YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet management: When do you throw something out?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet management: When do you throw something out? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:20:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Janet on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406764 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:04:46 +0000 Janet 406764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mander, I have a space bag in my basement filled with old concert tees (Siouxsie and the Banshees and R.E.M., anyone?), as well as tees from the radio stations where i worked. They don't get worn, but I couldn't bear to part with them. They're probably worth a little something as collectors items. Diana, I like that "thievery" test -- I'm going to try that. I tend to relegate items to second-tier status (my knocking-around-the-house clothes), but then they seem to hang around way too long. Honestly, how many of those things do I need? I'm getting more selective. I just put about half a dozen tees and casual knit tops in the Goodwill bag because they're starting to pill or fade. I wore them some last year under cardigans or hoodies, but I can tell that this is no longer going to cut it for me. Ornella on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406746 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:53:49 +0000 Ornella 406746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love what lyn* says that people who really have to depend on second hand to get by deserve to have some nice stuff too. Thank you lyn* for saying it so nicely. Mander on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406583 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:38:00 +0000 Mander 406583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ha, that's a great way of looking at it! I have trouble getting rid of sentimental t-shirts, especially my old concert souvenir shirts and things of that nature. I would really like to try some t-shirt surgery on them, because I do like to wear "funky" stuff like that every once in a while but most of them are of the oversized, boxy, crew neck variety so they are completely un-flattering and never actually get worn except for gardening. One of these days I'll get the sewing machine fixed and take a stab at resizing them. Or perhaps making a cool "memory" scarf like this one: <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/10/t-shirt_memory_scarf.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.craftzine.com/arch.....scarf.html</a>. The sad thing is that of my massively overstuffed wardrobe, I can only think of a handful of things I'd be upset to lose. Polly (thunalata) on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406570 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:26:33 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 406570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mary - that told me! And Heather! You are quite right! Diana that is such a great way of looking at things. Hmm, maybe I should stage a break-in in which the thief takes only the stuff that I want to replace and I could claim on the insurance and go shopping! (that's a joke, by the way...) Looks like there may be a trip to goodwill in the morning... Lisa on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406560 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:21:50 +0000 Lisa 406560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm with MaryK. If you wear items you do not love, you are not having fun with your wardrobe. For myself, items that I still like, but are getting worn become "around the house" items. One of the best things I've done, is the hanger flip trick for a season. At the end of a seaon, in the donate bag it goes. If I haven't worn it in 3 months (I have 4 distinct seasons) then I do not need it. Diana on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406502 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:26:37 +0000 Diana 406502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Polly, Cynthia from Be Fabulous Daily had an awesome post last week about her new approach to closet curation. Basically she asks, "how would you feel if thieves broke into your house and stole this?" The answer to this question could be sad (keep), ambivalent (maybe if it's useful) or happy (definitely get rid of it!). I thought this was a fresh new take on the whole keep or toss issue! <a href="http://www.befabulousdaily.us/post/8929573623/on-curation" rel="nofollow">http://www.befabulousdaily.us/.....n-curation</a> Heather on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406499 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:22:58 +0000 Heather 406499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh yeah! Polly, I agree with Mary. You are too wonderful to be wearing un-fabness. Good luck in your continued closet management and sorting. MsMary on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out/page/2#post-406496 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:21:22 +0000 MsMary 406496@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Polly, seriously: STOP WEARING CLOTHES YOU HATE! Stop it. Stop it now. By wearing clothes you hate, you are breaking Angie's Number One Rule: Have fun with fashion. Bundle those nasty t-shirts off to the Goodwill this minute!! I mean it!!! Just... stop it! Polly (thunalata) on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406485 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:02:11 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 406485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great example! I love that you got so much use out of it and were than happy to give it up. I think I'm trying to work out how to get to that state ie of being happy to give something if it is still wearable. Eg I have a number of tees that I HATE because they have lost their shape but they are still 'wearable'. Perhaps these are candidates for goodwill... Hmmm. Similarly I have a dress that I wore for work last year but was a bit sad to see that it is pilling a bit now. Perhaps this is a candidate for MOTG only from now on... Mo, I think you've really helped me with that example! Mo on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406480 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:55:09 +0000 Mo 406480@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Polly, I think at a certain level of fading, or when things stretch out, or start to pill in obvious places is when I deem them not suitable to be caught in public in A concrete example - a knit red dress that went from everyday casual wear, to a swimsuit cover up, to only lounging in the house, to the Goodwill in the span of about one year. I bought it used on eBay and it only had so much life left. When it faded it became swimsuit cover up material, and when the elasticized waist started to slowly give out it became loungewear. Once the elastic bands started to really go - out it went. Polly (thunalata) on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406469 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:42:42 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 406469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So interesting! Sorry not to be clear. I suppose it's more about when anyone would stop wearing something and get rid of it. When it counts as being 'not pristine enough' to wear, rather than what you do with it next. I donate clothes that have wear in them, downgrade them if they are worn but still wearable/suitable for yard work and recycle as rags at our local recycling centre if they are entirely unwearable. So I suppose my question should have been, at what state do you decide something cannot be worn out of the house. Angie's clothes, for example, always look pristine and brand new. Mine do not! I wondered where other people stood on that but, as so often I did not make myself clear. All of the replies are really interesting, though and give a picture of different approaches. Loved especially reading about Taylor's dry cleaning and how her clothes stay pristine. Wow! Mo on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406423 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:41:46 +0000 Mo 406423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just assumed everyone means donation when they say it's time to toss items. I can't imagine actually throwing clothing in the trash can unless it's really battered or wholey. I send it all to the Goodwill or thrift. I figure if they deem it unresellable, they will at least have a proper place to send it off to disadvantaged folks who just need clothing on their backs and shoes on their feet. Mander on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406277 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:51:52 +0000 Mander 406277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm really bad at this. I find that I get attached to something and wear it until it is really no longer fit for public consumption, but find myself either wearing it anyway or being unable to get rid of it because I don't have an equivalent replacement. I usually donate everything to a charity shop, though. There is a particular local one that comes around every few months and picks up bags of clothes, so I usually just save things until then. Very little clothing actually ends up in the trash, however, because I know that the charity sells the unwearable items to the "rag man" and they get recycled into cleaning cloths for industrial use. Sometimes I salvage buttons and zippers, or sections of the cloth for craft purposes. Deborah on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406234 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:25:33 +0000 Deborah 406234@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Clothes that I wear to say clean the house might get worn and stained etc and when they are really bad they go into the bin, or hubby's rag bag for the garage. Otherwise I move things on when I am no longer enjoying wearing them (styles change, etc). Or, as I have been lately moving things on that I have purchased but really don't work well for me (with the help of YLF I have recently ended the journey in my closet for two garments). I either send these items to Op (thrift) Shop, or to a local organization who provide job interview outfits for disadvantaged women, or keep them for the next clothes swap with friends. This way I don't feel wasteful as someone else is going to enjoy the garments and put them to good use. I also feel I am being a little responsible by 'recycling' the clothing I am done with and doing my bit for the environment Now next question of course is how do I justify all the money I spend on clothing.... oh I think I can hear my son calling me.. better go... catgirl on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406224 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:52:40 +0000 catgirl 406224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have always been a saver of everything, but recently I have started chucking out things that have seen their last days. I've started to feel like those items burden me somehow, and once gotten started, it's snowballed into a whole new type of closet cleansing. It's so easy for me to justify downgrading into eternity - from work to casual to utilitarian to what-if-I-paint-the-bathroom to cabinwear... And frankly, one or two sets of the latter two types are all I really need. It is hard for me to part with a workhorse until it is replaced, though. Cynthia on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406217 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:33:24 +0000 Cynthia 406217@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I keep a small closet by most standards. In terms of removing pieces, age in and of itself will never demote an item to the swap pile. I have a great cardigan that's 13-years-old and you would never know it. It's grey, good quality, and timeless. All of that being said, if it's shabby it's gone. So I guess that's my line. I would rather remix the same pieces over and over than look unkempt. I also agree with the dry cleaning comments above. I dry clean everything (including my denim) and it really does make a difference. I have a 10-year-old denim pencil skirt that's in great condition. If I had washed that piece it would have been gone years ago. Vildy on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406179 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:52:14 +0000 Vildy 406179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Steph, I have that watch thingy, too! I am also completely RATE. And even if my outfit doesn't look that way, I feel that way mentally. Although I wear makeup every day: lipstick, concealer, mascara, usually blush, sometimes eyeliner, sometimes a little powder on chin and nose - I am very uncomfortable psychologically in a polished look. I associate it - probably wrongly - with inactivity. I want to feel that I can sit on the ground if I want to and I wouldn't care if I were wearing a suit.. If clothes look too new - even if they are new - I don't feel like they're my clothes. OTOH, I don't feel right in clothing that's supposed to look old - like linen. I like my clothing to be mostly unwrinkled but to come that way so I don't have to think about ironing it. In my fantasies, I would do that starch business. Kari on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406175 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:44:28 +0000 Kari 406175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It has to have been sitting in my closet giving me the sad orphan eyes for seasons (years, even) before I officially remove it. Seriously, I'm not very good at letting go. Vildy on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406173 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:41:45 +0000 Vildy 406173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Although I get rid of clothes continually, I also thrift a lot and so I acquire them continuously as well. Plus I am also part of that continual swap circle and get offered things to look through. I don't want to sound like I always come to a quick decision about things that I take or acquire. Sometimes I do and in other cases I have things hanging around for a few years because I "intend" to wear them. About the only pattern I have is that I will wear many things right away and wear them a lot and they are new favorites but soon I am over it. I frequently change the style of what I am wearing, too, and that's the main reason I get rid of things. Pretty much everything I get rid of is in good to excellent condition. A few things that get worn, I do throw out. I like the advice not to donate anything that you would feel uncomfortable about offering face to face to a friend or colleague. I will take the buttons off something if I really like them - I change the buttons on things quite often. Then I will still pass it along because my friend has a button stash and will sew some on in order to pass it along further. She's far more conscientious than I am. If it weren't like this, then I would probably just throw the buttonless garment away. I don't donate any clothing myself to a thrift store. I hate to shop - but love clothing - so I limit my shopping to just a few nearby retail outlets and one current favorite thrift store and a few others sporadically. I prefer small thrift stores. So the last thing I want to do is see my own rejected clothing taking up the racks. I also don't have a car so I'm not going to trouble myself to go out of my way and make difficulty for myself. I won't launder the items, either. They go in whatever condition they're in - either unworn, freshly laundered or worn. My clothes would last practically forever. I hand wash everything and don't put in the dryer. I have even been known to handwash coats. mrseccentric on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406172 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:40:08 +0000 mrseccentric 406172@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ oh Vildy, that is interesting! Joha and Queen Mum make great points about debriefing - especially helpful when you're going through a phase of re-evaluating your philosophy around this issue. my style can take a certain amount of 'beat up' clothing in it and still look like my style (definitely Rough Around The Edges) - partly i've kind of planned it that way as i am hellish hard on clothes (can't wear 98% of watches, either - i think it's electrical!) so in my view part of it has to do with how 'fresh/pristine' you want your overall look to be, and what you are willing to do in order to get that pristine look. (and as Vildy says, how it may affect your in other ways!) as a SAH spouse who is generally seen as an eccentric, creative type this is also easier to fit in with my overall persona. not all people or professions can get away with this. and i do always shine my shoes, wear makeup, iron even tee shirts, etc. so things may be showing wear but are not scuzzy. i hope! heehee! great thread, steph Vildy on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406164 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:19:28 +0000 Vildy 406164@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Although I don't consider myself unworthy if I am "wasteful", I generally pass along things to a friend who takes what she wants and distributes to her friends and neighbors. I do a lot of alteration/remodeling and will sometimes quit when I see it won't be what I want and throw it out at that point. I find my clothing affects my mood. I'm generally a happy, confident person but if I wear schlumpy, saggy, stained clothing I start trudging around. If I catch something making my complexion look wan, I start feeling wan. So I dress pretty nicely even in the house. And I'll wear the same clothes out the door, so everything *is* in presentable condition. I tend to feel protected and safe in dun-colored clothing, so I severely limit the amount of that I have, otherwise I start feeling anti-social when I go out. "Can't you see I'm invisible, Leave me alone!" Whereas I'm usually the one who starts up conversations with people. Aziraphale on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406084 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:52:18 +0000 Aziraphale 406084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Joha -- interesting article! thunalata -- I throw stuff out if I get bleach marks on it, if it's pilled, or if it has holes or stains. I donate items that still have wear in them but that I haven't worn for several years, for a variety of reasons. I figure if a garment is too old/stained/pilled for me to wear, no one else will want to wear it either! Joha on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406026 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:50:39 +0000 Joha 406026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ @ mo, lyn & diana: Delicious days had an enlighting post on the issue recently here: <a href="http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2011/07/11/tiny-holes-in-your-favorite-shirts-kitchen-mistery-solved/" rel="nofollow">http://www.deliciousdays.com/a.....ry-solved/</a> Mo on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406016 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:42:20 +0000 Mo 406016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm - good point Diana! I had to take the metal corners off my waitressing guest check book after finding it was wearing down a spot on my pants with every step, banging against my leg through my apron. lyn* on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406015 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:42:20 +0000 lyn* 406015@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Diana - I also have this problem. Also over my left shoulder. All the time. I think the middle is from my jeans and the left shoulder is from a cross-body purse. When I was 17; I loved this one t-shirt very much, it was so frayed, it has like 4 holes in it and the collar had fallen off ... lol. Diana on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406011 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:39:09 +0000 Diana 406011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mo, I had that thought too, but it makes no sense then that the holes are always in exactly the same place on every shirt... my best guess is that they're from either my belt buckle or the button on my jeans... Mo on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-406007 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:34:37 +0000 Mo 406007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Diana, just from my own experience - those little holes can be from zippers during the laundering process. Be sure to zip and button all things so the teeth don't snag at other materials. Diana on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-405999 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:30:16 +0000 Diana 405999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If it's something that I really adore, I'll probably keep wearing it for longer than I should. Otherwise it ends up in the goodwill pile. (Although to be honest I have enough clothes that only the things I love get worn out). Sometimes things will get demoted to loungewear (no leaving the house in it!) if they are comfy enough. I do have a special exemption for knit tops (not sweaters). For some reason I have never been able to figure out (belt? lab bench? gnomes?) I always end up with little holes in my knit tops and tees around stomach level well before they get stretched out or worn out in other ways. However, I realized at some point that those holes actually don't show if I wear the tops tucked in. So, once the tops get those holes, they go into the tucked-only category and I get a bunch more wears out of them. bella on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-405998 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:29:43 +0000 bella 405998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a sore point for me as well. If it is an item that I love (and was a serendipitous find), I have a hard time letting it go. nicoleb on "Closet management: When do you throw something out?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-management-when-do-you-throw-something-out#post-405994 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:26:03 +0000 nicoleb 405994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Throw out as in throw away? If has to be pretty beaten up/ruined for me to toss it in the trash. I tend to donate things before they reach that point. I'm kind of bad at closet hoarding but i'm trying to get better. I wrote recently that i took 3 boxes of stuff to consignment and what really helped was narrowing down my style and where i feel it is going in terms of what i kept or did not.