Your Closet Declutter Checklist: “No Brainer” Things to Toss

Ready to attack your closet clutter? Use this closet declutter checklist to get the process rolling!

Last Updated: November 2022

I’m excited to deliver the next installment of the “No Brainer Things to Toss Series” to you today!

Since closets are the focus this month in the Organize & Refine Your Home Challenge, I’ve compiled a closet declutter checklist that consists of 10 “No Brainers” that you can immediately place into the “toss” pile during your closet decluttering sessions.

I gathered my inspiration from taking a tour of my own closets this past week.

Your Closet Declutter Checklist: Toss These Things First

1. Orphaned Gloves and Mittens

(starting out in the laundry room closet)

We started out the season with five pairs of matching gloves. We ended the season with one intact pair and four “orphans”. So Sad.

Before tossing your orphans, do a quick sweep of winter coat pockets to see if you might be able to reunite a few pairs.

2. Worn Out Shoes

Something tells me I’m going to be totally embarrassed by the end of this post. Yes, these are my shoes. Yes, they have holes (and smudges of spray paint). Yes, they went straight in the trash after I took this photo.

3. Sheet Sets for Bed Sizes You No Longer Have

(moving onto the linen closet)

Got twin-sized sheet sets in your linen closet, but no twin bed in your home? I do. The question is why. These cute flannel sheets are a vestige of my son’s twin bed days. But he’s been sleeping in a double bed for about 5 years now. Time to bid adieu to the cute snowmen.

4. Ratty Towels

O.K., so I’m totally hanging my head in shame over this one. If you come across threadbare towels with holes in your linen closet, it’s high time to demote them to your pet care or car washing station in the garage.

5. Department Store Hangers

(moving into my son’s bedroom closet)

You’ve all heard that famous quote about “No More Wire Hangers!”, yes?

Let’s extend that to your collection of mismatched plastic department store hangers. Do yourself a favor and upgrade to a matching set of velvet slimline hangers (one of my top 10 favorite organizing products!).

6. Clothing Items That Are Past Their Prime

Clothing that’s stained, torn, or ripped has to go. Enough said.

7. Poorly Functioning Storage Products

Ever purchase an organizing or storage product to use in your closet that never quite functioned properly? Such is the case with this set of plastic drawers that I’ve been using to store my son’s shoes, dress socks, and bathing suits.

The drawers are super difficult to open, which means that instead of putting items away in the drawers, items are piled in front of, on top of or behind this set of drawers. Get rid of storage products that are no longer serving you in the closet.

8. Out of Style Items

(moving into my master closet)

Tee hee! I got a good laugh when I pulled my belt rack from the back of my master closet onto the bed to see the state-of-the-state of my belt collection. I may have used one or two of these during the past year, but the rest of them?

Can’t remember the last time.

9. Old Purses

I also pulled these from the recesses of my closet.

Here’s a good rule of thumb that I shared in my kitchen declutter toss list post, and it applies just as much in the closet. When you come across items that are coated in a layer of dust, that’s a good indicator that it’s time to say farewell to that item.

10. Anything with a Price Tag

You didn’t think that my husband’s side of the closet was going to get off scot-free, did you?

Another good rule of thumb during your closet declutter process is to purge items that you either purchased or received as a gift awhile back (translation: years ago) that you’ve never ended up using. Use price tags as a clue to uncovering such items.

So that’s my list, and I’m stickin’ to it!

What items will you be tossing from the list? What else would you add? Share with the rest of us one of the items in your closet declutter toss pile!

Need more help with closet decluttering and organizing?

Download my Declutter Tool Kit, a free resource for helping you declutter your home from top to bottom. Click on the image below to grab your copy:

Check out these other posts to help you closet decluttering & organization:

• Linen closet
• Hall closet
• Master bedroom closet
• Kids’ bedroom closet
• Tools for organizing kids’ bedrooms
• Kids’ bedroom closet makeover reveal
• Guest room closet makeover reveal