Photography: Martina Gemmola / Styling: Belle Hemming
At the end of each season, many of us want to declutter and get our wardrobes cleaned out and organised. Out with the old, in with the new, as the saying goes. At this time of year, it’s a great chance to store away winter clothing to make space for summer pieces. The reverse hanger hack might be the easiest way to declutter your wardrobe without spending an entire weekend pulling everything apart.
If decluttering your wardrobe is on your to-do list, here’s help from an expert with a quick and easy hack that only takes five minutes and will transform your entire wardrobe.
What is the reverse hanger hack?
The idea couldn’t be simpler. Professional organiser Anita Birges from Mise en Place recommends turning all the hangers in your wardrobe around so they’re facing the opposite direction. Then, whenever you wear something, return it to your wardrobe with the hanger facing the normal way.
After six months, take another look. Anything still hanging backwards hasn’t been worn for half a year.
“The reverse hanger hack” is designed to be done as soon as the New Year begins, but the concept will work any time of year – pop a date in your diary six months from the day you make the change.
Watch Anita’s video from a few years ago with her wonderful explanation of how it’s done:
How to do the reverse hanger hack
You don’t need storage containers, labels or an entire Sunday afternoon to get started.
- Take each hanger off your wardrobe rail and turn it around so the open part of the hook faces you
- Set a reminder in your phone for six months from today
- Every time you wear an item, put it back on the hanger facing the normal direction
- Keep doing this for six months
- When your reminder goes off, look at the hangers that are still backwards. These are all the clothes you haven’t worn
From there, decide whether each unworn piece deserves its place in your wardrobe or would be better sold, donated, swapped or recycled.
Do you really have to get rid of everything you haven’t worn?
No. The reverse hanger hack should be treated as a guide, not an eviction notice.
There are perfectly good reasons why something might go unworn for six months. Formalwear, special-occasion pieces, sentimental clothing and strongly seasonal items aren’t necessarily clutter just because you haven’t reached for them recently.
Instead, use those backwards hangers as a prompt. Ask yourself whether the item fits, whether you still like wearing it and whether you can realistically imagine choosing it again. If the answer is no, it may be time to reclaim the space.
What to do with your clothes you don’t keep
After clearing out your wardrobe, you’re likely going to be left with a pile of unwanted clothes. For the items that are still in a good condition, you can try your hand at selling them on Facebook Marketplace or Depop, before donating any other items to your local op-shop.
For the items that aren’t in the best condition (stained, stretched or discoloured), don’t throw them in the bin. Instead, you can take advantage of one of the great companies, such as UPPAREL, that will pick up your old textiles and recycle them properly.
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