Expert reveals the secrets to wardrobe decluttering

When it comes to spring cleaning, many of us choose to save the dreaded wardrobe until last, while others simply avoid taking on the challenge altogether.

In fact, according to new research, nearly two thirds of women own clothes that have never made it out of the wardrobe at all.  

But for those who wish to organise their cluttered cupboards in preparation for the warmer months, Australian decluttering and organising expert, Anita Birges, has shared her top tips and tricks to make it all a little easier. 

Appearing on Today Extra, the Mise en Place founder took on the wardrobe of one woman, Tanya, whose space needed a little love

Appearing on Today Extra, the Mise en Place founder took on the wardrobe of one woman, Tanya, whose space needed a little love.

‘Very importantly we declutter first. We have to get everything out so we can see it, we can touch it and we can get a sense of what really belongs in this cupboard,’ Anita said, before removing everything from the wardrobe.

She then went through what each of the pieces of clothing, including bridesmaids dresses and old jackets, and discussed with Tanya whether or not she wanted to keep them.

‘Very importantly we declutter first. We have to get everything out so we can see it, we can touch it and we can get a sense of what really belongs in this cupboard,’ Anita said, before removing everything from the wardrobe

‘If they don’t have a place in her life then they don’t have a place in her cupboard,’ she said of the shoe collection 

Anita then took on the very cluttered shoe section of the wardrobe.

‘We are going to have a look at what is being worn and if anything is causing her any pain,’ Anita said. 

‘If they don’t have a place in her life then they don’t have a place in her cupboard,’ she said.

‘A million pairs of thongs? They’ve got to go.’

Anita also made use of hanging storage ($10 from Kmart) with 10 shoe compartments and replaced all wire and wooden coat hangers with velvet ones – a pack of 50 costing just $20

Anita also used $14 cane baskets from Kmart and plastic boxes from Office Works to organise the top shelf of the wardrobe

‘Never fold anything with a hood, collar, zippers or buttons, you must hang them as they look messy folded,’ Anita explained 

The organising guru then completely cleaned out the space by wiping it down and vacuuming so that everything that went back in was sure to be fresher for longer.

Anita also used $14 cane baskets from Kmart and plastic boxes from Office Works to organise the top shelf of the wardrobe.  

‘These are going to be for scarves and dress-ups and things we don’t need to access all the time but we want to know what’s in them. Most importantly I measured that area really well so they will fit perfectly,’ she said. 

Anita also made use of hanging storage ($10 from Kmart) with 10 shoe compartments and replaced all wire and wooden coat hangers with velvet ones – a pack of 50 costing just $20.  

*The perfect built-in wardrobe is four drawers, three shelves, a long hanging section for dresses and jackets and two short hanging sections for shirts and skirts and then a bulk head area to store things you don’t use often,’ Anita said (pictured is a separate wardrobe) 

‘Use hanging storage for flats and sneakers and use a shoe rack for heels,’ she said

‘Three of them take up the same room as a wire hanger and they are kinder to your clothes and we are going to have a nice uniformed line so opening the wardrobe is going to look beautiful,’ Anita explained. 

For the t-shirts, Anita used a garment folder from Howard’s Storage World for $39.95. 

The garment folder can also be used on towels, pants and anything that needs to be folded into that particular shape, Anita explained to Femail. 

‘It is going to make this cupboard so organised and the appearance is going to be beautiful,’ she said, before showing off the final, made over result.