6 Signs You Have Too Many Clothes

 With all the talk of capsule collections and massive closet cleanouts all over social media, you may be wondering if you have too many clothes. Even if you do have a lot of clothes, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have too many. Here’s how to know when you’re crossing the line.

1. A bunch of items doesn’t pass the year test

Take a little inventory of your closet. How many items have you worn in the past year? If the amount of unworn garments seems like a large number, you may have more clothes than you need. 

More than likely, the items don’t fit, aren’t your current style, or are just uncomfortable. You could probably say goodbye to most of them with no problem.

2. You have items you don’t remember buying

While you were looking through your clothes, did you notice some items that you don’t remember buying? Did some still have tags on them? This could mean that you have so many clothes you can’t keep track of them. You may need to hone down your collection.

3. You have trouble putting clothes away

So, you go to hang something up, and you have to bodily push clothes aside on the rod just to make a one-eighth-inch space to cram a T-shirt. That’s not a good sign. If you can’t put away your clean clothes without putting major physical effort into it, you may have too many clothes.

Or, on the other hand, you may just need more room. Here are some tips for making more room for your clothes. 

4. You get stressed out looking for an outfit

If getting ready for work or to go out makes your stomach hurt, you may have more clothes than you need. You should be able to go to your closet and find clothes that work together, look good on you, and fit without a major meltdown. 

5. You can never find what you’re looking for

You know you have a white tank top, but you haven’t seen it in weeks. You’ve washed all the laundry. You’ve looked through your closet twice. Nothing. 

If not being able to find specific items is a regular problem, you may have too many clothes. 

6. You read this blog post

You searched for the answer to this question for a reason. You read this blog post all the way to this point. Deep down, you probably know the answer. 

Now what?

Now you need to do a full closet cleanout. Here’s a checklist, and you can find more detailed instructions in this post: How to Do a Complete Closet Cleanout.

Complete closet cleanout checklist

Before you start

• Set aside enough time to work on one or two clothing categories
• Gather trash bags or boxes for donations
• Set aside a container for items that need repairs
• Have hangers and basic organizing supplies ready
• Make space on your bed or another surface for sorting
• Decide which clothing category you’ll tackle first

Sort your clothes

• T-shirts
• Tank tops and camisoles
• Blouses
• Button-down shirts
• Sweaters
• Cardigans
• Sweatshirts and hoodies
• Jeans
• Pants and trousers
• Leggings
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Casual dresses
• Formal dresses
• Jumpsuits and rompers
• Blazers
• Jackets
• Coats
• Activewear
• Loungewear
• Pajamas
• Undergarments
• Bras
• Socks
• Tights and hosiery
• Swimsuits and cover-ups
• Workwear
• Formalwear
• Seasonal clothing
• Special-occasion clothing

Evaluate each item

• Keep clothes you love and actually want to wear
• Try on anything you’re unsure about
• Check whether each item fits comfortably
• Check for stains
• Check for holes, tears, and excessive wear
• Look for missing buttons and broken zippers
• Decide whether damaged items are worth repairing
• Donate or give away clothes you don’t like
• Donate or give away clothes that don’t fit and you don’t want to keep
• Set aside sentimental clothing you want to preserve
• Photograph sentimental pieces you don’t need to physically keep
• Keep at least one outfit for painting, gardening, repairs, and other messy jobs

Ask yourself about difficult items

• Would I buy this again today?
• Do I feel comfortable wearing it?
• Do I feel confident in it?
• Does the color work for me?
• Do I have anything to wear with it?
• Do I have somewhere to wear it?
• Do I put it on and immediately take it back off?
• Does it require special undergarments I don’t like wearing?
• Is it so difficult to wash, iron, or maintain that I avoid it?
• Am I keeping it only because I spent money on it?
• Am I keeping it because I feel guilty getting rid of it?
• Is this for my real life or a fantasy version of my life?

Sort shoes and accessories

• Shoes
• Boots
• Handbags and purses
• Belts
• Scarves
• Hats
• Jewelry
• Sunglasses
• Hair accessories
• Gloves and mittens
• Other seasonal accessories
• Repair or clean anything worth keeping
• Donate items you no longer use

Clean the empty closet

• Vacuum or sweep the closet floor
• Vacuum corners and baseboards
• Dust shelves
• Wipe shelves if needed
• Dust closet rods
• Wipe down drawers
• Vacuum or wipe storage bins
• Dust the tops of storage containers
• Wipe down shoe racks
• Clean mirrors
• Dust light fixtures
• Remove cobwebs
• Wipe the closet door and handle

Put everything back

• Group clothing by category
• Put your most frequently worn clothes within easy reach
• Fold clothes so you can see what you own
• Avoid packing hanging clothes too tightly
• Give shoes a designated area
• Give handbags and accessories designated homes
• Move rarely used items to higher shelves
• Store out-of-season clothing elsewhere if closet space is limited
• Label bins that aren’t easy to see inside
• Leave some empty space for your closet to breathe

Deal with everything leaving the closet

• Put donations in your car or schedule a drop-off
• List items you’re planning to sell
• Give promised items to friends or family
• Take repair items to a tailor or repair them
• Recycle textiles when possible
• Toss items that can’t be donated, repaired, reused, or recycled
• Move seasonal or sentimental belongings into storage

Keep it clean

• Add a donation basket or bag to your closet
• Put clothes away instead of creating a chair pile
• Deal with damaged clothing when you notice it
• Keep a running list of actual wardrobe gaps
• Avoid buying duplicates you don’t need
• Use the backward-hanger method to identify unworn clothes
• Revisit clothes you haven’t worn after a month or two
• Do a quick closet reset at the change of each season
• Vacuum or sweep the closet floor regularly
• Remove something when you realize you no longer like wearing it

FAQ

How do you know if you have too many clothes?

You may have too many clothes if your closet and drawers are difficult to use, you regularly forget what you own, you have trouble putting laundry away, or a large portion of your wardrobe rarely gets worn.

How many clothes should one person have?

There’s no ideal number of clothes that works for everyone. Your wardrobe depends on your lifestyle, climate, work requirements, hobbies, laundry routine, and personal style. A better goal is to own an amount you can comfortably store, see, and regularly use.

Is a full closet a sign you have too many clothes?

Not necessarily. A small closet can fill quickly, especially if it holds clothing for several seasons. However, if clothes are packed so tightly that you can’t easily see or remove them, it may be time to declutter or move seasonal clothing elsewhere.

How do I decide which clothes to get rid of?

Start with clothes that don’t fit comfortably, are damaged beyond repair, haven’t been worn, or make you feel uncomfortable or unhappy when you put them on. If you’re unsure about something, try it on and ask yourself whether you’d choose to wear it today.

What should I do with clothes I love but rarely wear?

Consider why you aren’t wearing them. You may need outfit inspiration, a missing wardrobe basic, or an occasion to wear the item. If you genuinely love something, you don’t have to get rid of it simply because you don’t wear it frequently.

Should I get rid of clothes that don’t fit?

You don’t automatically need to get rid of every piece of clothing that doesn’t currently fit. Keep pieces you genuinely want and have a realistic reason to save. If keeping large amounts of clothing in multiple sizes is making your closet difficult to use, consider storing some elsewhere.

How can I tell which clothes I never wear?

Try the backward-hanger method. Turn all your hangers backward, then return each hanger to its normal position after you wear the item. After a few months, you’ll have a clearer picture of which clothes you regularly reach for and which ones stay untouched.

What should I do if I don’t have enough closet space for all my clothes?

Start by decluttering clothes you no longer want, then organize what remains so your most frequently worn pieces are easy to reach. Move out-of-season clothing to another storage area or a storage unit if needed, rather than packing your everyday closet so tightly that it’s difficult to use.