I use to dread the change of seasons when I lived up north because it meant swapping out clothes for several kids. The process always seemed to take an entire week and my kids were never thrilled to go through their wardrobes!
Inevitably clothing would be found later on in the dirty clothes or under beds, or we’d pull out bins and try to sort through the sizes to find clothing that fit during that season.
A few years ago I changed my system (well I didn’t really have a system before, so I guess I created a system) that made things so much easier!
Remember the best way to keep this chore manageable is to have less clothes!
1. Use Plastic Totes
For years I used cardboard boxes, but I like that most of my totes are clear so I can see what is inside them. I also think the plastic totes hold up better over time and sometimes clothes would smell funny after sitting in cardboard boxes for years. Totes are also waterproof, so if you end up with a leaky basement or a flooded storage area, your clothes are protected.
2. Three Pile Sorting Method
My piles are giveaway, throw away, and save. Clothing that my kids will not wear, or doesn’t fit (and I’m not saving it for another child) is given away. Torn, stained, or clothing with old elastic or broken zippers is thrown away. Clothes that can be worn next year are saved.
3. Kids Remain Close to Try On Clothes
Before the “new” clothes are put into the closets my children try them on to make sure they fit, and to make sure they like them. Sometimes items are too big, or are made from a fabric they don’t like to wear. These items don’t go into the closet.
4. Store by Season not Size
Clothing sizes vary from brand to brand. A Target size 6 is very different than a Gap Kids size 6. I found that organizing the clothes by season, for example Winter 2011, ensures that when I pull out clothes next year they are the correct sizes. If I know that a dress labeled 3T really fits a two-year old it would go into the Summer 2011 box for Cora.
5. It’s Alright to be Picky
We receive lots of hand-me-downs. For many years I felt guilty if I didn’t use them. That guilt disappeared recently when I realized I had 27 totes of clothes in my basement. 27. It was time to downsize. While I still love to receive hand-me-downs, I learned that it is okay to tell someone you don’t need clothing right now. This simplifies your life and another family will be blessed by receiving the clothes. Also, remember to ask someone before showing up on their doorstep with 3 Hefty bags full of clothing. They might not need them.
6. You Don’t Need to Save Everything
My youngest boy is 8 years old. There is no reason to save his clothes for another child in our family. Clothing breaks down over time and goes out of style. Pass items along that you won’t use in the next few years.
7. When You Are Finished Leave the Totes Out
I keep the totes stacked in my room for about a week because we are always finding stray items under beds or in the laundry. In some of my houses the storage was very difficult to access, so once I put away the totes it took a while to get them back out. Leaving them out for a few days helps to make sure everything gets stored for the next year.
This year my clothes storage and organization went much smoother and I was able to get rid of 200 items of clothing.
Last month I got rid of 116 items in the 730/365 Challenge. At the end of April my total was 148 items for the year. I ended up over doubling my total in one month!
May total: 200
Total for the year 348! Only 266 items to go.
Sharon @ UnfinishedMom says
I’m totally with you the semi-annual clothing sort is one of my dreaded jobs – and I only have two kids. I can’t imagine what it would be like with 7!
Congratulations on getting rid of so much stuff!
FoodontheTable says
I agree – seasonal transitions are painful because I don’t have enough storage for all my clothes. I really like the idea of storing in the clear boxes so you can see what is in their and waiting for a week to find strays. There’s always something in the hamper!
Southern Gal says
Thanks for sharing this. I’m currently tripping over clothes in my youngest boy’s room as they fall from the neatly folded stack next to his chest of drawers. Plastic containers here I come! I’ll have to put them in dark bags to keep the sun that streams through the dormers in the attic from fading and rotting the clothes. I did save clothes from my boy who was 10 1/2 years old when his baby brother was born. I’ve been able to use many of the pants, jeans, polos, etc. I did have to toss quite a few things that were out of style and too worn (what was I thinking?). Since he’s the last, I will be tossing clothing out of my attic this summer. Inspiration…
Cindy says
trying again to comment to you from a new browswer.
Cindy says
ok, so yay I can comment from e…….anyway, I am gald I am not the only person that has this issue. I hate change of seasons due to changing clothes, ugh! My biggest issue.
Sherry says
Wow! Great job! 😀 I am going to have to go through my son’s clothes as I noticed he had ummm high waters. LOL! 😀
Alicia Williamson says
Just wanted to let you know that a lot of places actually want your “unusable” clothing as well. (Salvation Army is one of them.) They take the fabric and use it somehow even if it’s not wearable. It’s a great option instead of throwing away the torn and stained clothes.
TheHappyHousewife says
Thanks for the tip Alicia!
Cherrill says
I also use the tote clothing storage system in my closet. Our family has grown from 3 to 6 ( 8, 6, and 7 months) in the last 2 months so I now need more totes. When your baby grows up DD is 11 you tend to forget how fast an infant grows out of there clothing!
I have winter/summer totes because in Florida it is either hot or cold.
Gwen T says
Great tips! With 7 kids (ages 1-12) I always dread change of season time. The vast amount of clothing can be overwhelming. I give a lot away too – may as well let someone else get good use of it – rather than “storing up our treasures on earth”, right?
You really had some good practical ideas that I will use! We’re moving to TX this fall (now we’re in northern IL) so I’m trying to eliminate cold weather stuff that I won’t use much down south – so your post was very timely for me. Thanks!!
Serenity says
My favorite tip is storing by season not size. I just started doing this a year ago and it saves me tons of trouble. If we are going up north and I need a sweatshirt for one of my girls I can just pull out the “cold weather” tote and we are all set. Thanks for all of the tips 🙂
Beth says
I have struggled with the seasonal dilemma and how to store clothes as well- especially since there are so many sizes for young ones- 18 mos, 18-24 mos, 24 mos, etc. I also hate that every summer, my son seems to be between sizes. However, your method is confusing to me. How will you remember how big your baby was in spring 2010 or anticipate how big she’ll be by the following year? I know for me, when I went to get out clothing for my son I could have SWORN he was wearing mostly 2’s last summer, but when I looked at the outfits, they were actually mostly 18 mos/ 18-24 months.
I like the idea of storing by season, but I think that for me I’d need to be more specific- like spring/summer size 2/2T. If there is a piece of clothing that runs small, then I’ll stick that in there as well, but the label on the box will tell me what size most of the clothing will be.
TheHappyHousewife says
Beth-
I understand what you are saying. To use Cora as an example, next summer she will be 2 years old. She is an average sized child so based on my experience, she will probably be wearing size 2T next summer. But- I do have some clothes that run large or small. Rather than put a small 3T with other 3T’s it would go into the summer 2011 box for Cora because it would fit her when she is two.
I hope that makes more sense. Of course- do whatever works best for you!
katena says
I have six boys and just recently did this. I got rid of so more that I did not want to keep. I also have a tote for each boy that holds sentimental items such as their scrapbook, outfit they came home from the hospital and other momentos we have kept over the years. So when they graduate or get a home of their own they will have this as their memories we use totes because as a military family we know they hold up. Keep the get tips coming.
megryansmom says
My daughter stores in totes and they are ready to go to the Church resale. Great tips!
Allison says
Hey! We have the same comforter set! (from Kohls!)
Kayren says
This is exactly what I used to do when my kids were smaller. Now my girls aren’t growing so we don’t have to worry about them any more, and most of my older boy’s clothes are worn out and have holes before they could ever dream of making it to the younger one. Now everything we save can fit in one tub, but it’s getting emptier all the time!
Sara says
I struggle with this one too. Our oldest is 6 and we’ve got #4 on the way (all girls). I used to keep every.single.piece of clothing to hand down to the younger girls but once #3 came along and the number of tubs got out of control I learned to let go and only keep the items that I really love and are in great condition. I also transitioned from clear tubs to the XXL Ziploc big bags and it’s saved me a ton of space! I’m still able to see what’s inside but they take up so much less room than the tubs.
Rachel says
These are great tips! I have a 7-week-old son and I’m trying to figure out a system that works for me for storing his outgrown clothing/sizes he’ll grown into! I’ve already decided that I’m not keeping EVERYTHING…only the pieces that I loved because we don’t know if we’ll even have another boy and I’d rather others get use out of gently worn clothing instead of them just sitting! (And if I don’t have another boy within the next 3-4 years, these stored clothes will go too!)
dauna says
I’ve been doing this for 3 weeks now. Its really grating on my nerves now.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Can’t fathom that job with 7 children. I struggle enough with my 3. Wonder if maybe they have too many clothes to begin with? I keep trying to pare down…
Jenn says
I have been through all this sorting & organizing. A new trick I learned was to roll the clothes rather than fold them. You can add more to the totes that way & even have a few totes left over. I have also bought a few space saver bags & they work great. Thanks for the tips:)
Stacey Russell says
This is one thing new moms should be told. You don’t have to keep everything.
I am at the other end of this sorting now with 2 who have finished growing. Now the youngest just “borrows” what does not fit the older 2 well. We cleaned out a garbage full a few weeks ago but there is no longer a too big pile. There is no more storing all the boxes and totes. Now we are having to buy clothes as our middle one has outgrown the ones the hand me downs came from.
Tabitha says
Dreading doing this right now as the weather warms up and I am nearly 9 months pregnant. ARGH. Can’t quite fit a bunch of totes into the budget right now, so boxes it still is… lol. Trying to find a time to DO it.
Nicole says
Thank you for the great tips! We are just in the midst of organizing our summer clothes for storage right now. Wondering if you put anything in the plastic storage bins with the clothes to help with keeping them in a good condition/warding off potential bad basement smells, etc…?
Toni Anderson says
Nicole,
Occasionally I will use a dryer sheet and that seems to do the trick. It really depends on your basement. We had one basement that things always smelled unless I used the dryer sheet. Another basement we never had an issue.
Toni