This No. 1 Rule for a Clutter-Free Closet Requires Almost No Effort

In an ideal world, organizing our closet would be a one-day, enjoyable event. We'd have the time to remove every piece of clothing we own from our closets and the mental energy to hold each piece in our hands and assess whether it still fits or sparks joy. We definitely wouldn't run out of steam halfway through or get interrupted and wind up with a mountain of clothing on our bed.

If you're in a season of life where attempting a deep closet cleanout isn't realistic, there are other ways to keep the clutter at bay. Enter the "hanger hack." This method is just as effective as an all-day clean, but much easier than more hands-on organizational methods, and it's expert-approved.

"The Pareto Principle states that 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts," professional organizer Emily McDermott says. "Similarly, it has been said that we wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. The hanger hack is an easy way to get a sense of what 20% of your clothing you actually wear." Here's precisely how to use this decluttering hack, along with some bonus organization shortcuts for your folded clothing.

What Is the Hanger Hack?

The hanger hack, also known as the reverse hanger trick, is a simple yet effective technique. To do it, flip your hangers with clothes on them and hang them the reverse way in your closet. The open part of the hanger should be facing you. After you've worn an item of clothing and put it back, hang it up with the hanger facing the other direction.

After a period of time, you can easily look for any reverse-facing hangers to reevaluate what you didn't wear. If you do a seasonal closet swap, certified professional organizer C. Lee Cawley suggests reevaluating what you didn't wear every six months. If you don't switch your clothes out seasonally, reevaluate after nine months.

"This hack works great for people who need a clear visual reminder of what they are wearing, and, more importantly, what they are not wearing," Cawley says. "If it's hanging backward on your rack, you know that you haven't worn it yet. I try to choose from my own backward hangers and still find myself returning to the tried and true, time after time."

You can put the hanger hack to the test any time of year. Still, McDermott suggests doing it in the spring or summer when you have the highest percentage of your clothes hanging, as opposed to winter or late fall when you might have several sweaters folded in drawers. However, there's a similar organizing hack for drawers as well.

Similar Methods for Folded Items

Once you've mastered the hanger hack for identifying unused clothes in your closet, you might want to apply the same technique to folded items, such as sweaters, jeans, and T-shirts. Luckily, there are equally clever tricks to quickly pinpoint which folded clothes you aren't actually using, making your closet and drawers tidier than ever.

Left-to-Right Hack

To do the left-to-right decluttering technique, place your folded or rolled articles in your drawers in an organized grid, leaving a gap on the far right. Every time you wear a piece of clothing and put it away, move it to the right side of the drawer. Slide clothing over as you go to make room for the recently worn items on the right.

"If you find yourself skipping items often, that's a clue that you might want to put those aside and either donate them or put them in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind bin," she says.

Tape Hack

Cawley's drawer organizing hack is just as easy, and all you need is some low-tack washi or painter's tape. Apply a bit of tape on the edge of folded or rolled clothing to create a seal. That way, you'll have to remove it before wearing it.

Don't reapply the tape after wearing and washing the item; consider donating what you didn't wear after six months. You can also add tape to the inside of shoes, on the backs of belts, or on the labels of outerwear to use a similar method.

Critical Evaluation Is Key

Organizational tricks, such as the hanger hack, are only effective if you're willing to let go of the items you aren't wearing. Clothing that is too tight or outdated only creates clutter that distracts you from what you actually wear.

Cawley has one question that she encourages her clients to ask themselves if they are having a hard time deciding whether to part with an item: "Would you be happy running into your ex wearing this?" If so, it stays. If not, it goes.