I don’t know about you, but my daughters’ clothes seem to multiply in their closets! Fortunately for me, I have two daughters, and the younger one can eventually wear the hand me downs of the older one (given that they’re still in decent shape).

A while ago, I adopted a crating method for our family’s off-season and “too small clothes”.

Here’s what you need:

1) Plastic storage containers:
My favorite is Rubbermaid’s 14 gallon Roughneck Tote, but there are many options out there. Allot one tote per season per person.
2) Duct tape and Sharpie markers to label the totes.

Here’s how it works:
Sort
Sort through each child’s closet with said child at the end of the season. Decide what to give away (two small, younger sister won’t wear it, not in good shape), and what to keep (will wear next year or younger sibling will wear it).

Label
Create appropriate labels for each storage tote. For example, this fall when we switched over to fall/winter clothing, I labeled three new totes for my daughters.
– First, a “Spring/Summer 10-year-old” tote for our younger daughter for next summer.
– Second, a “Spring/Summer 12-year-old” tote for our older daughter for next summer.
– Third, a “Spring/Summer 11-year-old” tote for our older daughter’s clothes that no longer fit her that she will pass to her younger sister.

Store
Put clothes in totes: Any clothes that we thought would fit either of them next summer, we put into these various totes. We store these totes in our attic so they’re easy to access if we’re going away to a warm location mid-winter, and we need to see what they have. As the new season approaches, we can pull the appropriate tote into each child’s room, and go through it together.

Giveaway
Anything, we thought wouldn’t fit either of them next summer, we put into give away bags. Giveaway organizations that may pick up weekly at your house are Big Brother Big Sister Foundation and Vietnam Veterans of America. Check out their websites to schedule easy donations!

This method has really helped all of us get our clothes in order, especially the kids. Give it a try with your family and let us know how it works!