Tips and tricks for an efficient spring declutter of winter clothes

The assessment: keep, donate or toss?

Before packing everything into bins until next November, first take the time to assess each piece by asking yourself these questions about every item of clothing:

For children's clothes:

• Will it still fit next year?
• Is it in good condition or completely worn out?
• Did my child actually wear it this winter?
• Is there a younger child in the family who could inherit it?

For adults' clothes:

• Did I wear it at least once this winter?
• Does it still fit and still suit my taste?
• Is it in good enough shape to be donated?
• Have I been keeping it “just in case” for three years?

The three-pile system

Create three distinct zones in your sorting space. Even if it may seem obvious, this physical setup makes for more efficient sorting.

Pile 1 – Keep and store:

• Clothes in good condition that will still fit next year
• Quality pieces worth holding on to
• Sentimental items you truly care about (but be careful not to keep everything!)

Pile 2 – Donate:

• Everything that's in good condition but no longer works for you
• Children's clothes that have become too small (for any member of the family!)
• Surplus items (you may need two or three pairs of mittens per child, but maybe not five!)
• Impulse buys that were never worn, with the tags still on

Pile 3 – Toss:

• Clothes too worn to be donated
• Socks with holes, mittens that have been unmatched for two years
• Stretched-out elastics, zippers that can't be fixed
• Everything that has clearly had its day!

Strategic storage

For what you decide to keep, a good storage system makes all the difference and will surely save you time next fall. So make sure to:

• Wash clothes before storing them: nothing is worse than pulling out a coat in November that smells musty!
• Use clear bins with clear labels: “Winter – Girl, ages 5-6,” “Winter – Adult coats,” etc.
• Store by category and by size to make things easier to find next fall.
• Write a note and tape it inside the bin listing what you'll be missing next year (e.g., “Need new mittens for Léo”).
• Keep the winter clothes somewhere easy to reach: because you never know if winter will decide to come back for a little visit in April!

Where to donate your clothes

Community organizations, thrift stores and local donation groups are always looking for winter clothes in good condition. Also think about community garage sales or the Facebook groups in your neighbourhood.

Even if the job may seem colossal right now, you'll surely thank yourself next fall, when you get the satisfaction of already knowing exactly what you have and what needs to be bought!