Spring cleaning the wardrobe

Short answer: Empty the wardrobe completely, wipe the shelves and air it for an hour before you put anything back. Put back only what you wore during the past winter, and pack the rest away, washed and fully dry.

Start by emptying it

Take everything out of the wardrobe, not just the top layer. That way you see what you actually have, and you find the things that hid at the back. Lay the clothes in piles on the bed or floor, so you do not have to search around and can easily overview the whole wardrobe.

The cleaning itself

Vacuum the corners and wipe the shelves and back wall with a damp cloth. Leave the wardrobe open for an hour so it is fully dry before the clothes go back in. Trapped moisture gives the cupboard smell that clings to clothes for a long time and is hard to get out.

Sorting as you go

Make three piles: back in the wardrobe, on to others and discard. There should be no pile called maybe, because it just becomes a new pile in the wardrobe. Ask yourself whether you wore the piece this winter. If not, the answer is usually no. See bamboo T-shirts for men.

What gets packed away

Winter clothes should be washed and completely dry before they go into cloth bags. Invisible traces of sweat and skin oil can cause yellow marks over time, which is why the wash is the most important part of packing away. Put the bag somewhere dry and label it. See bamboo sweatshirt for men.

What comes back

Put back only what you wore during the past winter and what is still whole. Arrange the clothes so that what you use most is easiest to reach. Clothes often end up in a messy pile, so it helps to sort by type: T-shirts together, sweatshirts together, underwear together.

The shelves

Wipe the shelves before anything goes on them. Dust in a wardrobe turns into smell over time, and a shelf that has not been wiped gives dust to clean clothes. If you have boxes or baskets in the wardrobe, wipe them inside and out and let them dry before the clothes return.

A shared wardrobe

If you share the wardrobe with someone, share the shelves too, so each person can find their clothes without rummaging through the other's piles. It makes both the cleaning and daily life easier, and it gives a wardrobe with room to breathe. See bamboo clothing for women.

What you can buy now

When the wardrobe is empty and clean, you can see what is missing for summer. Write a list and avoid buying on impulse. Many find that they have more than they thought and are only missing a few things, such as a new T-shirt or sweatshirt for the cool evenings.

One afternoon is enough

An ordinary wardrobe takes an afternoon if you do it in one go. Put on some music and close the door to the rest of the home so you are not disturbed. When you are done, you have a wardrobe that is easy to keep in order and a wardrobe you can survey.