What About Clothes That I Could Mend (But Never Get Around To)?

This is part of Stewie's Guide to Ruthlessly Declutter Your Clothes Today.

Many of us grew up in households where frugality was a way of life. We learned to stretch every dollar, to make things last, to patch, repair, and reuse rather than replace.

So when a shirt loses a button, or a pair of jeans develop a small tear, we do what we were taught: we set them aside for mending.

At first, it’s just one or two items—a small, manageable pile. But life gets busy. The days slip by. And before we know it, the mending pile grows into a mountain, full of clothes we meant to mend but never got around to.

Sound familiar?

What to Do With Clothes That Need Mending

If you have a growing pile of clothes waiting for repair, pause for a moment and ask yourself a hard question: Do I actually have the time and energy for this?

Not in an ideal world where you have unlimited free time, but in your real life—the one where work, family, and responsibilities keep you constantly moving.

If you’ve been meaning to tackle this pile for months (or years), what will make the future any different?

If you’re already stretched thin, it may be time to let go of the pile. You don’t need permission. You don’t need to feel guilty. You can simply decide that this isn’t worth your energy anymore.

And that’s okay.

If You Choose to Keep It…

If you do want to tackle your mending pile, be ruthless about what stays.

  1. Get rid of anything that’s stained, stretched out, or will take too long to fix. If it’s beyond easy repair, it’s beyond saving.
  2. Let go of clothes that don’t fit well or feel good. If you wouldn’t be excited to wear it after fixing it, why mend it at all?
  3. Keep your mending pile out of your closet. Your closet should be a space for clothes that fit and are ready to wear—not a storage area for unfinished projects.
  4. Set a deadline. No more endless waiting. Pick a date—this weekend, next month, whatever makes sense—and commit: Anything not mended by then gets donated or tossed.

Choose Freedom Over Obligation

I know how hard it can be to let go of things that feel fixable.

But sometimes, the real fix isn’t sewing on a button or stitching a seam—it’s releasing yourself from the obligation altogether.

Imagine opening your closet and seeing only clothes that are ready to wear. No half-finished projects. No piles of “maybe someday.” Just clothes that fit, feel good, and make your life easier.

That’s the goal.

So whether you mend what matters or let go of what doesn’t, give yourself permission to move forward—lighter, freer, and ready to enjoy the clothes that truly serve you.

You’ll be glad you did.

Next steps…