I’ve got a problem with purging.

I’m talking about the purging of possessions, and more specifically the purging of clothing.

When I was thirteen I read The Joy of Less by Francine Jay, and it changed my life. It’s this book about minimalism, and in it Francine talks about the joy that comes from getting rid of all your crap, and how you can never get rid of enough. So I did just that. I convinced my parents to let me empty my room into a pile in the middle, and then Marie Kondo-ed my way through it, keeping only things that brought me joy. (For some reason thirteen year old me thought that included three pairs of shoes and five shirts.) Then I told my parents we should move house to somewhere smaller because I’d realized our family didn’t need all that space for us four people.

What I’m saying is: if you’re looking for someone to tell you about how purging works, or how minimalism brings you joy, or how much better your life is once you stop living off trends, then don’t look here. Because I’m not that person.

Purges are a great idea, but they only work if we actually purge. They don’t actually help anyone if we just take things out of our closets, set them on the kitchen table, and then put them back in the closet later. It’s no wonder that I’ve tried and failed so many times to purge my closets. It’s not because I’m some kind of hoarder or because I’m a fashionista who obsesses about her wardrobe (I’m really not), it’s because purging is hard.

The problem is, there’s more to purging than just getting rid of stuff. If you want to keep your house organized and decluttered, you have to change your habits. You have to get rid of your old habits and replace them with new ones that are less likely to create clutter. You also need to create systems that will prevent you from creating clutter in the future.

So how do you do all that? Well, it’s not easy. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to change your habits. But if you’re serious about getting rid of clutter in your life, it’s worth it.

The closet purge is a year-round ritual but around this time of year, it feels especially pressing. Maybe it’s the weather cooling down that makes us want to clear things out and start fresh. Or maybe it’s the guilt we feel from overindulging during the holidays that makes us want to get back on track. Either way, it’s time to get down to business.

Here’s how to do it. First, you’ll need a list of every piece you own in your closet (or wherever else you’re storing clothes). I like to write mine down on paper, but if you’re more tech-inclined, there are plenty of apps that can help you keep track of your wardrobe. Whatever works for you!

Next, identify the items you love most — what Marie Kondo calls “sparks joy.” These should be kept in your closet at all times because they’re the pieces you actually wear. Put them in plain sight so they’re easy to grab when getting dressed in the morning (or remember where they are if they’re out of sight).

Finally, narrow down what doesn’t work for you anymore. It may have once made sense to keep these items around, but now they’re just taking up space and making getting

Purging, as it’s known, is a key part of spring cleaning and can also be a big part of the first-time move. “It’s when you go through your stuff and decide to keep what you need and love, donate what you don’t and throw away what’s broken or soiled,” says Pauline Sasek, owner of Simply Organized in Toronto.

In the video above, Sasek demonstrates how to purge your wardrobe. She recommends starting with your tops and dresses and then moving on to bottoms, skirts and jackets. If you wear something once a year, like a party dress or Santa suit, then you can put it in storage. But if you haven’t worn it in years, then consider getting rid of it. “That old T-shirt from high school? Time to let it go,” says Sasek.

Sorting through our wardrobe isn’t the only thing we need to do to get ready for spring. Here are some more tips from the pros:

Take one room at a time

Don’t try to do everything at once — that will just make you feel overwhelmed. Pick one room per weekend (or even one per month) and tackle it as much as possible during that time.

My closets are like the Bermuda Triangle of clothing. I start out with good intentions, but somehow, things go missing. Sometimes I find them again, other times they never resurface. The last time I purged, I found a pair of shoes I had been searching for months! I had completely forgotten that I owned them and was scouring the internet trying to find another pair.

There was also a dress that was my favorite that disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle of the closet and had to be thrown away because it was so faded and worn….and expensive.

So now that we live in a house with two master closets (one for him, one for her), it’s time to organize and purge!

The wardrobe purge has become a new year’s tradition for many of us – and for good reason. Not only does it make way for new clothes, it means you’re closer to the highly-coveted capsule wardrobe.

But just how often should you be clearing out your wardrobe?

The answer: every six to twelve months.

“If you want to get the most from your clothing and create a wardrobe that represents who you are this is the perfect time to do it,” says fashion stylist Rachel Jacoby Zoldan. “Plus, it’ll make a huge difference in the way you feel.”

That said, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you start tossing everything out of your closet (and into a donation pile).

Fashion is a cycle, it’s a circle of trends, and the only way to catch up is to get rid of old things.