Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Serving Greater Cincinnati

The Ultimate Guide to a Closet Cleanout

Do you find yourself wasting time each morning searching for your favorite sweater or that single, long-lost shoe? If so, this is your notice that life doesn’t have to be that hectic! Maybe it’s time for the ultimate closet cleanout. Ohio Valley Goodwill is here to help with these quick tips:

Dedicate the Time

Since this is the ULTIMATE closet cleanout, the first step is fully dedicating yourself to the process, and that means setting aside ample time to do it right. Depending on the size of your closet, it could take anywhere from a few hours to a full day to properly sort through everything. The last thing you want to do is make yourself feel rushed! 

Drag It All Out

Yes, remove everything from your closet! Pulling everything out into a big pile will ensure you don’t miss anything. It also makes it harder to pass over things you should probably purge.

Four Pile Sorting: Keep, Donate, Store, Trash

Organization gurus will typically tell you to sort things into three piles: keep, donate, and trash. But in the case of your closet, you might consider four piles: keep, store, donate, trash. The extra ” store” pile is for clothing that you may want to hold onto, but don’t wear regularly. You could store those items in a bin or tote with a lid, especially if they have sentimental value.

When deciding what belongs in the donate pile, ask yourself whether you’ve worn the item in the last six months, or whether you’ll wear it in the next six months. Does it fit? Does it make you feel good when you wear it? If the answer is ” no,” it’s probably time to say goodbye!

Cycle of success window graphic at Goodwill
Cycle of success window graphic at Goodwill

Do Good for Others

It may not be what you set out to achieve when you decided to declutter your closet, but when you donate the items you don’t want anymore to Goodwill, you’re making a big difference in your community!

Ohio Valley Goodwill gladly accepts all types of gently used clothing and shoes. Rather than tossing items in the trash, pack them up in the car and head to your closest Goodwill Donation Center. Donating to Goodwill is easy, and you’ll even receive a tax receipt for your generosity!

When you donate to Goodwill, you gain more than just a tidy closet and less morning stress. You’re supporting Goodwill’s mission to provide vocational training and job support services for individuals with disabilities, our nation’s veterans, and others facing barriers to employment. We’re grateful for your support this holiday season, and all year round.

Find your nearest Goodwill donation center and make a plan to donate your items!