Closet Secrets

I know. I know. We all have too much clothing at home. Sometimes we even wear the same pair of jeans every day because, the closet is so packed, we can't be bothered to look for something else.

So, what's the secret to keeping your closet neat and orderly? First and foremost - don't be a hoarder. My sister, bless her heart, cannot throw away anything, and I really mean anything. Every time she moves house, I get called in to clear things.

We sit together on the floor in her closet going through her clothes. I pick up an old sweatshirt and ask her if this can be thrown away as it's from 1995. Although it can be called vintage, the sweatshirt is done. "Oh no," she says, "Marc gave me this sweatshirt when we started dating."

"What about this dress," I ask, "with the tag still on from 10 years ago?"

"Absolutely not! This is from Monsoon in London, when they had that crazy sale."

It carries on like that as we go through her clothes. Finally, she leaves me alone. I take a big box and, without telling her, I pack up all the old things. That's the only way to deal with a hoarder.

So how can you deal with your closet?

Here's the secret, in 5 important tips:

1. Keep all your clothes color coordinated. When you want something specific for today's outfit, it will be quick and easy to find what you're looking for.
2. Hook all hangars the same way. This might sound stupid, but believe me it helps keep the closet neat and tidy – you'll thank me later.
3. Hang all your clothes facing the same way. This makes it so much more easy to see what you've got when you look in your closet.
4. Do a seasonal clear-out. This is really important – always clear out your closet at the beginning of the season. That will give you space for the new season's fashions. Take out anything you haven't worn during the past year. Take out any items that no longer fit properly. Take out anything that still has a tag on it - if you haven't worn it by now, you're not going to!
5. Buy only as much as you've discarded. When you go shopping for clothes at the start of a new season (hopefully from our amazing ESRA Secondhand Shops in Raanana and Kfar Saba), the number of items you purchase should be the same as the number of items you've removed from your closet. That way, your closet will never be overloaded.

Don't be afraid to clear out the old stuff – it lets you get something new. If the old stuff has sentimental value, then what better way to deal with it than to let someone else claim and cherish it. So recycle, and bring your clothes to our shops where we'll find them a new home!

As we say in the secondhand world – "in with the old"!