My Yes, No and Maybe Piles
I love watching Oprah and I get great tips from that show. Last week, they gave tips on how to clean up your closet. I just have to share them with you! I tried the tips out and my closet is cleaner than ever. This isn’t exactly what they did in Oprah but this is how I applied it to my closet cleaning. I hope it helps!
Just ask yourself these three questions when taking your clothes out of your closet:
Is it flattering?
Do I love this?
Is this the image I want to project?
Sort your clothes into three piles: the Yes pile, the No pile and the Maybe pile. If you answer yes to all the above questions, toss that piece of clothing in the Yes pile. If there are more No answers, put it in the No pile. If you’re really unsure, put it in the Maybe pile. Do this sorting till your closet’s empty. Do this with shoes and bags too.
Put your No pile in a bag or box (depends on how huge the pile is). Set aside. Donate to charity if you want.
Go through your Maybe pile and re-ask yourself those three questions. Repeat till there is no more Maybe pile.
Ta-da! Now you have your Yes pile. That’s what you put back in your closet. Now there will be some pieces of clothing that you no longer wear but have sentimental value, you can “archive” those clothes. Just don’t put them in your main closet so it doesn’t grab space from your regular clothes. Put them in a box, or the attic… wherever, as long as it’s not in your main closet.
It’ll be hard to part with some clothes. I had several tops that no longer fit me but they were still lovely. There was a pair of beautiful black slacks that I used only once but couldn’t fit me anymore. I had to let go of “Maybe I’ll lose weight and I can wear this…” My rule was if I hadn’t worn it in the past month, I probably won’t use it ever. I decided to give the slacks to my sister. The rest of my clothes I’m giving to charity.
Here’s to cleaner closets and to clothes that we love!
P.S. I’ve posted an advanced Friday Trio. Enjoy!
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Alma
November 15, 2005 at 7:30 pm (19 years ago)I have always taken Christmas as my chance to clean up our family’s closet! I send most of our old clothes to PNG and old toys and books goes to the charity institution that my daughters school has been supporting! Not only do I get a cleaner and roomier closets, we also get to help others.
Toni
November 15, 2005 at 7:31 pm (19 years ago)Alma: That’s really admirable, Alma! The world needs more people like you.
JO
November 15, 2005 at 8:55 pm (19 years ago)hi toni,
donating has been one big help on my closet and to those in need. being in a 4 season country, i had to clean the closet at the end of every season. summer time is when my closet is really spacious.
i’ve watched that show of oprah.. and force my hubby to clean up his side of closet… honestly, he got more clothes than I do. (well, its because I stay at home).
pinayhekmi
November 16, 2005 at 12:46 am (19 years ago)Isn’t Oprah great! Today she is talking about how to find the perfect bra. According to her, and I believe this, a big percentage of women the majority actually, don’t wear the right kind of bra! Anyway, they have highlights on her website of today’s show at oprah.com.
Junnie
November 16, 2005 at 3:13 am (19 years ago)HUSBANDRY TIP: dont forget to keep those you think you’ve outgrown but are still great, like your favorite jeans….
try them on every month and use them as your gauge and inspiration to lose weight….
tin
November 16, 2005 at 8:14 am (19 years ago)i saw that episode toni! i LOOOOVE oprah. hehe.
grabe no, she had racks and racks of expensive clothes that she sold for measely prices! galing!
jojo
November 16, 2005 at 8:18 am (19 years ago)hi Toni-boponi (hehe, i’m always hearing the “name game” in my head whenever i see your name).
i’m ever hopeful i’d fit into some of my old slacks…that’s my motivation for trying to lose weight. up to when? i don’t know.
but your tip is really great. i sort out my closet at least every quarter. now i’ll have a system.
if you are looking for a home where to donate your “no” clothes, you can check out http://heartsthatcare.tk/. A girls’ home is one of the beneficiaries.
Dr E
November 16, 2005 at 1:32 pm (19 years ago)Great tips, Toni. My room’s a bedlam, and what I lack is not the initiative to fix it, but the TIME.
jeanny
November 16, 2005 at 2:37 pm (19 years ago)wooohhaaaa….you’ve read my mind toni. I was really thinking of ways on how I could make our closet neat. Hay, since Im kind of busy with my new biz, I became a loser in making our house organize especially the closet. But because, I’m hate messy and disorganize stuffs, I’ll be doing this later.
Thanks for such good advice sis :-*
kat
November 17, 2005 at 4:59 am (19 years ago)to this day, i haven’t see a single Oprah show in its entirety. go figure. but i do like your closet ideas. i’ve followed many closest-cleaning tips but i have yet to part with a majority of clothes! my dream is to have a walk-in closet one day and i think i’ll be set!
have a great weekend!
paz
November 17, 2005 at 7:21 am (19 years ago)hi toni! that cleaning up of closet is a never-ending story for me! these are great tips!
husticia
November 18, 2005 at 9:55 pm (19 years ago)nice toni!
eye
November 19, 2005 at 1:22 am (19 years ago)naku, guilty rin ako dito — for hoarding a lot of clothes that i hope will still fit me in the near future hahaha! suntok sa buwan 😀
re: your Q bakit huling hirit ko na yung last post ko, malalaman mo pag dumaan ka ulit sa blog ko 😉
happy weekend, toni!
rolly
November 19, 2005 at 5:47 pm (19 years ago)delikado saking sumunod sa payo ni Oprah. I may have to dispose all my clothes kasi mukhang sa no pupunta lahat.
Sidney
November 20, 2005 at 8:48 pm (19 years ago)And now you need to go urgently to the mall to buy new clothes !
anicee
November 21, 2005 at 9:50 am (19 years ago)I am planning to clean out my closet this weekend and I could use your tips. Ako naman, i get rid of clothes that i haven’t worn for a year. Ang problem lang with cleaning out the closet, you are tempted to buy new ones. hehehe
Toni
November 21, 2005 at 10:09 am (19 years ago)JO : I cleaned out H’s side for him but he hasn’t gone through the Nos and Maybes yet. For all I know baka may maresurrect pa don!
tintin: The perfect bra! I wanna catch that! Will hop on to her site asap! Thanks for the lead.
Junnie : Great idea!
tin : Oo nga I would’ve wanted to be part of the Harpo staff then and there!
jojo : Haha no worries about the name game, marami kayo diyan! Thanks for the lead on the charity! Will check out that site!
Dr E: Then make time! Easier said than done though!
jeanny : Anytime sis! No need to rush things naman, do them at your own time but just make time!
kat : Good luck on that walk-in closet dream!!! I share that too!
paz : I hope they serve you well my friend!
husticia : O game, linis na!
eye : Aba aba, makadaan na nga!
rolly : Hehehe Tito R talaga!
Sidney : Sssh don’t tell my husband! Heehee.
anicee : Ganun talaga ang cycle hehehe. When you go shopping, use those three questions din as your guide.
anicee
November 22, 2005 at 3:45 pm (19 years ago)actually toni, when i go shopping yun guide ko ay kung gaano kadalas ko magagamit yun isang item. Example kung ang shoes ay worth 3k, i ask myself if gagamitin ko ito madalas. if oo (say once a week) then bibilhin ko yun. magiging worth it kc. Mas ok sa akin ang medyo mahal na madalas gamitin kaysa sa mura n once lang magagamit kc nasisira kaagad.