12 Items You Should Toss From Your Closet Right Now, According to Pro Organizers

Clothes That Don't Fit

It's completely understandable to hold on to clothes in hopes that they one day might fit, but they're just taking up valuable closet space (and are a reminder of body changes that might make you uncomfortable).

Closets cluttered with pieces that don’t fit can distract from items you could wear today, says Mindy Godding, a certified professional organizer. Either place them in bins labeled by size or season in a long-term storage spot, like an attic or garage, or donate them to open up space in your closet.

Damaged, Stained, or Ripped Items

No matter how much you may love a piece of clothing, how likely are you to wear it if it’s damaged, stained, or full of holes and tears? If you've been meaning to put your sewing kit to use or take them to a tailor for months now, it's time to do so, stat. Otherwise, those damaged items have got to go.

“Donate wearable items, repurpose holey socks and old T-shirts for dusting and cleaning, and toss old underwear and anything that cannot be fixed,” says Audree Kate López, a fashion stylist, editor, and influencer. Additionally, old blankets and towels can be donated to animal shelters where they can get plenty of use even if they have holes or stains.

Wire or Plastic Hangers

They may be free from the dry cleaner or the department store where you purchased your items, but wire and cheap plastic hangers don’t belong in your closet. “While wire hangers are slim and don’t take up much room in your closet, they are super flimsy and can distort the shape of your clothes,” says Sarit Weiss, a certified professional organizer.

Replace wire and plastic hangers with equally slim but sturdier alternatives, like velvet or wood hangers. They'll streamline the look of your closet, creating a more cohesive and clean space.

Bulky Hangers

Just like flimsy wire and plastic hangers have no place in your closet, neither do bulky ones. They take up valuable closet space and should be replaced with slim but sturdy hangers., like wood or a sturdier plastic. Weiss does, however, recommend keeping a few larger, more substantial hangers for suits and other formal attire to better hold their shape and weight.

Shoes That Hurt Your Feet

Those cute shoes you love but are painful to wear? Get rid of them! Donate or sell any uncomfortable shoes during your closet clean-out so you have more room for things you enjoy wearing, advises Weiss. Plus, you'll have more space for shoes that are comfortable and cute.

Dry Cleaning Bags

Dry cleaning bags should go straight to the trash during your closet clean-out. The odors you smell at the dry cleaners are the result of airborne chemicals used in the dry cleaning process. “Dry cleaning bags trap those potentially damaging chemicals against your fabrics,” explains Godding. Plus, they make your closet look untidy and can be a pain when you're trying to quickly throw together an outfit.

Items That Don't Fit Your Personal Style

How many times have you frustratingly exclaimed you have nothing to wear while getting ready for an event? Filling your closet with items you truly love to wear will make your life so much easier. "You don’t have to keep something just because you bought it,” says López. “If you always skip an item in your closet because it doesn’t fit your personality or style anymore, that’s OK!” 

Consign, donate, or gift these pieces to friends to make room for pieces you actually love—and feel good in. “Trust me, you won’t miss them,” Godding says.

Costumes

If you're a big fan of Halloween or costume parties, you might have a bunch of old costumes on hand. Even if you plan to wear them again, they don’t belong in your closet. "Costumes can trip people up because they are technically clothes," says Godding. "However, these seldom-worn and often bulky items can steal precious storage space from day-to-day clothes."

Either store costumes in a secondary space away from the rest of your wardrobe or donate old costumes that you’ll never rewear. And the next time you need a costume, try DIYing one using items you already have so you don't bring unnecessary items into your closet.

Extra Tote Bags

It's hard to leave an event without a matching tote bag, and they can quickly pile up and get out of control in your closet. “Sort through all your bags and decide how many are a reasonable number for you to keep, based on how often you use them and how often you like to switch them out,” says Weiss. Recycle or donate the ones you don’t use.

Freebies

Free T-shirts from events, swag bags, and gifts from friends and family are generous, but if you don't use or wear them, there's no need to keep them in your closet. If you don’t wear them within a certain timeframe, "donate them so someone else can give them a new life," recommends López.

Formal Outfits You've Only Worn Once

Your bridesmaid's dresses, high school old prom dress, or even tuxedos and suits are hard to get rid of, especially because they're typically expensive items. If you have suits or dresses you’ve worn once and likely won't wear again, Weiss recommends donating or selling them to free up precious closet space. Alternatively, you can loan your rarely worn formal wear to family and friends who can put it to good use at upcoming events.

Gifts & Sentimental Items

Getting rid of gifts and sentimental items can be hard, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to hold onto something forever just because it was a gift or has fond memories attached to it. “If you have 20 shirts from college but never wear them, donate, pass down, or keep your favorite two,” suggests López.

Take photos of particularly meaningful items so you can treasure them forever without having them take up space in your closet.