3 Ways to Organize Cluttered Closets

Never in history have we had so much stuff — but never in history have we had so many ways to get rid of the stuff we no longer want. Start with your closet, and all those clothes you think you might wear one day. (I mean, gosh, that Empire Strikes Back T-shirt was a real hit in college, but the way your belly makes Yoda bulge now is a tad unseemly.) Take a tip from Good Housekeeping and have an annual fashion show. Be ruthlessly honest about what the mirror tells you, and get rid of anything that doesn't make you look good.

Sell Your Old Clothes
In years past the options for getting rid of old clothes were limited: Junk it, donate it, give it to a friend or turn it into a rag. Thanks to Internet innovations, we now have moneymaking options like eBay and Craigslist (someone might pay for that retro T-shirt) and far easier ways to network with friends who might need your old clothes.

Give It Away
If you can't sell it, that doesn't mean no one wants it. It just means no one will pay for it. That's where social swapping sites like Freecycle.org come in. They connect you to the legions of people willing to take free junk, er, items. And they are out there. (We hesitate to recommend clothingswaps.com only because you might end up filling your closet up with your friends' discards.)

Regift!
It might sound cheesy, but one person's clutter is another's treasure. Well, at least your brother-in-law might appreciate those old hand weights, and your sister-in-law loves scented candles, doesn't she? Give regifting a shot, and whatever usable items can't be .

There! Doesn't that feel good? Now move on to the hall closets, the kitchen cabinets, the attic, the basement, the ...