Is your wardrobe overdue for decluttering? The one-year rule is a great approach to take, allowing you to clean out your space and keep things in order. But if you’re hesitant or unsure of how to embrace the one-year rule approach, this article is for you. Read on to get the most out of your space-saving efforts.

What Is the One-Year Rule?

Defining the One-Year Rule

The fundamentals of the one-year rule are very simple: if you haven’t worn or used something within a year, chances are you probably don’t need it. It’s a helpful rule or guiding principle that can help you save space and ensure your wardrobe or space is never overly cluttered with too many items at once.

Why the One-Year Rule Works

If you’re able to stick to the one-year rule, you’ll likely find it to be one of the most effective ways of reducing clutter in your home. By getting rid of things you no longer use or that no longer serve a practical purpose, you can then easily update your wardrobe or space with the clothing and items you actually need. It can also counteract the emotional attachment we can form with things we buy.

How to Apply the One-Year Rule to Your Wardrobe

Step 1: Gather All Your Clothes

This is the easiest step – just grab all the items of clothing you have. And we mean every single item.

Step 2: Sort by Last Worn Date

The next step is to sort all your clothing according to how frequently and recently you’ve worn those items. This is the most effective way of identifying what clothing you rarely touch; and if any items of clothing have not been touched in over a year, place them in their own pile – this is the stuff you’ll most likely get rid of. 

Step 3: Ask Yourself Key Questions

Now, for the clothing and items that haven’t been touched in a year, you can ask yourself a few questions to help you determine whether to hold onto them or not. These include:

• “Does it fit?” – the easiest first question. If it doesn’t fit, you don’t need it.
• “Do I love it?” – if any of your unworn clothing no longer appeals to you, it’s an easy thing to get rid of.
• “Will I wear it in the next year?” – of course, some clothing is seasonal (jackets, jumpers, etc.), so you may find some of these will be useful in the next year or for a future trip to a colder place. But if any clothing is unlikely to ever practically be used again, then you don’t need it.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Emotional Attachments to Clothes

We’re all subject to sentimentality, and this applies to our clothes and other items we purchase. But sometimes we simply need to let go so we can make space for new experiences (and clothes!). To help you overcome emotional attachments, consider the following:

• Sometimes, simply taking a photo of the clothing or item will be enough – it may not be so much about wearing the item itself as it is about having a visual reminder of it.
• If you’re happy to make use of your clothing item in a different way, you could repurpose it – make it a pillowcase, quilt or tote bag. If it’s a particularly stunning piece of clothing that you just love looking at, you could even put it in a large picture frame and hang it on a wall.
• Have you considered gifting it to a loved one or giving it a second life for someone less fortunate by donating it to charity?

“What If I Need It Later?” Syndrome

Most of us encounter this question from time to time when it’s time for spring cleaning or general decluttering. The simple reality is that you do have to seriously ask yourself if an item has any future use for you, regardless of whether you love the way it looks or if it holds some sentimental value.

If there’s no logical reasoning as to why you’d ever wear or use that item at any time in the foreseeable future, then it should go. Take a photo of it beforehand and consider giving it to a loved one who you know would make good use of it.

If it’s a high-cost or unique item that you’re unlikely to come across again, then it’s understandable if you want to hold onto these. For items such as this, you should consider separate storage or even securing them in a safe where high-value items go for safekeeping. A walk-in wardrobe can be a good spot to place or install a safe for high-value items.

What to Do with Items You Haven’t Worn in a Year

Donate or Sell

Donating or selling unused items are great options. We definitely encourage donating as there are so many op shops and charities that will happily take in a range of clothing and previously loved items.

Alternatively, you can give your clothing to thrift shops or consider selling them yourself through online social marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace.

Repurpose or Upcycle

Old clothing can be great for repurposing and upcycling. We already mentioned things like pillowcases and quilts, but they can also work as makeshift rags or be used as materials in DIY craft projects.

Recycle Responsibly

If donating, selling or upcycling don’t feel like the right options for you, then you’ll want to recycle your clothing responsibly. Recycling textiles can be complicated and can’t necessarily be done by just checking your gear in a recycling bin. Instead, research local textile recycling programs and groups that exist in your area. 

UPPAREL is a renowned Australian textile recycling organisation that allows you to send in your used clothing and textiles via mail.

The Benefits of Using the One-Year Rule

A More Organised Wardrobe

By regularly revisiting what clothing you do and don’t need, it makes it easier to stay on top of your decluttering efforts. The more consistently you declutter, the less time it will take to stay organised; and simpler organisation means less stress for you.

A Clearer Sense of Personal Style

Letting go of unused items and focusing on those you love to use time and time again, you develop a clearer sense of what your personal style actually is.

Environmental and Social Impact

Responsibly donating, selling, upcycling and recycling clothes have a positive impact both on the planet (by reducing landfill waste) and society (donated clothes going to op shops to be sold for charitable efforts or going directly to homeless or impoverished communities).

Regularly decluttering your wardrobes with the one-year rule is simply one of the most effective and impactful ways of keeping your space organised while also giving unused gear a second lease on life.
For additional ways of organising your space, check out our Storage Solutions.