How do you time seasonal declutters? - YouLookFab Forum

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How do you time seasonal declutters?

Peri

Veteran

Running late for various reasons but I'm finally putting cold weather things away. I'm seeing some things I could part with but consignment won't take winter things this time of year and I feel strange about taking a bunch of winter things to a thrift store in June when no one can use them. I'm wondering if they really would store them over the summer and put them out next Fall or just trash them.

But...when I start a declutter at the beginning of any season I always have a more difficult time with it. I always think "well, maybe" and decide to keep things for an end of season evaluation instead, to part with if I didn't wear them. Which...see above, round and round!

I'm curious how others handle this timing. If storage isn't a big factor, do you declutter mostly at the start of a season or mostly at the end?

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Irina

Veteran

I edit through the year, mostly removing what looks worn out or doesn’t fit. Then, I review again in the beginning of the season. I don’t sell much but if there is something, I wait for the appropriate weather to post it on Facebook Marketplace.

Runcarla

Veteran

Edit as I go year ‘round, with a big fall/October ‘touch everything’ assessment. Pre-Covid a charity would call every 3 months to learn if I had anything to donate, and then swing by the house and pick up what was left on the porch. I don’t have qualms about the seasonality of the drop. I’ve got a bag of clothes and a box of household items to donate when things open up. Some second hand shops aren’t accepting donations at the moment, but others still do and there are bins for clothing around town if my stash gets too large.

I did just make a notation in my day timer to bring a bunch of winter sports equipment to a second hand sports resale place in September. My snowboarding and x-country skiing days are behind me…

You could always call the charity shop and ask them how they feel about out of season clothing?

Peri

Veteran

Thanks Irina and Runcarla. I need to think in terms of edit always.

And that's a great idea to call the shop. I will do that.

Sally

Veteran

I usually donate to shops. I try and time it. At the moment I have a lot of summer stuff in a box. I think I'll wait to just before our spring to give to the charity shops.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes... I weed out but don’t declutter. Giveaways just live in bags until it’s time to go...

Joy

Veteran

I hang out of season items in a spare close after having them cleaned. Consignment will soon be taking fall things. I let my DDIL take her pick before taking anything to a second hand place. She also suggested Thread Up online. Some large consignment shops stock all seasons.

Allie

I'd never thought of it so succinctly, but yes. I am totally guilty of this same cycle, especially for more seasonal items like special occasion wear. I do find that having a perennial donation bin in a separate area helps if you have the space. It's not 100% one-way, but encourages me to edit along the way, then later sort into consign/donate/trash. It compartmentalizes the process.

Gigi

Veteran

I declutter at the end of a season. If I'm concerned that thrift shops or consignment stores won't take out-of-season clothing, I just store it until it is closer to the right season.

Staysfit

Veteran

Hmm, I am fairly random. I edit when I have time and when the idea of editing strikes! (Sorry, no help here).

Tanya

Veteran

I combine both. I edit at the beginning of the season, as I do the switch and take stock of what I have/want/need at the beginning of the season. Than also at the end of it as I do the next switch, I edit whatever looks worn/did not serve me well. I put stuff in storage to take to consignment when in season.

Helena

Veteran

This is an excellent question and I think the answer for me right now is that, except for really season specific items (I'm thinking of my heavy puffer for winter), I don't really do a seasonal declutter (or switch). .. the seasons just aren't that cooperative frankly! (We have a snowstorm two weeks ago and record breaking high temps last week, for example).

I think I work more by category, when I'm feeling either overwhelmed by choice or else like I have nothing suitable ... So I might go through all my jeans say ...

Just a different slant I guess!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I agree with Gigi. I sort of edit as I go along, similar to you I am never sure at the start of a season but sometimes realise partway through said season that something is no longer a go. Then it can go to a thrift store partway through. If it is right at the end though, like Gigi I store it for quite a while.

JAileen

Veteran

The thrift store where I volunteer stores out of season clothes, mostly coats and sweaters. We welcome good quality items any time of year. We only trash things that are stained, torn, or otherwise unwearable. As for my own wardrobe, I edit as I go. When something annoys me, out it goes. Earlier I decided deep V necks had to go.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I don't really think about it. I edit as I see fit. If you bring it to a large chain thrift store, they often ship things to a central processing center anyway.

cat2

Veteran

I have a big basket to hold donations and prune year round when I am putting away the laundry and dry cleaning. I used to do big reviews when I swapped winter and summer pieces in my closet, but with a shrinking wardrobe I now have fewer things tucked away.

Peri

Veteran

Thank you all for the input! It sounds like the majority store off season donations until the start of a season and I can do that...I have the space. Also, chewyspaghetti made an important point for me. The thrift store I support is not a chain and all the money raised stays in the community for immediate needs. I don't support the big name donations store because of problematic practices. So, I think that's why I will feel better giving them things in the season someone can use them.

Thanks!

Sal

Veteran

I do a mix of all the models. Usually I decide after a wear or two that I don’t like something anymore and tend to wash and donate immediately. Sometimes I use the holding zone, and sometimes at the start or end of a season.

Anonymous

At the beginning if it doesn't fit, is no longer flattering, or got a lot of wear and now looks tired. At the end if it wasn't worn, was uncomfortable or I never want to see it again.

Never want to see it again also happens intermittently throughout.

nemosmom

Veteran

I edit as I go, as well. Sometimes at the beginning of a season; sometimes the end. I keep a bag going for each donate and for recycle, and I’ll drop them as the bags fill up.

I have an ongoing ThredUP bag for pieces I think will sell and I drop it once it fills up. Trouble is, they issue merch credit for my stuff and I find myself shopping there way, way too much….

LaPed

Veteran

I edit in an ongoing fashion. My 7yo seems to outgrow something every day, and wear holes in something every other day, so I pretty much always have a donation bag and a textile recycling bag in the car ready to be dropped off. For stuff that I plan to resell, I just list it whenever I find the time. I haven't consigned anything since pre-covid, but when I did, I'd typically go twice a year, once for warm weather and once for cold weather. Highly seasonal items (parkas, sandals) I try to hang onto and then donate/sell/consign early in the appropriate season.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

With some exceptions, most smaller thrift stores don't have the storage capacity for off season items. I have found some of my favorite coats in April - they won't be wearable until November at the earliest. But if you have the storage space, donating at the beginning of the season would certainly increase the chances of your items of being bought.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I edit year-round as well. If something looks old, ratty, stained, off they go. That said, I usually also do a big edit in spring and in the fall. I go over my items from the past season, and if there's anything I haven't worn, I evaluate and let go. This winter will be an exception, because I haven't really worn anything other than work-from-home clothes. I also look at the stuff for the upcoming season. This is mostly an outfit make-up session: to try on things, see if all still fits well and ready to be worn, to take note of wardrobe holes. But I will sometimes let go of certain items, as well.
I usually distribute my closet items to other people or drop them off in a collection box (along with other household items - they will accept almost anything here, kids' toys, linens, towels, shoes, etc) rather than donating to a store, so the season is not an issue.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I’m with Irina and Carla. I am always reviewing and editing.

unfrumped

Veteran

I edit year-round though maybe more at beginning of season because of fit. I try a lot of things on at any time of seasonal switch, pulling out a bin of sweaters or warm pants. Fit problem items are easiest for me to cull.
It sometimes takes me awhile to “ get it” that an item is not working, but then the lightbulb will go off and into the giveaway bag it goes. I give away some of my things to a younger friend who sells on Poshmark, but otherwise it’s best for me to get things out of the house pretty quickly— I don’t keep them for months based on seasons.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I edit and review constantly but do bigger seasonal switches at start and end of the main season. (Spring/ summer; fall/winter). I sometimes hold onto things for donation and sometimes don't. Most of the places I know of do store items. Consignment is a bit different but I rarely use it any more for selling.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I edit year-round and *try* to do regular donations so that seasonal items are being offered up in season, but last year really put a kink in that practice. I now have a couple of boxes in the basement that need to go for donation and they contain winter through summer items, oops.