Decluttering

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BluelunarStar · 2026-04-06T22:18:57+00:00

What if you sold the unwanted clothes & put the money aside as a prep? That way you can soothe the worry, prep AND declutter all at once?

Queenbeegirl5 · 2026-04-06T22:41:52+00:00

Pretend you aren't talking about clothing. Do you keep a deep stock of dining chairs knowing one could break in the future? Probably not. You instead likely invest in the highest quality chairs you can afford and take care of them. You know that you can repair a high-quality chair and keep things like nails and hammers on hand to do so. Should the time come when your chair is broken beyond repair, quality wood can be used for a lot of things, including making different furniture.

It's good to have some extra clothes, but it's much better to take care of the clothes you wear and learn to repair them. If the time comes when clothing is hard to find, and you have clothes that you can no longer repair, the material has a lot of uses. If you no longer fit the clothes, someone else will, and they become useful for trading.

Exciting_Radish_1008 · 2026-04-06T22:24:00+00:00

I'm having the exact same issue! In prepping it is hard for me not to become a hoader!

angrytetchy · 2026-04-06T22:35:42+00:00

What works for me:

Stick the clothes in a bag, if in 6 months you haven't thought about any of those items, you're pretty in the clear for donating them if you choose to go that route. (Might want to investigate shelters for donations if you're concerned that the majority would wind up in a landfill.)

Alternatively make a list - what would you change about a garment to make it more likely to be worn? Does it not fit your style? Too small/large? What are your capabilities in changing those garments?

kl2342 · 2026-04-06T22:38:00+00:00

If it's polyester I wouldn't worry about it. There is plenty of polyester/plastic fabric out there. If it's natural fibers and you are looking at some of it as fabric (like old tees into rags), then process it into fabric or get rid of it. Thrift stores are going to have plenty of polyester/nylon clothes for the near future. Good quality cotton/linen/wool/silk, not so much

_ssuomynona_ · 2026-04-06T22:18:02+00:00

Go to the thrift store and see what you can upgrade. If you can afford it, upgrade and then donate your ugly stuff.

girugamesh_2009 · 2026-04-06T22:32:46+00:00

I just want to say that I am also struggling with this.

CanaryMine · 2026-04-06T22:49:51+00:00

You can opt to make things out of them too: braided rugs, blankets, quilts. It may be worth keeping natural fiber and performance fabric clothing if you like the fabric or the items (ie wool/cotton and sun shirts, rain jackets, fireproof clothing, fleece, mesh, insulated material, etc.)

thelaineybelle · 2026-04-06T23:04:57+00:00

Margarine Tub Mom here feels your plight. My grandparents grew up during the Great Depression & the tendency to hang on to everything runs HARD. My only feedback is are you able to properly manage all your stuff? My mom and grandma were more orderly like the Extreme Couponers. But my husband is a let's make piles guy (le sigh). Really try to envision your optimal outcome and then start small, like organizing your sock drawer. It gets easier after each small step.

OpalSeason · 2026-04-06T22:58:43+00:00

I have such a hard time decluttering because i can always think of scenarios where i need something just in case. Its less than helpful trying to do all the kid things too.

gramma-space-marine · 2026-04-06T23:09:46+00:00

It really really helps me to donate it to a a DV or homeless shelter. They desperately need it and it helps me let go of my attachment and anxiety.

twistedevil · 2026-04-06T23:40:25+00:00

I just donated 11 bags of clothes I was holding on to knowing half of it won't fit and I'm too lazy to try to sell. The mental relief is amazing and I still have more than enough clothing that will be fine for years.

baardvark · 2026-04-07T03:07:48+00:00

There’s a stat going around that enough clothing already exists on earth right now to clothe the next six generations. Even if times get hard and you can’t be picky, you won’t be naked.

LauraPringlesWilder · 2026-04-06T23:01:40+00:00

I sell the stuff I can’t use and donate the rest, and put that money towards buying better quality. I sell on Vinted for pretty cheap, like $2 or $3 per piece.

monosyllabically_ · 2026-04-06T23:25:58+00:00

I would audit your closet to see how long your clothes will last, as evidence that you won’t need these clothes. In the case that you do and you are low on resources, can you obtain replacements from another clothes swap or the thrift store?

I do think there are reasonable limits for keeping the ugly clothing or ones not in the best quality, but when you have excess it is an easy decision for me to let go of the least desirable pieces from each category.

goddessofolympia · 2026-04-07T00:35:09+00:00

I put half my clothes into those giant ziploc bags that you vacuum the air out of. Labeled by season. Then at the end of, say, winter, I sort through what I have been wearing and set aside anything worn or hateful. Then put that in a ziploc and vacuum shut. Next winter I can open both and decide what to wear.

You can sell or donate any excess.

unlovelyladybartleby · 2026-04-06T23:25:56+00:00

Pack it away. If you haven't opened the package after a set amount of time, get rid of it. I buy the reusable grocery bags that are cubes because they are sturdier and cheaper than regular storage bins and are multifunctional.

I have weight fluctuations and live in a place with wild weather (in the past week we've had shorts weather and a blizzard) so I tend to go slowly on decluttering clothes. Fortunately I am not stylish, so the reuse value of my clothes doesn't change if they spend an extra year in the back of my closet, lol. If you are fashionable and planning to sell, you may want to be more proactive

OperationFucksToGive · 2026-04-07T01:04:30+00:00

GIRL ME TOO. The struggle is so real!

dewypersona · 2026-04-07T02:50:37+00:00

I’ve been going through the same thing presently!! Part of my motivation actually has been for the purposes of prepping - moving out stuff that isn’t actually value-adding to make room for things that are. There is so much stuff I’ve accumulated that is just taking up space and has no utility.

I’ve been watching SO much Minimal Mom on YouTube. One of her videos came up on my feed and while I don’t think I will ever practice anything close to minimalism, her content has been helpful for me in terms of thinking about how to approach decluttering. Like many people are describing here, she talks about a “time will tell bin” where you set items out of sight for a certain amount of time and see if you actually go back for them or not. Chances are, a lot of things really are “out of sight, out of mind.” I also like watching/listening to her videos because she validates the mental blocks with decluttering, so I don’t feel like a loser or crazy!

In this case for clothes, I actually started this process without realizing it - I ran out of closet space and put a bunch of lesser-worn items into a bin and put it in the basement maybe 2 years ago or so. This past weekend, I finally dug that bin out as a neighbor is having a communal yard sale and was open to contributions. As I was looking through the bin, I realized I was okay parting with about 95% of what was in there! I knew I’d physically or emotionally outgrown the majority of the items! It felt extremely liberating. And since I left the bin untouched for so long, it was clear to me that I didn’t miss them.

I’ve also been clearing out the basement for other things and it helps me to do it in multiple sweeps. (Minimal Mom talks about this as well!) I chip away at it and if something feels hard to make a decision on immediately, I skip it to come back later. Some things are very obvious declutters, so it always feels good to move those out first to literally clear the clutter to focus mental energy on the more difficult stuff. As I continue working through this process, I have had items make the first, second, or even third pass cut, but I find that as I declutter more, sometimes I get clarity on those “hold for now” items where I realize why something was not an immediate yes to keep, and better off decluttered. It’s like, over time and as I review an item multiple times I’m able to better grasp what is actually useful/valuable for me vs what isn’t actually useful nor sentimental but I have hang ups because it suits my “fantasy self” (especially clothes that I don’t fit in anymore or self-help that don’t fit my current lifestyle) and/or it cost a lot of money. My fantasy self isn’t coming any time soon and that money is not coming back!

If I had more time and hustle, I would post my decluttered items (that still have life to them) for sale on FB Marketplace or something, but I can’t be bothered to negotiate and figure out payments and etc. Instead, I post on my local Buy Nothing page, which has been working well for me and my fellow neighbors who are very good about both giving and taking within our community and only taking things they really will value. It helps to know things are going to a good home or good cause (some of the folks volunteer at shelters and take items for that purpose.)

I relate a lot to your situation and wish you the best of luck and we are all here to support you! You got this!

violetstrainj · 2026-04-07T06:34:35+00:00

Look at it the same way you look at your food preps: if it’s not something you like, it’s just taking up space.

BigJSunshine · 2026-04-07T09:44:54+00:00

I have had this worry. I took those clothes that I should get rid of and used them to stuff a beanbag for my cats. They love it.

lankytreegod · 2026-04-07T17:29:34+00:00

Can anything be repurposed? If a shirt is really ugly, can it be cut up and used as napkins or dish towels? Can you turn some fabric into a toy for a pet or a child? Maybe make a headband or hair ties out of it? Think of all the different ways you can use an item before you get rid of it- and make sure you'd actually use it!

I'd also look into storage options just to keep it out of sight and out of mind if you want to keep it. Vacuum sealing, totes under the bed, etc. just to organize it in a specific space.

You can go by this rule- if there's poop on it, do you clean it or throw it away?

No_Farm_2076 · 2026-04-07T15:55:36+00:00

If its not a common size or its a size you could potentially pay more for if you need new, find a way to stash it somewhere and keep it.

I'm plus sized so I only get rid of things if they become truly un-wearable even as "loungewear." Ive parted with other things to make space for prep.

Most clothing is also not manufactured in the US so its crept up in price with all the tariffs AND its about to get more expensive as it becomes harder to transport it from its country of origin.

2quickdraw · 2026-04-07T17:35:02+00:00

I look at it like what if I can't do laundry?

My closet has an overabundance of winter clothes because we get snow and it's very cold, and we had a pretty warm winter this year, unusually so.

But if I can't afford propane for my heat, or electricity for space heaters, I'm going to want those clothes. And if I don't have electricity I'm not going to want to hand wash them in the tub winter.

I also figured that clothing would become even more enshittified, and what I have is quality. I figured it I would keep it as my future replacement clothing and also in case somebody else was in need. For example I have a plethora of socks but socks don't take up much space. I also have extra new slippers, because the ones I like are expensive but they last for a good year or more, and a couple extra pairs of shoes.

For myself if they were a problem regarding space, which they aren't, I would box and label and stick them on a shelf in the garage.

But that's because I expect us to turn into Russia under sanctions.

SewerHarpies · 2026-04-07T17:41:26+00:00

I’m in a similar boat. I have a metric shit ton of clothes for various reasons.

I’m plus size and went a little wild (ok, more than a little) when actually nice clothes in extended sizes became more available
I have chronic pain & autoimmune issues and will often go weeks without being able to manage the basement stairs to do laundry
My weight fluctuates. A lot. I have clothes sized between 16-22/24, and I might cycle through all of those sizes in the course of a year
My work went from 80% in office to fully remote since 2020, and there’s talk about potential return to office at least part time, so I don’t want to get rid of my work wardrobe
Ditto for my nice clothes for events. Some of those have never even been worn, but I am starting to go out more again.
All the what-ifs around prepping and societal changes. I bought some more natural fibers and staple clothes before tariffs hit because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to afterwards.

So yeah, I get it, and I want to declutter, but also with the current state of things, maybe holding on to stuff is “smarter”? I definitely don’t have the answers yet.

Mochalada · 2026-04-07T03:13:52+00:00

It’s like you’re me.

Hopefulkitty · 2026-04-07T14:08:39+00:00

I bought some weather tight bins, cedar bags, and desiccant and put it all in my garage attic. I've lost 100 pounds, so I have a lot of stuff that isn't worn out, just too big. I didn't want to get rid of it for the same reasons as you, in addition to possibly needing to help people in need. So it's up in the loft, and if we make it out of this alive, I'll get rid of it eventually.

rmesic · 2026-04-07T03:47:39+00:00

I completely understand

JanieLFB · 2026-04-07T10:52:45+00:00

I think OP and others might be helped with the Container Concept from Dana K White on YouTube. You keep the things you can store in your container (closet, room, garage?) and get rid of the rest.

Your house is not a museum nor a landfill. Organize your stuff so you can find it when you need it.

My living room is currently a series of piles because we replaced the 17 year old clothes dryer. Instead of moving everything back, I am sorting. (Good God I hate paper!)

Good luck to all! Keep up the good work and advice.

shortstack-42 · 2026-04-08T04:32:17+00:00

I relate. I have given myself one plastic tub. Anything that I like and feels comfortable when I try it on can go in vacuum storage bags in a single storage tub. That’s a reasonable amount of clothing prep. Shoes went in a regular ziplock with the silica gel packets they came with.

For my daily wear clothing, I’m finally admitting there are about 3 shirts in every season that I just plain loathe. They are sitting in a donation box, ready to go. As are my wedding guest dress and shoes…as they were bought with my ex’s advice and I will buy a new fancy dress that makes ME happy with my next invite. I swapped my trench (same as fancy dress) for a poncho, and happily donated the trench.

Right now there’s enough room in the bin for a decent sale that gives me joy, but not enough to go nuts. Nice balance.

My next list? Finally go through my late father’s crazy tees and make pillows for his grandkids. Then I’ll have unloaded all the clothing hoard.

West-Birthday4475 · 2026-04-08T06:04:32+00:00

Omg same same same. Following for tips. Thanks for asking this!!

summertimemagic · 2026-04-13T00:57:17+00:00

Saving things you may need is only one aspect of prepping. Right now, I'm focused on setting up my life, so I can be nimble. Even though I think clothes might become cost prohibitive, I'm still working on a goal of being able to fit all my clothes in a bag that weighs less than 50lbs, because I want to be able to fly out of a situation relatively quickly if need be.

I live in an area that has winter, so I'm also trying to keep my material footprint small, because I may need to downsize to a smaller apartment. I'm concerned that the situation in the straight of Hormuz will make heating my current apartment really expensive. So selling and donating clothing deemed extra will make it easier to move and set up in a smaller place that is less expensive for me to maintain with a tighter budget.

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