Spring Cleaning: How to Sustainably Clean Out Your Closet
It’s that time of the year again! All the clutter we have accumulated throughout the year. Let’s clean house! First things first, let’s start with the closet and all the outfits that have gone unworn for so long. May I suggest a few ways to declutter your closet once and for all? Or maybe every year during Spring.
Donate
There are many retail stores, such as thrift stores, that will take gently used clothing. Also, places like churches and shelters will take your gently used clothes to disperse to those who could use them.
Recycle
There are many options when it comes to recycling clothing. H&M and Zara retail stores even accept old clothes and will give you a discount coupon in exchange.
In the U.S., For Days will send you a bag to place all your clothes for recycling in to then send back to them for proper recycling.
Also, keep an eye out for the clothing bin drop offs around town. Here you can simply drop off clothing you are no longer wearing. You can usually find them in parking lots.
Reuse Fabrics
When your clothing is too used and ragged to donate or give away, reusing them can be a great way to keep the fabric out of the waste stream. Cutting up an old shirt and turning it into something you can reuse cuts down on having to toss the shirt all together. I have used old shirts as repurposed napkins in place of paper towels. You can even turn your t-shirts into totes!
Revamp
Are you over skinny jeans and have decided to go 70’s with the bell bottoms? Or maybe you’re into the wide leg jeans from the 90’s now. Before you toss those jeans, maybe turn them into cute shorts? Old t-shirts can easily be made into cute tank-tops or crop tops. The possibilities are endless.
Sell
There is a plethora of easy-to-use apps for selling your gently used clothes. My personal favorite is Poshmark (use code: THEREUPSHOP for $10 off your first purchase), Depop, Mercari, thredUP and more. Turn your closet into a money-making machine. It can be quite lucrative.
If you are looking to make some quick cash, local thrift stores will pay you for the clothes and/or give you store credit to shop. Check out places like Plato’s Closet, Crossroads Trading, Buffalo Exchange, etc.
Give Away
Do you have that one friend or family member who always compliments you on your cute outfits? Did they eye that one piece you never wear? Give it to them. This could be a great gift opportunity.
Clothes Swap
Get together a group of friends and have all of them bring over clothes they no longer wear. Make a thing of it! Bust out the juice and pizza for a girls’ night in. Scrummage through each other’s pile and swap clothing. They are your friends, so they must have good taste.
Whichever route you go, all the alternatives are much better than throwing away your clothes. It can take decades for clothes to biodegrade once they end up in a landfill or even the ocean. Even longer if they are made from fabrics containing plastics.
The best way to go is to reduce your consumption of clothing all together. Minimalism is the way to go here and it’s also less stressful in the long run.
Lastly, stay away from fast fashion.