8 Items You Actually Shouldn't Store in Your Closet, Pros Explain

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

You’re not the only one who dreams of a Clueless-inspired bedroom closet. To create an oasis of organized outfits though, you have to clear out the dusty boxes full of childhood photos, bridesmaid dresses you cringe at the sight of, and that stack of shirts you intended to return.

Here’s the hard truth: your closet is finite, and if you keep unnecessary items in there, it can quickly turn into a chaotic abyss. 

To make Cher Horowitz proud, we tapped three organizational experts—who have all seen their fair share of cluttered closets—to reveal eight things you shouldn’t keep in your closet. Read on for their advice.

Meet the Expert

• Ashley Murphy is one of the co-founders of NEAT Method, a luxury organizing company.

• Erica Thompson owns Organized by Design, a Los Angeles-based organizing company.

• Marissa Hagmeyer is a professional organizer and the other co-founder of NEAT Method.
  

Clothes That Don't Fit

If you find yourself holding onto items that are either too small or too big with the hope that one day they may fit, Murphy confirms that you’re not alone—far from it. She sees this often and suggests changing your mindset about those too-tight jeans. 

“The reality is, if you do eventually fit into those items, it’s likely they won’t be in style anymore,” Murphy says. “Consign them and free up space for items you can wear right now. Or, if you’re really attached, place them in a bin and store them out the way.”

Memorabilia That Can Be Displayed

You could store the first love letter your sweetheart scribbled to you in a dusty box in the back of your closet, or (better idea) you could frame and display it. That way you can adore it every day, even if someone left dirty dishes in the sink last night. The same goes for your grandparents’ wedding photo, and ditto for your kids’ masterpiece of a stick figure drawing. 

Your beloved memorabilia doesn't deserve to go unnoticed in a closet. Instead, keep the memories alive by displaying them throughout your home.

Your beloved memorabilia doesn't deserve to go unnoticed in a closet. Instead, keep the memories alive by displaying them throughout your home.

Costume Pieces

Wigs and bedazzled heels and fringed jackets—oh my. If you don’t reach for party-worthy costume pieces more than once a year, they don’t deserve a place in your main bedroom closet. Hagmeyer recommends placing playful (but not every day) pieces together in a lidded bin with a “costume” label, then storing it wherever you keep your holiday decor.

Items That Need to be Returned

How will you ever remember to return that ill-fitting dress within 30 days if it’s buried in the back of your closet? Don’t get in the habit of corralling clothing or accessories that you plan to return in your closet, says Murphy. 

“Place the bag in your car as a reminder to complete the task and say goodbye to missed return windows,” Murphy says.

Your Go-To Shoes

You don’t want to traipse through your entire home for a pair of sandals whenever you need to fetch the mail, nor do you want to dedicate precious closet space to a pair of shoes you routinely wear.  

“In the summer, streamline quick trips out the door by keeping a single pair of go-to sandals or sneakers in a basket or tray near your most frequent exit,” Hagmeyer says.

Once the temperature drops and leaves start to change color, switch them out for a pair of boots and a coat. There’s only one rule: Hagmeyer says to limit yourself to one or two items to prevent clutter from accumulating in your entryway.

Money and Gift Cards

No matter what your penny-pinching grandma told you, a closet is no place to keep money or gift cards, says Thompson. While an unearthed stack of cash may be a pleasant surprise during a cleaning session, long-expired gift cards will only disappoint.

“I can’t tell you how many times when organizing I’ve found long-forgotten coin collections, cash, and gift cards,” Thompson says. “If you stash them in a drawer in your closet, you may forget about them.”

Snacks

It may be tempting to stash snacks on your closet shelves, but avoid the urge, Murphy warns. That convenient grab-and-go breakfast isn’t worth the potential consequences. 

“Not only can the crumbs attract bugs and other unwelcome friends, but you’re more likely to transfer snack residue to your clothes as you get ready,” Murphy says.

Holiday Outfits

Those candy-cane striped pajamas are cute, but hogging finite closet real estate. If space is limited, Hagmeyer says, seasonal items like holiday pajamas, socks, and Rudolph sweaters with light-up noses should be removed from your closet.

If you already have a holiday or seasonal clothing bin, place them in there. Otherwise, create a new one and house it with the rest of your storage bins.

Read Next: 7 Items You Shouldn't Keep in Your Bedroom

Read the original article on The Spruce.