Organize Your Bedroom Closet: Toss or Keep Items?

Are you overwhelmed by the clutter in your bedroom closet? Is it filled with items that you know you need to toss but are reluctant to do so? Debating whether to toss or keep an item is a common dilemma and often is the obstacle to our organization . In order to achieve organization, we must be willing to toss some of our items that no longer serve us.

Determining whether to toss or keep? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I worn this item in the last year? In the last 2 years?
• Has this item lost its shape (stretched or shrunk)or has the color faded?
• Am I waiting for this trend to come back before I wear it again?
• Am I waiting to lose weight before I can fit into this item again?
• I am keeping this item because it was an expensive impulse purchase?

These are just some of the many excuses we tell ourselves in order to hold onto clothing items that we don't want to part with. The only purpose these items are serving is to keep you disorganized.

Keep items that you wear on a regular basis, or that you intend to wear on the right occasion (formal attire for example).

Toss items that are irreparable, meaning that they have rips or stain that cannot be repaired. For all other items that are still in decent condition but no longer serve your needs, there are a number of options available:

• Donate: You will feel better about tossing items knowing that someone else can use them. Another incentive is that most donations offer a tax write-off.
• Sell: This will help ease your mind if you're concerned about tossing items that you have invested a lot of money in. You can get rid of items, but still profit by selling online, local newspaper or thrift stores.
• Swap: You aren't the only one who has clothing to get rid of, why not check with friends or co-workers and see if you can swap your unwanted items? It's like receiving a whole new wardrobe!