If you have kids, then you know that keeping track of everyone's clothes and rotating them out by size or season is a LOT. It almost feels like a full-time job, right? Well, today, I'm sharing some of my best game-changing clothes hacks, from storage to hand-me-downs and more!
As most of you know, I have eight kids aged 11 and under (yup!), so as you can imagine, we've got TONS of clothes in our house. And a lot of you have asked me questions about how we handle clothes around here. Like, how do we store them, rotate them, and know what to give away? Those are some GREAT questions, Freebs!
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I figured there was no better way to answer your questions than to film a quick video, so here we are! I've compiled all your questions and answered them to create the ultimate guide to all things clothing for families. So, without further ado, here we go, you guys!
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Click HERE to watch the clothing hacks for families video, or keep scrolling to watch it:
Phew! We covered a lot of ground, eh? Need a quick recap or refresher? I've got you covered, so keep on reading.
MY BEST TIPS FOR HANDING DOWN CLOTHES
Okay, Freebs! If you want to hand your kiddos clothes down (which I highly recommend!), then these clothes hacks will come in handy:
- Look for Adjustable Waistbands – When I'm buying pants for my boys, I try to buy the ones that have adjustable waistbands. It makes it SO much easier to pass them down, which helps get way more use out of them. Lengthwise, pants sizing hasn't been a big issue for us, but one of our sons has a much smaller waist than the others, so the adjustable waistbands have been a game-changer.
- Use the Dot System – If you have more than one child of each gender, assign each of them “dots.” We go by birth order. For example, I have four daughters, and my oldest daughter is one dot, my second oldest daughter is two dots, and so on. Why do we do this? Sometimes it's tough to see the sizes on those tiny tags, so this makes putting clothes away and passing them on SO much easier! Just grab a sharpie and find a spot on the label to mark down those dots.
FYI–the dot system works for shoes, too. Give it a try and see what you think!
HOW TO KEEP CLOTHES ORGANIZED THE EASY WAY
Okay, so many of you sent out an S.O.S. begging for tips on this one. How the heck do you make sure your kids put away their clothes properly? What's the best way to organize kids' clothes? Well, I've got a little trick up my sleeve! Try this hack: create hidden drawer labels.
Break out that label-maker or use vinyl, and let's have some fun! We put labels on the top of each drawer, so you can't see them from the outside when you push them in. This trick works well on cube organizers, too! When in doubt, label.
TRY THESE CLOTHES HACKS WHEN YOU'RE DOING LAUNDRY
Millions of you have watched my laundry hacks video, so you might already know that we do things a little differently around here. But the reason so many of you love it is because it works SO well. Definitely go watch that video, but in the meantime, here's a quick tip:
- Separate Your Clothes by Texture – Washing machines have come a long way, you guys! Detergents are better, too, so it's not as important to sort your laundry by colors. I do recommend washing whites on their own, but otherwise, I suggest you separate and wash by texture. Why? Because it helps your clothes last a heck of a lot longer! If you are washing lightweight kids' clothing in the same load as thicker fleece material, those clothes will not hold up as long as they should. Do yourself a favor and start sorting by texture!
- Use Quality Detergent – Don't skimp on detergent! It literally pays to use the good stuff. Spring for the name brands. It really does make a difference!
- Don't Use Too Much Detergent – Have you noticed your clothes are starting to look a little dingy? Then you might be using too much detergent. A little goes a long way!
- Do Keep a Generic Detergent Around – All that being said, I do keep some generic detergent around for things like cleaning rags, beach towels, or casual blankets.
For the things you wear a lot, make sure to use that good detergent. It's the easiest way to protect your investment. Speaking of which, let's talk about buying clothes!
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON CLOTHES
We all know that buying clothes for kids, and adults for that matter, can add up FAST. Wanna save some money (who doesn't)?! Here are a couple of quick tips:
- Use Rakuten – I mean, first of all, why wouldn't you?! I've been talking about Rakuten for so long, but if you've been living under a rock, they're the largest cash-back site. They partner with over 2,500 stores to bring you exclusive coupons, and totally free cash-back. No strings attached! You basically make money just by shopping. Sign up for Rakuten HERE, and you'll get a $40 credit the first time you spend $40. Heck yes! #NoBrainer
- Stock Up During Sales – If you're shopping at a semi-annual sale and find a wardrobe staple for a great deal, buy it in two sizes. Grab one in the size your child currently wears, and then get a size up for later. Especially for generic things like jeans, slacks, and basic solid t-shirts, this will allow you to keep a nice stockpile of affordable items, so you're ready when the kids have a growth spurt.
THE CURE FOR YOUR SOCK SORTING DILEMMA
Okay, not to overhype this or anything, but I hope you're ready for these clothes hacks. I'm about to share some of my most game-changing tips of all time. Here you go:
- Stop Sorting Socks – How many hours of your life have you wasted sorting socks? I know I wasted WAY too many, so one day, I finally had enough. Now, we do white socks only.
- Buy One-Size Fits All – Most socks come in a range of sizes, so they can fit all sizes of feet. We keep one drawer of socks for our girls and one for the boys and let them share. No more sorting, no more digging; it's all there for them to grab when they need. #RaisingCapableKids
- Keep a Stash of Black Socks – We keep a few black socks handy for our boys to wear to church, and we also have a few soccer socks. Aside from that? White only!
We do set aside some baby socks, but for the big kids, this system works great.
HACKS FOR STORING CLOTHES
Ugh. Storing clothes. It's SUCH a hassle, right?! Being the frugal queen that I am, I ended up saving ALL of our kids and baby clothes, but guess what happened? We ended up having a six-year gap between having any boys. So, by the time our next boy came around, a lot of the clothes were either outdated or not in the best shape. Here's my recommendation:
- Consolidate to One Bin per Size/Gender – We keep one large bin per size in our garage. When I end up with items overflowing, then I know it's time to make some decisions and donate a few things. Keep those bins on a shelf either in your garage, attic, or a storage area, and label them for easy access.
- Start a Shoe Bin – Our bins are divided by age range. For example, newborn shoes, age 1-5, and so on.
The nice thing about storing all your clothes in bins and keeping them organized? When you don't need them anymore, it's super easy to donate or give them to a friend!
Well, there you have it, Freebs! I had fun with this one, and I hope these clothes hacks help your family! Keep the questions coming, okay?
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and submit your questions during our next Q&A Tuesday! Who knows, I might make a video all about YOUR question! Speaking of which, if you have a video suggestion, let me know, okay? Just leave a comment below.
Looking for a few more of my best organization hacks?
- Check out how I organize my pantry!
- Need help organizing your closet? I've got closet ideas galore!
- Cut down on waste and save a ton on your grocery bill with these fridge inventory tips!
Ciao for now!
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