful to someone else. You can pass clothes on to family or friends or donate them. The important thing is that they are still suitable to wear. Only pass on clothing that is clean, complete and not badly damaged.

Places where you can donate clothes include:

• local Brockis and second-hand shops 
• clothing exchanges or local swap initiatives 
• social organisations such as Caritas Switzerland 
• textile collection points, such as collection containers

Important: Charitable organisations may pass clothes directly on to people who need support or sell them at affordable prices to help fund social projects. Clothes donated for reuse should therefore be in a condition in which you would also be happy to offer them to a friend. 

Textile collection schemes may work differently. Some also accept damaged textiles so that the material can be recycled. Check the requirements of your municipality or the relevant collection organisation, such as TEXAID or Tell-Tex.

How often should you declutter your wardrobe?

In general, a change of season is a good opportunity for a quick wardrobe review and declutter. At the same time, you can store summer or winter clothing you do not currently need somewhere where it is not always taking up visible space. 

Tip: Place a small basket in your wardrobe. Whenever there is something you no longer want to wear for an extended period, put it in the basket. At your next decluttering session, start with these items.

After decluttering: How to organise your wardrobe properly

Once you have finished decluttering, you have already completed a large part of the job. Before putting everything back into your wardrobe, think about your new organisation system. Make sure that every garment has a fixed place. This makes it much easier to keep your wardrobe tidy in the long term.
 

Organise by category

The easiest way to find everything is to keep similar items together. For example, you can separate: tops, trousers and skirts, dresses, jackets, sportswear, sleepwear. Underwear and accessories should also have their own drawer, box or section. Within these categories, you can also organise clothes by colour, occasion or how often you wear them.
 

Consider what you wear most often

Organise your wardrobe so that the clothes you wear most frequently are easy to reach. Everyday clothing should be clearly visible and accessible. Seasonal clothing you do not currently need can be stored higher up, further back or separately. Clothes for special occasions that are only worn rarely can also take up less space in the most accessible part of the wardrobe.
 

Hanging of folding?

Not every garment needs a hanger. As a general rule, anything that creases easily is better hung. Shirts, blouses, blazers, dresses and smart trousers that need to keep their shape usually belong on a hanger. T-shirts, jumpers, jeans and knitwear, as well as sportswear and sleepwear, are generally better folded.

Tips: How to make the most of your wardrobe space

• Use slim velvet hangers so more clothes fit on the rail. 
• Use small boxes or organisers for underwear, socks and accessories. 
• Use door hooks or hook rails for belts, scarves and bags. 
• Avoid very high stacks so you can see everything at a glance. 
• Avoid oversized storage boxes where items quickly get lost. 
• Store rarely used items on top of the wardrobe if necessary.
   

Store special or seasonal clothing

By moving clothes for special occasions and clothing for the warmer or colder months out of your main wardrobe, you can create much more space for basics and favourite outfits. Perhaps you have room for boxes on top of the wardrobe or in a storage cupboard? Storing clothes in the cellar is also possible if you follow a few important tips.

If you have very little space at home, an external storage unit can also be a practical solution. At Zebrabox, you can choose from different private storage options, whether you need straightforward long-term storage or flexible temporary storage for a shorter period. This can be especially practical if your wardrobe is too small for bulky but valuable seasonal clothing. A ski suit or thick winter coats, for example, take up a lot of space during summer. A dry and secure storage space such as a Zebrabox keeps these clothes protected until winter while freeing up space at home.