The Simple Clothes Hanging Trick That'll Make Decluttering Your Closet Easier

Most people struggle when it comes to decluttering a closet. It's difficult to admit defeat and get rid of the items we no longer fit into, never ripped the tags off of, or haven't worn in years. We're either battling a sunk-cost bias or worry that the acid-wash jeans from our college years might come back into style, making us delay the decision to ever let them go. Because of this, most people look for decluttering hacks that make separating with those pieces easier. If you're currently in that predicament, then consider using this simple clothes hanging trick that utilizes a colored hanger. 

To do it, separate your closet into distinct sections. For instance, one section can be jeans, the next slacks, the third collared shirts, the fourth sweaters, and so on. In front of each section, place an eye-catching hanger that will act as a marker. It can either be brightly colored, wrapped in decorative washi tape, or just different from the rest of your matching hangers. Then, every time you wear a piece from that section, hang it in front of rather than behind that hanger. Follow this method for a few months, and you'll distinctly see which items you have skipped over time and time again. Everything to the right of the hanger is what you haven't worn during that time period, and they'll be perfect contenders for the donation bin. This will help you keep your closet organized once and for all.

If you don't have a brightly colored or distinctive hanger, there are some other similar tricks you can try. For instance, there is the reverse hanger technique. This is where you reverse all the hangers in your wardrobe so they face out towards you. Every time you wear an item, you reverse it back so that the hanger faces inward. At the end of your agreed upon time — whether that's a couple of weeks or several months — you will be able to see what you never wore. Those items can go straight into the donation box. If you still can't let them go, force yourself to wear them for a day or two. You will quickly realize why you never reach for them — whether they're too small, uncomfortable, or no longer stylish — and it will be easier to part with them.

If you have small closets and mostly put away your clothes into dresser drawers, there is a hack for pruning those items as well. You can do the same thing you did in the closet by incorporating a distinct divider in your drawers. You don't necessarily have to buy one –  you can create an affordable DIY divider with items you already have. Place the divider at the left side of the drawer, and as you wear items, move them to the left of that divider. After a certain amount of time, you will have your rejects sitting at the right, alerting you what you don't like to wear.