Six wardobe cleaning hacks when you're feeling overwhelmed

Spring has sprung and you may be thinking of giving your wardrobe a cleanse. But tackling your whole wardrobe can feel overwhelming at times. To get you started, we've put together six hacks to help you spring clean your wardrobe.

Hack 1: Start with one area

Tackling your whole wardrobe can be too much to handle at one time. Especially if you have a lot of clothes. Our top tip is to start small in one area of your closet. Try something you are not as invested in. Could you trim down to five T-shirts or jeans that you love wearing? Once you've done one area, you may feel like doing the next or you can happily walk away knowing you made a start.

Hack 2: Get four big boxes

With extra large boxes, you may feel more able to sort your clothes. You could try labelling each one: Keep, store for next winter, mend/recycle, and donate/give to a friend. Categorise your clothes as you sort through them. You'll find you can fill up each box as you go.

Hack 3: The one-year rule

If you haven't worn your item in the past year, it's time to let someone else enjoy it. If you really feel like you can't let it go, commit to wearing it this week. If it's a specialised item, like snow gear, you might choose to store it instead.

Hack 4: Does it spark joy?

If it doesn't fit, be kind to yourself and let that item go free. You don't need clothes in your wardrobe that make you feel bad about yourself. Focus on the items that you feel great in.

Hack 5: Recycle or mend

Recycle or create a mending box for anything that is stained, has holes, needs hemming and so on. Set yourself a deadline for mending the items, and give away any you haven't done by that deadline.

Hack 6: Set them free

By now you should have a good pile to give away to, or swap with, friends and charities, like your local Lifeline shop. If you'd give it to a friend, a charity shop like Lifeline would welcome your donation. If you wouldn't give it to a friend, it's time to recycle those threads.