5 things you need to throw out of your wardrobe
Can you think of every item in your wardrobe? Listing off every t-shirt, skirt and pair of trousers can feel impossible. So, in a time when our wardrobes are overflowing with outfits that we never wear, why do we feel the need to keep buying brand new clothes, especially when so many second-hand alternatives exist?
Rather than indulging in a new shopping spree, a spring clean of our wardrobes could be a frugal and feel-good way of organising our home and falling back in love with our clothes.
About 10% of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by the fashion industry, adding to the volume of greenhouse gases blanketing the planet. When we think more carefully about what we’re buying, and if we really need it versus want it, our shopping can become a lot more eco-conscious.
Revisiting the hidden gems in your wardrobe can be a quick way of refreshing your style without the added cost to the planet or your bank account. It also means you’ll be less tempted to add to the clutter in your wardrobe already, seeing each unwanted item with the potential to swap, donate, mend or style into a new creation.
That work can begin by deep cleaning our wardrobes. Prioritising time to go through the clothes that you haven’t worn in months, or those shoes that got lost in the abyss of chiffon and suede, can make you feel excited to re-wear something you forgot you even owned.
When you’re looking at revamping your wardrobe, these are the items that you should consider throwing, donating, or swapping with a friend to make your style exciting again.
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1. Old pants and socks
Why are you still wearing those pants with a hole and a tear in them? Shouldn’t you have got rid of them months ago when they first started to snag? Your fashion sense and self-confidence deserve better.
No matter bikini or brief, Brazilian or boxers, any underwear that is clearly past its use-by date should be disposed of safely. Make sure that your old, unusable underwear isn’t finding its way into a bag of donations for the charity shop – no volunteer should have to get rid of your fraying underwear for you!
Try to be as strict when it comes to socks, too. For small holes, a simple running stitch can fix a pair of socks to look brand new. If the heel is fading away from years of use, however, your needlework probably can’t perform a miracle to get it back in top condition.
2. Things you never wear
Get as far into your wardrobe as you can and pull out the dustiest, most crumpled item that’s likely fallen off a hanger and been left on the floor without realising. Set yourself a week’s deadline to wear it, either in your house or fashioned into an outfit at work.
If you can’t find a reason to include it in your weekly rotation of clothes, then it may be time to get rid of it. Even if it used to be your favourite thing to pull out of your wardrobe, holding onto the past can add clutter to your home.
3. Novelty bedding
Are you still using that novelty cartoon bedding in your bedroom when you change your sheets? Or is it saved in a folded pile for emergencies, when you only slept on it maybe twice before?
Being tempted to buy novelty bedding is normal, especially when it adds a bit of fun and brighter colours to your bedroom aesthetic. If you’re only using them on rare occasions or falling for the trap of buying something you never use, it may be time to use it or lose it.
4. Anything with a hole in
You said you’d mend it, but that was over a year ago, and now you’re not able to wear your favourite trousers anymore. Unless you can battle a needle and thread to patch together that holy item and prevent it from going into landfill, it won’t be getting any use lying at the bottom of your wardrobe.
Recycling your clothes can be a great way to cut down your carbon footprint, reducing the chance of your old clothes being incinerated or ending up in a landfill. That doesn’t mean that your old t-shirt will be washed and turned into another t-shirt, but the material may be broken down into small fibres and used in furniture, insulation or other household furnishings.
5. Missing accessories
Gloves can be a great way to keep your hands warm and add a touch of colour to your outfit. If you’re missing one glove in the growing pile of laundry and clutter in your house, it may be time to lose hope for the pair being reunited.
We’re not recommending that you throw out a perfectly usable and quality accessory in your house, but if it’s been a year and you still haven’t found the matching pair, it may be your sign to get rid of the item and brush up on your organising skills.
What can you do with old clothes?
Mend – Can you refashion those old ties into a belt? Or maybe turn an old dress into a maxi skirt? How about that oversized shirt into a cropped top? Try to think about how your clothes can have a new life breathed into them. Your next favourite outfit could be hiding in an unlikely DIY project in your wardrobe without you even realising.
Lend – Organise an evening with your friends where you all bring the old clothes that you never wear to someone’s house. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with your mates, pour a glass of wine and look over and swap each other’s clothes, a bit like second-hand selling, but without the packaging and shipping labels.
Donate – Your style may have changed, but that doesn’t mean it won’t suit someone else. After all, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ is a popular saying for a reason.Visit your local charity shop or donation centre and share your clothes – you may even spot a new jumper or bedding set to buy while you’re there.
Recycle – If there really is no further use that your clothes can bring, where they’re no longer wearable or of good enough quality to be sold at a charity shop, then it may be time to recycle them. Dropping your clothes off at your local recycling centre can mean your clothes are disposed of appropriately, without contributing to the landfill that your household bin is already adding to.
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