Have you been avoiding cleaning your wardrobe?
It's the kind of task that can seem overwhelming. Something for next weekend or the weekend after perhaps.
If you're swapping out winter clothes for lighter ones this spring, it's the perfect opportunity to review exactly what's in your wardrobe.
Here are some simple ways to get started.
Declutter your wardrobe
Home organiser Pip Renfrew lives in Maitland, on the traditional lands of the Wonnarua people, and says people are sometimes blissfully unaware of how much clothing they own.
She says an audit is in order if you're struggling for space.
"The items you didn't really wear over winter maybe kick them aside to sell or to donate."
Emily Deneys works part-time as a stylist and fashion content creator in the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, on Dja Dja Wurrung country.
"If something sat there untouched [for the season], I ask myself why," she says.
"Do I already have something similar? Does it not fit right? Does it just need mending or dry cleaning? Or does it just not work for my lifestyle anymore?"
From there, she decides whether she should donate or sell the item.
Ms Deneys recommends the "coat hanger trick".
"Every time you wear something put it back on the rack with the hook turned the other way … you'll easily see what hasn't been touched."
Jaimie Shiel is a disability advocate and wheelchair user who lives in Naarm/Melbourne and "works to make fashion more inclusive".
She describes her style as maximalist, which makes sharing a "pretty standard sized cupboard" with her partner challenging.
Ms Shiel approaches wardrobe decluttering in chunks so it's manageable.
She might get started by sorting a pyjama drawer or spending half an hour organising her T-shirts.
"Even if it takes two weeks to sort your whole cupboard out, it means that you have done it bit by bit instead of just putting it off and not ever getting it done."
If something no longer fits, it's not allowed back into her wardrobe.
Sort and pack seasonal items away
If people have the space, Ms Renfrew suggests storing bulky jackets and jumpers that are no longer needed.
She has the caveat: "I don't recommend hanging jumpers or knits because obviously they stretch."
Ms Renfrew says vacuum-sealed bags or plastic tubs are good options.
She also recommends checking clothing is clean before packing it away and storing it somewhere dry and cool.
Ms Renfrew says this helps protect the clothing from dust, damage and pests.
If you know the house has moths you may also want to include a moth repellent, such as moth sheets.
"If people have a room, put it on top of the wardrobe or under their bed" and "make sure it's all labelled so you know what's in there."
The weather can still change, so Ms Deneys recommends not packing all warm items away.
"I always leave a few key pieces out from each season … so I have options for layering during those trans-seasonal months."
Use the space you have
Wardrobe space can be hard to come by and Ms Deneys recommends draw dividers, splitting hanging space with shelving or drawers, and grouping clothing by category and storing accessories where you can see them.
Ms Shiel also prioritises pieces she hasn't worn in the middle of her cupboard as a priority rail to ensure everything gets worn.
Ms Renfrew says failing to use vertical space is a common mistake.
She recommends "utilising the bottom half of your wardrobe" by installing a double hanging rail or using some cube shelving or storage. It could also be used for shoe storage.
Ms Renfrew is not a fan of chunky wooden hangers if your wardrobe is crowded as they take up extra space and suggests slimline hangers instead.
Buy new items purposefully
Ms Deneys says she currently abides by a "one in, one out rule" when it comes to new acquisitions.
She says it's helped "keep [her] consumption in check".
Ms Shiel says she's "not that strict" but her one rule is that the new item needs to be able to be paired with at least three outfits in her existing wardrobe.
Ms Deneys says she's found op shopping is a more sustainable and low budget way to freshen up her clothing options.
"At the start of each season, I think about what's missing and make a little list of specific pieces I'd like."
