Hanger Hack - Zero Effort Decluttering

This Hanger Hack, called the Reverse Hanger Trick, is a no-effort decluttering trick that takes virtually zero effort to declutter your closet. I use it myself, and it tells me a lot without doing anything different except turning hangers backward. That’s it. If you feel like it’s hard to let go of clothing items, even when you never wear them, then this Reverse Hanger Trick is for you. It makes deciding which clothes need to go as simple as six. Why six? Because six months is how long you have to make your decision.

Zero effort decluttering with this simple hack.

Here’s How the Reverse Hanger Trick Works:

Take all your clothing that is hung in your closet, and turn the hangers backward. Set a calendar reminder for six months from the date you make this reversal. Then, go about your life. Every time you wear something from your closet and go to put it back in its place, turn the hanger around so that it is no longer reversed.

Once the six month timer goes off, you will know exactly what you have and have not worn during that time. Take out what you haven’t worn, unless, of course, it’s something you wear only on very special occasions (during Covid, for example, many people’s dressy clothing stayed reversed because most people did not attend large or dressy events). Most likely, if you haven’t worn something in the past six months, you won’t wear it again. It’s time to donate. And donate with joy. Remember that when giving things away, express gratitude for the item that has served you in the past and can serve someone else in the future.

Donate, Consign or Discard

After you’ve gathered all the clothing you have to donate, throw away or consign, move everything to the trunk of your car IMMEDIATELY. Or call for a clothing pick up if you are unable to take things by car. Set a date by which everything needs to be dropped off, picked up, or sold. And don’t deviate from that date. Sometimes, the hardest part of decluttering is taking things out of your house and out of your life. Once you do, you’ll feel lighter and happier, and know that someone else is making good use of the things you once loved.

Here is a true donation story and the joy it brings.

In Marie Kondo’s method of clutter clearing, she describes the importance of keeping only what brings us joy, surrounding ourselves with the things we love. This is a powerful practice of evaluating things around us that either block energy or create a flow. When considering letting go of something, she was reminded of the time she shared her unused and unloved clothes with two sisters who worked next door. For the following year, she saw shirts, pants, and sweaters being beautifully worn and appreciated, bringing people joy instead of sitting in her closet. Now, even when she can’t see the recipients, she knows that when she gives things away, someone is using them. It brings her such happiness.