'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying' - Marie Kondo

[FrancesHB]

Has anyone else read this? I did a search but couldn't find any previous threads.

Marie Kondo is a Japanese expert in tidying and decluttering and her book has been translated into English and is best selling. It's wonderfully eccentric and inspiring and in some ways rather a breath of fresh air compared to other books on the subject (have read 'em all and my house is still messy...).

She asks us to ask if an item brings us joy and if it doesn't we thank it and out it goes. A bit like fly lady 'you can't organise clutter', but in a less annoying and at times quite endearing way.

I wondered if any MNers had used her technique and if it helped them 'get their house in order'.

Ooh lovely pics. Holmes i like how your organised rows are reflected in your wardrobe door mirrors, so pleasing to the eye....

Everton those are extremely well rested looking socks. I hope you thanked them

I have just folded my tea towels the same way - before they were just stuffed into the cabinet under the sink, in plastic containers. They look very nice now, but one of DC's favourite activities is pulling them out and scattering them around. So I don't know how much stamina I'll have to keep refolding.

Maybe he'll look at them and admire their tidiness and find something else to play with?!?

I think Freecycle fits in very well with her "philosophy" as well. we have used it a LOT to get rid of things the DC have grown out of and our experiences have been pretty much uniformly positive. We have had some really lovely experiences as well, where we have really felt like our old things were going off to start a new adventure, and would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure Mari would approve

I'm intrigued to learn that family will just 'fall into line' when I make a start!

Inspired by this thread I made a start on DDs room - she really hates throwing anything away.

I did manage to clear her bookshelf. Until now I kept hoping that she would suddenly become a reader and enjoy all those classics I saved for her. Hasn't happened - and seeing them sitting neglected on the shelf was NOT bring any joy! Maybe I'll also do my books which I never have time to read - because the guilt from not reading them doesn't bring joy?

Thank you evertonmint for the pic of your socks, I have now done mine :). Just discovered a load of wire coat hangers which are my pet hate so I am going to take them to the charity shop.

Hmm - my wardrobe looks fab but the rest of my house room is a pigsty because I haven't yet managed to get rid of the stuff I've discarded. There is a huuuge pile of spare hangers on the floor as well, because I've got rid of so many clothes!

Holmes gum tree is very easy to use, so go for it !

Just speed-read the thread. I read the book in the summer. I've been steadily culling for a few years (alongside other stuff!) and still have a way to go. I like the KonMari approach but I'm not a hard liner. Pragmatic minimalism, as beCool says.

I only did the emptying-my-bag thing a couple of times, but I feel heartless if I ball socks now instead of letting them 'rest'.

Thanks Homeaway. Will give it a go. I just selected a pair of beautifully folded, unballed socks and put them on. I swear they felt extra comfy. I may be becoming a bit obsessed. I may not go for the full-on kneeling and communing with the spirit of my house though... well - maybe when I move into my new house (if the bastard solicitors ever stop mucking about - grrr).

Haven't done much today but have taken 8 bags to the charity shop, plus a doll's house. Dd has never really played with it so I cleaned it and fixed it up. Now I'm enjoying the extra space.

So glad its not just me who is opening their wardrobe to admire. Now where to buy clear shoe boxes...

Forgot to say that included in the bags was my ebay pile. It's been there for about 12 months and now it's gone. Am quite pleased. Although I could do with the money, my need can't be that bad if I haven't ebayed it already and the charity will be glad of the money.

Check Costco for clear shoeboxes. Mine has a normal size and a big size. I kept buying more because I kept finding more things to store in them, but I hope that after decluttering the KonMari way, I will have loads of them spare...

Ikea have clear shoe boxes, I think Aldi sometimes do them and Lakeland used to but I am not sure if they do now.

I have just done the towels and bedding and it looks so much tidier and it is much easier to see what is there when they are rolled.

Started reading the book yesterday, after reading this thread, am about half way through. Feeling really inspired, loving the category idea! It somehow makes it seem more manageable. I've made a start today by sorting out cupboard food, threw away so much that was either out of date or we just won't eat. Discovered duplicates of things I've bought not realising we already had it!

Itching to make a start on the clothes, but need the dc to be out the way for that. I've got one of those colour analysis things in a couple of weeks, so would love to sort the clothes before then.

My real problem area is paperwork. I have a tidy, then it just piles back up, receipts as well. I'm ashamed to say I lost our marriage certificate & I suspect it got buried in the papers!

Also keen to get on with sorting the kitchen, I can see lots we don't use.

How do others deal with things that are shared with their dp like this? Do you run it past them before chucking?

try Wilkinsons for clear plastic shoeboxes, Lakeland certainly do them but they are a bit £. Also The Original Factory Shop if you have one of those, they sometimes have that kind of thing.

I've reached a real sticking point on my wedding dress- it doesn't bring me joy, isn't practical, I can't sell it as it'd cost more to clean than I'd make, likewise I don't want to give away a dirty dress. It also cost my mum so much money.
There is no need to keep it but I can't just put it in the tip either.

I guess I'll put it in the loft but it's the first thing where I'm really struggling.

You can usually sell wedding dresses advertising that they need a clean, brides often need to get adjustments done anyway so they will factor in money for cleaning it - it's still cheaper than a brand new dress which is £700-1000+.

If it's not bringing you joy you should thank the dress, thank your mum (not to her face if you think it would upset her but sort of thank her out loud even though she isn't there.) Sounds weird but I did manage to let go of some stuff I thought I wouldn't be able to by doing this.

Don;t think I've got as far in the book as plastic shoe boxes? DO I need clear plastic shoe boxes?

No. You are banned from buying any storage boxes because you will probably be able to fit your stuff into what you have. Once you have decluttered and found a place for everything you can buy any storage boxes that you obviously need, but you are unlikely to need them.

Oxfam do a series of wedding dress charity shops... I expect they clean them all first!

They would probably take them in in any Oxfam shop to redirect.

I didn't buy any storage (as an ex-storage junkie). Cream cheese or marg pots are great for separating out little things in drawers. My shoes are on shelves and clothes separated by type inside drawers in regular shoeboxes. I'm now slightly addicted to finding uses for otherwise empty containers, like using glazed ceramic plant pots to hold toothbrushes. An ikea wooden magazine file lying down on its long side holds 3 bottles of wine vertically. Who knew?

Genius, I was wanting something to separate those little clip things that you clip on open packets in my kitchen drawer- butter tub will be ideal, thank you!

just had a frenzy of sock un-balling, and culling, and more t shirt rearranging. just amazing.

The new charity shop has opened nearly, so no more excuses, I can take the things that have taken up residence in the garage. Also building a new wardrobe tomorrow which will lead me to moving clothes, shoes, handbags around. So many things in a state of flux, but its exciting.

I've failed on starting with the clothes. I had to do quite a bit in town while my daughter was at preschool. I don't really want to leave it until monday so hopefully husband can enteratain them a bit tomorrow and I can have a purge....

I did purge a few bags by the front door by looking at the pile and deciding I/kids really didn't need so many but I think its still a bit pre-proper declutter as I hadn't systematically got all of the bags out, just sort of purging when I see things to purge...

I don't think it can be a "once and for all" declutter as things change so much with children - new things in the house xmas and birthdays and new hobbies and we feel really stuffed in our tiny house. Also today, it started off tidy and descended into chaos and mess by bedtime. It has to go hand in hand with regular tidying/cleaning I guess. I think what might be once and for all is the complete change in mindset though :)

Oxfam don't clean them. I bought a dress from there and it had make up inside the boob part! They probably wouldn't take an actually dirty dress, maybe if it looked passable.

Charity shops just steam clothes to freshen them up I think.