The Great Closet Purge — Keep, LETS GO, and No Sandwiches Allowed 👔 s3e13
This is a fun one ... the actual purge episode! 🧥
Last week we did the head work (the seven reasons your closet is basically a wearable therapy session). This week? We're doing the hands work.
Julie and Janis are walking you through the actual Great Closet Purge! None of the "does this spark joy," no three-day pile on the bed, and absolutely no giving up halfway through to go make a sandwich. We see you.
🛠️ Setup Is Half the Battle
Before you touch a single hanger:
block off 30-minute chunks (24 minutes sorting, 6 minutes hydrating),
gather FOUR bins (donate, trash, lives-elsewhere, and the infamous "not sure yet" pile),
put on a soundtrack that is NOT this podcast (yes, people have tried, no, it doesn't go well), and clear a flat sorting surface.
Preparation is 90% of not ending up buried under your own fashion history.
🔄 The Flat Surface Scramble
One section at a time, not the whole closet, ONE section.
Pull it out, wipe down the empty space, wax-paper the rod, then sort. Work that section fully before moving to the next.
Slower feels wrong but it's actually the secret to never facing an overwhelming pile of unresolved sweater decisions.
🗂️ Keep or LETS GO, Clothing Edition
- Keep: Fits, worn regularly, fits your actual life
- LE: Lives Elsewhere (seasonal storage, spouse's closet, mysteriously migrated)
- T: Trash (stained, broken, done. No guilt required)
- S: Sentimental (unless you immediately know, this item gets its OWN separate session, not decided mid-purge)
- GO: Goes out — donate, sell, or "I know exactly who needs this"
⏳ The Maybe Pile (With a Deadline)
Maybes are fine ~ as long as they're sealed, dated, and set a 3-month calendar reminder. If you can't remember what's in the bag in 3 months, that's your answer. Donate unopened.
🚧 The Four Sticking Points
The expensive thing you never wear (the money's already gone. Stop paying the guilt tax).
The item that "almost" fits, or the gift you don't love.
As well as clothes from a different body or life chapter we handle here with real gentleness, because that one's personal.
✨ Putting Keeps Back Right
Group by category, hang facing the same direction, put your most-worn pieces at eye level, and wipe everything down before it goes back in. Fresh space, fresh habits.
🎯 This Week's Challenge:
Complete ONE 30-minute purge block on your closet (24 minutes of sorting, 6 minutes to breathe.)
Take a before photo!
Share your before/after in the ABC Declutter with JJ Community on FB.
Every win counts, no matter the size of the section.
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!