Should You Toss, Donate, or Keep? A Guide to Assessing Your Wardrobe

Is your closet overflowing, making it difficult to find anything? Do you find yourself endlessly searching for that blazer or pair of jeans with no luck? It may be time for a cleanup. Deciding what to part with can be tough, especially when we’ve spent money on items or when they were once essential parts of our wardrobe. Here’s how to figure out what to discard, donate, or hold onto.

Items with Tears or Holes

Few disappointments can compare to the frustration of finding a hole in your clothing. Whether it's caused by a nail, a pesky moth, or seems to appear out of nowhere, it’s always a letdown. If there are several holes, it’s likely best to toss the item. Many donation centers won’t accept damaged clothing, so it would likely be discarded anyway. However, if you're aiming to reduce waste, there are textile recycling programs that will take your worn-out clothes and repurpose the fabric.

Torn Items

The same rule applies to torn clothing. If the tear makes the item unwearable and you can't repair it, it’s probably time to let it go. That said, there’s an exception: if the tear is along a seam, a skilled tailor may be able to restore it. While it might not be worth fixing something like a T-shirt, it's a great way to preserve more expensive items, like slacks or blazers.

Overly Large Clothing

If your body has changed significantly, you may find that some of your clothes no longer fit. If something is a size or two too big, that's manageable, but if a pair of pants literally falls off when you try them on, it’s time to part with them. And if an item is too loose in a way that you no longer like the way it fits or looks, you're probably not going to wear it again, so donating it is the best option.

Clothing That Is Too Tight

Our bodies evolve over time, and what once fit perfectly might not fit now. Having these items in your closet can even evoke negative emotions. Instead of holding on to them in the hopes they’ll fit again someday, consider donating them and giving them a new life.

Worn-Out Shoes

Severely worn shoes can not only be uncomfortable but also lack the necessary support, which might cause foot pain or other issues. It's time to let them go.

If your shoes are still in decent condition but the heels or soles are worn down, it might be worth having new ones put on by a cobbler. Keep in mind, this can be costly, so it’s best to do it for pricier or favorite pairs.

If you have a pair of shoes you’ve only worn a handful of times and found them uncomfortable or simply not your style, donating them is a far better option than letting them gather dust in your closet.

Items You Wear Infrequently

We all have those pieces in our closets that rarely see the light of day, like that Fisherman sweater you only pull out when the temperature drops below freezing. However, if you find yourself needing it once a year, it's worth holding onto. Even if it’s only useful for one week each year, it’s better to keep it than to buy something new every time the weather turns cold or you head out for a ski trip.

Alternatively, if you own five thick wool sweaters but live in a warm climate, consider donating four and keeping just one.

Formal Clothing

If you don't attend many formal events, do you really need more than one or two black-tie dresses? The same logic applies to those bridesmaid dresses. Are you ever going to wear that long purple gown again? Probably not. It’s a good idea to donate these excess items.

Items That No Longer Suit Your Style

Fashion trends change rapidly, and this one can go either way. For instance, we've all probably parted with something that went out of style, only to regret it when it came back into fashion. Holding onto a few such pieces—like a pair of jeans you love but are no longer in trend—won’t hurt and could even save you money down the road.

This also applies to items that were a splurge or investment. Maybe you wore something so much that you grew tired of it, but after some time, you might be especially happy to pull it out of your closet again.

On the flip side, it's probably best to donate fast fashion pieces or items bought based on a fleeting trend that’s long gone. If they don’t have lasting appeal, you likely won’t miss them.

If your style has evolved and you can’t see yourself wearing something again in the future, it’s time to add it to the donation pile.