BookJingle Blog

A few days ago, I was hanging up some clothes in my closet when I realized I had way too many clothes. The rod that all of my shirts hang on was sagging, and almost at capacity. When I started rummaging through everything, I had another realization: I don’t wear 1/3 of what was in my closet. And some of the clothes I remember buying years and years ago. So, I decided I would clean out my closet, and now I have a huge pile of clothes that either don’t fit or just don’t fit into my wardrobe anymore. Sometimes it’s good to just get rid of some things. But, I don’t want to just throw the clothes out, so I’ve been researching all of the different ways I can deal with the situation. And if you’re in the same predicament (or if this post makes you realize maybe you have the same overflowing closet problem), here are some of my suggestions.

1. Online sites like Craigslist and Freecycle are a good option, especially if you are just trying to get rid of clothes. Obviously, everything on Freecycle must be given away. But on Craigslist, you might be able to sell off any higher end clothing, or maybe offer everything for $20. I have a few pair of nice pants that have never been worn that no longer fit, so that would be something I would try to sell on Craigslist. Everything else I have no problem just giving away.

2. If you have a lot of nice, like-new clothing, an option may be a consignment shop. A true consignment store allows you to put your items in their shop, and will sell the items for you, taking a small percentage of the selling price. But there are other places like Plato’s C

loset that buy your clothes up front. The problem with places like Plato’s Closet is that they put a price on your clothes, and it’s usually a very small price. If you have a lot of name brand clothing, it might be worth a shot.

3. Have a clothing swap with your friends. Of course, this pretty much negates getting rid of clothes, but new (to you) clothes are more likely to be worn. And you don’t have to take as much as you give away.

4. If you have a lot of other stuff cluttering up your house, consider having a yard sale. Put 50 cents to a dollar on every piece of clothing, and watch people snag it up. Yard sales are a great way to get rid of items, and get a little extra money.

5. You can always donate clothes to places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Many nonprofits have thrift stores that give them revenue, and may do a lot of other good things for the community.

So, whatever method you choose for getting rid of your clothes, you’ll be doing much better than simply throwing them in the trash. If there is some clothing that you’ve found is too worn out or old to sell or donate, there are options like keeping them as rags, crafts, dog toys, quilts, etc. Old t-shirts can even be cut up into pieces and soaked in fabric softener, and used as a dryer sheet. There is no reason for you to toss out any of your old clothes (except maybe underwear, that’s acceptable). Everything can have a new life, it just might not be with you. Now go clean out those closets!

Comments are closed.