10 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Think “I Have Too Many Clothes”

Chances are, if you’re asking yourself the question, “Do I have too many clothes?” then you’re starting to wonder if it’s time to clean out or get rid of some. But how many clothes is too many clothes? If only there was a golden rule!

There are lots of reasons why minimizing the clutter and excess in our lives is a positive thing to do. In fact, psychologists have looked into psychological effects of materialism, and many think there is a link between lots of physical possessions and loneliness. So, it’s good to put your clothing habits under the microscope to see if having too many clothes is making you unhappy or contributing to the chaos in your life. 

If you think you may have too many clothes, we may be able to help. Some of the most common reasons for having too many clothes may describe your situation. We’ve compiled a list of 10 questions you can ask yourself to see if you may have too many clothes. And you can take a quiz at the end of our post to see how you scored!

Do you have too many clothes? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself!

You may know in our gut that, “Yes, yes I do have too many clothes!” But an extra dose of confirmation can help us finally get to work fixing our situation and getting rid of those Sam Edelman sandals from 2010 we used to love. Asking yourself these questions might help you gauge just how much you need to declutter and reduce your wardrobe.

Question #1 - Does your closet look more like a chaotic dropzone than a zen dressing room?

There is a spectrum of closet organization. And you don’t have to be Marie Kondo’s protégé to still keep an organized closet. But if yours looks more like a place where you drop, stash, pile and throw unfolded garments, you probably have too many clothes. Organization isn’t a skill that comes naturally to everyone, but it’s especially challenging when you have too many clothes. The first step to getting and staying organized is to declutter. 

Question #2 - Do you “never” have anything to wear?

The perception of having nothing to wear typically means you do have clothes but none that you like or fit you. That’s a good indicator that it’s time for a closet clean-out. Because we usually do have clothes, lots of them. But if we’re not wearing them, it’s time for them to go. 

Question #3 - Do you have clothes you haven’t worn in over a year?

If your answer is a resounding yes, then it’s likely you’re holding onto clothes you’re not going to wear ever again. This section of your closet should be small, reserved for special seasonal items, formal dresses and occasion wear.  If you have a lot of clothes you haven’t worn in over a year, then it’s time for a closet cleanout. 

Question #4 - Do you have clothes with tags still on?

We’re not talking about one or two new items. You may have too many clothes if you have more than a few recently-purchased items that are just collecting dust with the tag still on. For a lot of us, this means we went shopping, bought a sweater or pair of jeans on impulse and aren’t wearing it like we anticipated. Even though it can be hard, it’s time to donate or get rid. 

Question #5 - Do you have clothes in storage? 

This seems like a no-brainer indicator. If you’re having to store away or box up clothes by the season, then you may have too many clothes. And while it could be an indicator that you have a tiny closet, it’s a good rule of thumb to store your clothes so that you can see everything you have in one place at all times.

Question #6 - Do you have lots of clothes from a different phase of life?

Many of us go through job, relationship and lifestyle changes within a five year period. With those come changes to our wardrobes and the clothes we wear on a daily basis. If you have a closet that served you in your “past life” but doesn’t fit with your current lifestyle, then you have too many clothes. And it’s time to clean out. For example, if you’re a stay-at-home mom but most of your clothes are from your professional career days, it’s time to declutter and go shopping!

Question #7 - Are you always running out of hangars? 

This may sound like a silly question, but it’s a great little tip to help you if you’re asking, “do I have too many clothes?” If laundry day rolls around and you’re always pilfering through your closet looking for an extra stray hangar, it’s time to clean out your closet. And while it may be tempting to just go buy another pack of hangers, This usually means you’ve bought more clothes and haven’t cleaned out. 

Question #8 - Do you have clothes that are damaged, misshapen or stained?

For most of us, if we’re answering yes to this question, then you can be assured, “I have too many clothes!” If we’re holding onto clothes that aren’t well-fitting or are past their prime, then we need to do a closet cleanout. There are clothes we likely aren’t wearing that fit us better and are in better condition. 

Question #9 - Do you have clothes you’re keeping just because they were expensive?

If yes, then chances are when you look at those clothes, you’re rolling your eyes. It’s not a life-giving moment, it’s a moment of “ugh I wish I hadn’t bought that!” or “why did I spend so much on that?” As painful as it may be, this means it’s time to purge. Get it out of there. You have too many clothes if you’re holding onto expensive things that you don’t wear and regret buying. 

Question #10 - Is your closet overflowing? Have you invaded the spare bedroom?

Do you have clothes on the floor of your closet, in separate baskets, stacked along the edges of your bedroom or (dare we say) invading a second bedroom closet? Then chances are you have too many clothes. If you can’t do a quick inventory of the clothes you have, then you’re missing opportunities to wear all that you already own AND it’s time for a cleanout.

Take our “Do I have too many clothes?” Quiz

If you really want to find out if you have too many clothes, take the official quiz. You can download and print it here!

So, how did you do? Let’s find out!

There’s a key on the quiz itself to help you score your answers. But if you missed it, here’s how to tally up your score:

If you answered YES to 7 or more questions, then you have too many clothes. And it’s DEFINITELY time to clean out your closet!

If you answered YES to 5-7 questions, then you may have too many clothes. We’re going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you may just have a tiny closet. But either way, think about the answers to your questions and what they truly indicate. Is it time to get rid of some things? 

If you answered YES to less than 5 questions, then you’re golden! You probably have the right amount of clothes. And while we could all benefit from a good decluttering, you probably already do this on a regular basis. Well done!

3 Quick Tips for Cleaning Out Your Closet

• Formal, everyday, athleisure, swimwear, etc.
• OR tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, etc.

• Donate to charity
• Consign
• Throw Away
• Keep

• Invest in some hangars, labels, bins, containers 

At the end of the day, if you’re thinking, “I have too many clothes!” then there’s a reason why you may think that. It may be for one of the reasons we suggested with our questions or not. But either way, we can all benefit from reducing the clutter in our lives and getting organized. 

Check out the other Silk+Sonder blog posts on getting organized!

• Here's Exactly How to Organize Your Thoughts
• Daily Guide for Organizing Your Life in One Week
• Our 1-Minute Guide: How to Organize Your Life With A Notebook