How To: Spring Clean Your Wardrobe Like a Celeb
It’s finally spring: the time for fresh starts, new beginnings and, let’s be honest, cleaning. In fact, 93% of households claim that they spring clean at least once a year, with 90% reporting that it gives them greater peace of mind.
One of the top things to declutter and give you peace of mind? Your wardrobe, according to celebrity home organiser Lucy Mansey: “I strongly believe that your home should be a place where you should feel a sense of calm, serenity and happiness.” says Lucy. “Organising is not just about aesthetics, it is a form of self care.”
We spoke to Lucy and two other experts to find out their top tips when it comes to organising your wardrobe space. From colour-coding, to keeping your knitwear in mint condition and the hacks that are going to be taking over your FYP this spring, we’ve got you covered…
1. Learn to let go of unworn pieces and buy smarter
From how to properly slice your hard-boiled egg to how to curl your hair without heat, you can’t open your social media feed without seeing tips, tricks and hacks. So, what spring organisational hacks can we expect to see everywhere this season?
Lucy reveals: “For me, the key to an organised space is clearing out the clutter. By that I mean don’t have items in your wardrobe that you no longer love, serve a purpose or feel amazing in.”
“In that vein, I believe the best organisational hack this spring will be to buy smarter. Well that, and slimline velvet hangers – these are a game changer when it comes to optimising space!”
3. The organisational hack we need to leave behind
Let’s be honest, there are lots of things that need to be left behind from years gone by, (we’re looking at you miniature handbags), but what are the organisational trends that are so last year?
Lucy answers: “Ill fitting storage. People have the best intentions when it comes to organising their own spaces, but I often find clients buy drawer inserts, baskets or containers that don’t fit their wardrobes or drawers properly. This is counter productive as valuable space is lost. So I feel this could definitely be a trend that is left behind!”
3. Which fabrics should be hung and which should be folded?
The last thing you want is to ruin a well-loved garment by storing it incorrectly, or waste your time constantly ironing items because it simply doesn’t fare well when folded. But how do we know what fabrics we can put in our drawers and which we can hang?
Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at online destination for independent fashion brands SilkFred, suggests: “Stretchy, durable items like your activewear or loungewear sets are perfect for folding, and you should never hang your knitwear as they may stretch and lose their shape. Any flowy dresses, or lightweight fabrics such as satin, silk and linen must be hung as they are incredibly prone to creasing.
Items you should fold
- Activewear
- Loungewear
- Knitwear
- Underwear
- Jersey items
- Lycra
Items you should hang
- Shirts
- Maxi dresses
- Satins
- Silks
- Linens
- Cottons
- Velvets
4. To colour-code or not to colour-code?
There is nothing more Pinterest-worthy than a colour-coded space. Whether it be a bookshelf, fridge or make-up station, we get serious organisation envy. But is meticulous colour-coding worth the faff?
Lucy says: “I colour code all of my clothes, and my clients’ too. But before that, I would categorise them. So, in essence, they would be colour coded, but in their categories (eg all smart tops/blouses together, then dresses, then skirts). It helps with being able to visualise what you have, and also a huge benefit when outfit building.”
5. Organising your wardrobe for the spring/summer season
So, now that we’ve colour-coded our wardrobe, is it worth organising for the season?
Megan reveals: “Although it may be tempting to separate your wardrobe into ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ sections, there are plenty of pieces that are transitional and timeless. For example, a classic white shirt perhaps used as a beach cover-up during summer – can be used as a layer under knitwear for a sleek office look. Your favourite summer maxi dress can also be worn with boots and a light coat, which is a great outfit for a brisk spring walk.”
6. How to store your knitwear during warmer months
Yes, there is nothing better than throwing on our favourite chunky sweater and getting settled into the winter season, but when the weather starts to change, how do we make sure the garment can stand the test of time so we can wear it again and again?
Lucy says: “I like to store knitwear in mothproof, clear boxes or vacuum bags. You could even pop a few moth repellent products in there to be safe! As knitwear is so chunky, it takes up valuable space, so it would be good to remove it from your current/capsule wardrobe.”
Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie adds: “Always ensure you fold knitted items so that they maintain shape. Never, ever hang knitwear on a hanger as it will lose its shape extremely quickly. There’s nothing worse than your favourite jumper’s neck becoming loose and baggy.”
7. Where to start with organising your wardrobe?
Organising your wardrobe can seem like a mammoth task, and you can feel like you’ll never have the time to get it all done. However, the key is to not feel like you have to do it all in one go…
Lucy recommends: “I would not recommend you do it all at once (unless you have a spare 8 hours!). Small and steady wins the race, so tackle an area at a time. Start by getting everything out, and really asking yourself ‘what do I love?’, ‘what do I feel good in?’ And ‘what serves a positive purpose?’.”
“Try not to hold onto items you haven’t worn in the last seasonal year. From there, create piles to keep, store and donate. Once you have done this, look at the space you have available to you and decide what fits best where.”