It can be a challenge, to say the least, to clean out the wardrobe – what should stay and what should get a new home somewhere else? If you are faced with that dilemma, there is a smart rule to follow, which will make it much easier to say goodbye to clothes.
Here’s how to use the “rule of three” the next time you clean!
Cleaning out the closet can be both fun, hard, and exhausting. It’s nice when you’ve managed to weed out the clothes you no longer want, and can donate, sell or recycle them – but the hard part is figuring out which clothes they are.
When we are faced with the choice between keeping or giving away clothes, we think about whether it is a garment we will need or want in the future. Often we keep garments that then just have to continue to lie and gather dust in the wardrobe until it is time for the next cleaning and sorting. 
It is important to be a little strict with yourself when cleaning. Does the garment fit? If the answer is no, it’s time to sell. Is there a stain or hole you won’t fix? Recycle. And if you just don’t know how to style it, you should resort to this smart rule – the “rule of three”.
This is how you use the rule of three in cleaning
What does the rule of three entail? It is easy to remember. If you can’t imagine three different ways you would style the garment and wear it, then you should let it go.
If you are thinking about whether you should keep, for example, a shirt, you should be able to see three different styling methods in front of you in order to keep the shirt. Do you perhaps have a pair of trousers, a skirt, and a jacket that go with it, and which allow you to create different outfits with the garment? Then it’s just a matter of keeping! If, on the other hand, you feel that there is only one specific outfit where the shirt works, then it is time to let it get new life elsewhere.
You must also be able to imagine situations in which the clothes should fit. If you have a dress, you should be able to think of several different occasions where it would fit – both a birthday party and baptism, perhaps, or a work party. If you can’t imagine when the garment will be used, it can also be passed on to another home, or sold secondhand.
Try the rule of three the next time you’re cleaning out your closet, and you’ll see that it helps you with those tough decisions!
