Kondo-ing for beginners

[Snowdog37]

So I keep hearing about the amazing Marie Kondo. What's it all about, in a nutshell? I aspire to have a clean tidy organized house, but it's never actually happened 😜 We are trying for a baby plus moving countries this year so it's a good time to really get my shit together and find a system that works to keep things somewhat under control.

[StitchesInTime]

In a nutshell, the idea is that you only keep stuff that brings you joy, discarding everything else (although this doesn't apply so well to paperwork as there's some documentation you just have to keep regardless of how it makes you feel).

And tidy in categories e.g. clothing, books, papers. Rather than tidying your house room by room.

I read Marie Kondo's first book after borrowing it from the library, so if you're unsure about whether Kondo-ing is for you it might be worthwhile seeing if your library stocks her books.

[Snowdog37]

Thanks Stitches I'll look for her book I think then. My problem is I keep everything so the house is full of crap but not necessarily filthy just cluttered. If I only keep what gives me joy I suspect I'd need to get a skip! I have a hard time getting rid of stuff as I get attached to it or I feel it will be useful in the future. I really want to not relocate with boxes or crap though.

[redhat]

The trick though is not keeping hold of that item which might come in handy one day in the future.

We are just starting. In fact the DS's are upstairs as we speak discarding the clothes they don't like. I have no idea why they each have around 30 tops when they wear school uniform all week. The hope is that we will not be constantly washing and putting clothes away since we will have far fewer.

I started on my clothes last night. You really have to be ruthless but the theory is that with fewer things to tidy you don't spend your life tidying.

[MsMermaid]

That's my issue too, keeping too much. I have seriously thought about hiring a skip to get rid of all the crap, but then I feel really guilty for not recycling everything that could be recycled.

I'm waiting for the kondo book from the library, but in the meantime I'm making sure that at least one bag of stuff leaves my house every week. This week I've got rid of loads more because I'm on holiday from work, so had time to do it.

[Snowdog37]

I love looking at Pinterest to get ideas on storage/organization too. Maybe I'll see what Kondo stuff people have put on there. I know it'll cost a small fortune to relocate with all the stuff we have so I'm using this as an opportunity to down size (so I can just buy more shit in the states) for economy reasons as well as the apparent peace of mind I'll get! I feel overwhelmed with everything so if getting rid of most of it helps me calm down that's worth it right there.

[redhat]

Buying storage solutions is a big no no with kondo.

[QuerkyJo]

If you want to kick start before you read the book start with a small category of clothes.

Maybe, short sleeved tops. Go through your wardrobe and take out every one. How many do have? How many do you need? Which ones would you take if you were relocating tomorrow?

Look at you tube to see how to fold them. Put the ones that you are keeping into a drawer Send the rest to a charity shop. Bin or recycle the hangers.

I guarantee, this one small step will make you a Konvert.

[MsMermaid]

Do I have to do it in categories? Is that an important part of it? Is there a category called "stuff I put in boxes and his under the bed cos I don't know where to get rid of it to"? I have a lot of stuff in that category.

I can get my head round only keeping things that bring me joy, but sorting it in categories sort of implies that my stuff is already vaguely sorted into categories doesn't it?

[redhat]

Sorting in categories is fundamental to the process.

[QuerkyJo]

Most people have "stuff" all over the house. One thing I have learned is to put the same thing in the same place.

If you want to start with the "stuff" under the bed do so. Tip it out and think about where each item belongs.

I expect you will find that, at present, it belongs in boxes under the bed because you do not have an allocated place for it.

Unless you live alone and have loads of time it is better to have a system. When I started, before I read the book, I turned out every drawer in my kitchen. I put the most useful stuff back in the drawers but the majority of crap stayed in a box for a month because I had not organised a place for any of it.

[MsMermaid]

OK, so I need a system, and getting hold of the book seems to be important in understanding what the method is.

I've spent the afternoon looking at the "stuff" under the bed. The conclusion I've come to is that none of it is worth keeping, so my next step is to do a tip run and get rid of it, rather than stick it back under the bed.

I really don't have much time, so school holidays are really the only times I can devote any energy to decluttering. There's sooo much stuff it feels like an enormous task, but I think I can manage starting small.

[QuerkyJo]

You have successfully completed the first and, I believe, the most important step.

I have looked at it and decided to take it to the tip When that is done you have empty boxes and a space to put things when you do the next step. I have not followed the book religiously. Not everything works for everyone.

Some things have really clicked with me though. I collected up anything medical from all over the house. I will never have to buy another plaster or cough Medicine for 50 years.

[BloodyDogHairs]

I'm tempted by this book but I already have no problem having regular clearouts so not sure I need this book.

Does she have a suggestion on keeping a nice tidy towel cupboard?

[QuerkyJo]

Don't have before a but this is after

[QuerkyJo]

Try again. I know it is not perfect, but it now sparks joy for me every time I open the door. Instead of the sinking heart I had previously

[BloodyDogHairs]

Hmm see I can tidy my cupboard up and it will stay tidy for a whlie then I just go back to piling any size of towel in.

I'm going to rearrange my towels later and try to keep them in a neat pile.

[Snowdog37]

I love neat piles. The pictures on Pinterest of the before and after are amazing. I aspire to a well organized home. But real life wellies in and messes it all up! The more I read about this method the more I like it, I desperately need to get rid of about 75% of the stuff that just acts as a dust collector or cupboard filler. My wardrobe and drawers are chocka with stuff I hold on to just in case it ever fits me again. I'm going to start there this weekend. Then the bathroom. I have half full bottles and tubs of stuff I got seduced into buying by pretty packaging and it's all shite. I'm a little excited by the prospect of living more minimally! I wonder if it'll work on dh, he's a big culprit in how our house has got so cluttered.

[QuerkyJo]

I have just had a long KONversation with DD. She is the only one who I can speak about this with.

Anyone else will think I am nuts.

[Snowdog37]

Lol Querky! I did start telling my dh but he faded out pretty quickly and asked if we had any bacon for breakie... I think this will be something I do for my own joy 😄

[torthecatlady]

I'm obsessed with Kondoing, however have only managed to kondo everyone's socks and pants so far
I know storage is a big "no no" according to MK, but we don't have any to begin with! So we may need to get some new furniture! I thinking IKEA!

[MsMermaid]

I've got the book now. Started reading it this morning. So far it seems good but she's talking about tidying as a special event and needing to do it quickly. How do people make time for a "special event" tidy in a busy life? If I had a couple of weeks to myself (and a couple of skips) i could kondo the whole house, but I'm lucky if I get a couple of hours a week to myself.

Also, there's a lot of talk about discarding things. I'm great at deciding what needs to go, not so good at actually getting rid of it I put stuff into a bag or box to go to the charity shop, but I'm never near a charity shop, so it requires a special trip, at a time when the shop is open, and I can only manage a couple of bags at a time because none of our charity shops are easy to get to with a car.

I'm going to assume some of these questions will be answered as I read more of the book. I did get rid of 16 bags of stuff this week (6 bags into charity clothes bag collected from the door, another 10 to the tip), but that's just the tip of the iceberg really.

[QuerkyJo]

MsMermaid on Komdo thread 10 someone has linked to a really helpful list. It breaks down in to very small and detailed sub-categories.

For those that only have a couple of hours to spare, it seems a good way to start.

Do you have freecycle in you area. On ours you can leave your bags or items outside your home. That way you don't have to be in when the collector calls.

[Snowdog37]

Oh that list sounds fabulous! I'm going to look for it now 😊

[lljkk]

I think Kondo is the ultimate modern consumerism can offer. But at least it's mindful consumerism. You're allowed to have any stuff you love, so if you love all your clutter or you love shopping, then go for it, it's yours to keep & keep acquiring as much stuff as you can love.

There's something about getting to keep functional-use it regularly, also items that add 'quality' to your life, which might be rarely used but are much appreciated when you do use them.