Too Many Clothes, Not Enough Room.

Pamelacake · August 2013

So we have a big family and our house isn't the greatest. We want to move to a bigger house but..it's just not happening right now so I am trying to figure out what to do with all of these clothes! When I first moved in with my DH, 6you SD had really no clothes that fit her. I bought her as well as 5yo SD a bunch of clothes and I guess I really wasn't paying attention to how much I had bought for 6yo and SHe now has way too many. I don't want to get rid of any of them b/c they are all cute and she loves them.

Then, a woman that lives down the street that we have also seen in church came down and brought 3 trash bags full of clothes. They all fit 6yo SD and are all very cute and the style she likes. I had planned to donate some of them but she loves them all. I am used to being very organized and I need help.. lol. The two younger girls share a room and it has 2 closets. It's still not enough. I have clothes in totes in the kitchen! off season clothes are in the garage.

We were using the basement for storage of some of the clothes and off season in totes and we put up bars to hang things on, but it flooded and I think there is a leak that needs fixed. DH has been trying to find it. So most of the clothes down there got ruined.

I have gotten rid of a lot of my clothes to make more room for theirs in my closet area as well. I thought about taking over the younger boys closet since they don't use the rack but I think they might get mad lol

We need a bigger house badly but any other suggestions? I also have the sweater storage bags full of clothes under their beds.

Stefibeth · August 2013

Honestly, I think if 2 closets aren't enough for 2 kids I would pare down the clothes. Involve your 6yo in the process since she's not super happy about getting rid of them. Surely there must be some things that she doesn't love. If you don't have much space keeping that many clothes for one person seems like a waste. JMO!

Would using space saver bags (the kind you vacuum the air out of) save on space? We have a small house and no basement so storing things is a PITA. I used to use totes, but they fill up so quickly and take up a lot of space. I switched to the bags and they work better IMO. Saves on space, plus they're water-tight!

ETA: Maybe to motivate her to pare down her wardrobe you could try and consign things and tell her she can pick out something new to replace it? Like a new pair of shoes or an accessory or something? Could be fun for her.

MomIn2013 · August 2013

I think this belongs on the first world problems thread from the other day - lol. Sorry, I don't really have a suggestion for you, I sort of have the same problem... I just ended up getting more storage bins and keeping anything that doesn't need to be hung up folded in there.

penguingrrl · August 2013

You don't have a space problem, you have a stuff problem. Let your 6 y/o keep enough for 1.5-2 weeks and donate the rest. Store out of season or still too big stuff in waterproof tubs in the garage or basement. But nobody needs that many clothes.

My three kids share a room and we fit all of their current clothes in their closet without a problem. It's a bit tight, but able to be and remain organized and there's no issue fitting it all. We have 5 people in a 1,000-1,100 square foot house with two beds and 1 bath. We have no issues fitting everything and staying organized whatsoever. Next year we're hoping to move to a slightly bigger home to gain one more bedroom and a second toilet, but if we stayed in this house forever we would make it work without a problem. I'm firmly convinced that a lot of people who are convinced hey're outgrowing their home have a perfectly nice size home and far too much stuff.

notkateanymore · August 2013

My DD has tons of clothes, but they all fit in her closet and dresser. So not as much of a problem and I'm not against lots of clothes, love clothes!!

But, if they don't fit anywhere, I agree with PP that you need to get rid of them in some way.

LatteLady5 · August 2013

KateMW said:

My DD has tons of clothes, but they all fit in her closet and dresser. So not as much of a problem and I'm not against lots of clothes, love clothes!! But, if they don't fit anywhere, I agree with PP that you need to get rid of them in some way.

This. We have a lot of clothes too and DD looks adorable in all of them. I don't think there is anything wrong with a lot of clothes.

If we didn't have the space I'd just pick my least favorites and donate or sell the rest.

Pamelacake · August 2013

I agree that she doesn't need that many. The hand me downs weren't expected and are all in new condition, some were never even worn. The main reason I don't want to get rid of them is BC the clothes can be passed down to 5yo. which will be a huge money saver.

I think I will be putting a lot of them up in the garage as she really doesn't need that many, maybe even switch them out so it's like she's getting something new. I'll definitely be getting some of those vacuum bags.

The laundry area is in the basement, that's why I hung the closet racks down there but it needs repaired soon or we are going to have to move bc It's always wet down there and the mildew smell is creeping up into the house. I definitely don't want anyone to get sick.

notkateanymore · August 2013

Is this the place where I admit I moved some of DH's clothes to hang up all the stuff I've bought for the baby? LOL

Pamelacake · August 2013

I have started going through her clothes in her drawers since I posted this and she has like 3 of some of the same exact skirts. some of the same tops etc. so I will definitely be donating. I don't know of anyone her size so I will probably give it to a friend of mine who volunteers at a caring center in the next county (we don't have one) and they give their stuff away to people who need it.

Thanks for the advice and yeah. the totes have only been in the kitchen for a couple of weeks waiting for a new home but they are driving me insane!

Arnegard · August 2013

I totally understand how it can be hard to fit 2 kids clothes in one room. We have one closet and 2 dressers though. We have dresses hung on the closet rod. There are also shelves in the closet that I have out of season shirts/jeans on in baskets.

I also make a rule that if the shirts/pants/PJ's do not fit in one drawer, I get rid of it. I also only keep one rubbermaid tote of clothes to hand down to the next.

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