'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'.

My dress is definitely filthy, the train was dragged along so much after I'd had a bit to drink! The cleaners wanted £150 to clean it so I just didn't do it, that's so much money for nothing I'll ever wear again!

I had a thought that maybe I could cut up the good bits to make cushion covers but I'm not great at sewing.

Sell it for £100 or so - someone will buy it at that price and then the cleaning is their issue. Just list it as "needs a clean".

White cushion covers? Nah.

Cecily I have the same with my dress. It's hanging on the back of the door in the spare room. It brought me so much joy on the day but now it's in the way!

I've just sorted my socks and underwear. It looks amazing! And I got rid of some stuff I have been keeping hold of but really hate- unflattering bras, pants which are uncomfortable. There was also a random selection of pens, loyalty cards and euros in my underwear drawers! Having cleared out I have freed up an entire drawer without trying!

Haven't read the book but just to say you've all inspired me. I'm getting better at valuing space over stuff but I still live in a house stuffed with crap. Must do better!

However. I've gone through Tupperware and crockery this week, so that's a start.

Thanks for all of the tips on shoeboxes. I know I shouldn't buy anything but in my defence I don't think I've ever bought anything for storage. Well apart from wardrobes and drawers obviously

Just sorted through off of my books. I now have 9 bags to take to the charity shop. They have also agreed to let me take a big box of Happyland that they haven't played with for ages, is in the way but were reluctant to part with.

Really looking forward to the house looking a bit fresher for Christmas.

Sounds good Julie! A fresher house by Christmas sounds like a great goal!

I've just bagged up a load of clothes that I sorted out ages ago but just hadn't taken to the charity bin! They're now in the car boot ready to take this afternoon!

I also sorted out a big kitchen cupboard of wine and bags for life, we have so many of those damn bags! Although to be fair, although we don't use them day to day, as we have food delivered, we do use them when we go on holiday, for things like our food and dog food.

NuzzleandScratch save doing your clothes until you have your colour analysis (who is it with? I went to Colour Me Beautiful years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it). It will be much easier then as you can use your colour swatches to clear most of it.

Also, when I want to declutter something that is shared by DH and me I ask him if he doesn't mind me putting it away for a while and then getting rid of it if we don't miss it. He relaxes then as it hasn't gone immediately. I can't think of a single item we kept from this method!

Thanks Jimmy. Good point about waiting to do the clothes, although I can see a lot I want to get rid of regardless. It's with a place local to us in Chichester, called id. My husband sorted it out for me as a birthday present, as he knew I wanted my colours done, and the ladies in Jigsaw recommended it. Hope it'll be good. They said I've got to take an outfit I love and an outfit I'm not sure about.

That's interesting about the shared stuff, I guess it's about getting your dp on board! I've agree with dh about the kitchen stuff that he can have a look at whatever I want to discard before I get rid of it.

I've done my entire wardrobe... I know I was jumping the gun posting my trousers drawer pic before doing the whole thing properly but I have really done it now.

I feel amazing. So calm.

Do you know I had an entire sock drawer? The contents of which are now in a small cardboard box within a cardboard box in my underwear drawer (minus all the socks I thanked and discarded of course).

I filled a bin bag and have already donated it so I can't change my mind! That was scary but no regrets so far. Dh saw the bag and asked why I was getting rid of my "hot dress." I told him it didn't spark joy.

I feel so calm and peaceful about my clothes.... I want my whole house to be this way.

(I think I have joined the cult of KonMari)

I have no idea why this book is the one that has resonated and motivated me so much considering how mad it is.

I have an earache and I'm supposed to be relaxing this afternoon but I keep thinking about my socks crying with their elastic being stretched in my drawer upstairs!

Totally with you CecyHall! I went to sleep last night dreaming of the categories I'm going to conquer!

Just made some major progress in the kitchen. Found a drawer divider gathering dust that fitted perfectly in my messy utensils drawer, so have de cluttered that & it looks amazing! Also tackled a big cupboard in the kitchen, now have designated areas for wrapping paper/party related items, picnic ware, glass, sewing things, craft things for the dc. It feels so good!

Chucking out 3 water filters jugs (we never use them now), a clip on high chair, a vacuum sealy machine thing, and lots of unnecessary utensils.

What she says about there being a correct place for everything is really ringing true. I just moved a big kitchen pan that was never quite right in the cupboard it was in, and when I slotted it into an unused cupboard, just thought YES!

I also set aside small containers as I went, as she suggests, such as special tins that came with tea bags, and have now put party balloons in one and present string on the other!

I love the bit where she texts her old mobile phone to say thank you!

Sock drawer done

I also noticed a huge work book thing I got when I went through a redundancy about 7 years ago- we had all these workshops to help us move on etc

It was a really big book but only some of it was useful so I've taken a few photos of the work I did in it and got rid of the book.

I'm not planning on job searching now but when I am, it's all on my phone

We'll done everyone for today's efforts. I think I'm in the cult too. I love the way she sets realistic goals like it taking 6 months. Somehow knowing that and only having to sort a few items at a time makes it more manageable and less daunting.

So, I've done my clothes and my books, what was next on the list?

I started on the pile of warranties and user manuals. I managed to throw quite a bit away even though I had been through it a year ago :).

I know from what you all said that she advocates no winter storage for clothes, but I do not wear summer dresses in the winter so they are going in the storage bag for the winter. I am tired now though !

Cecy you might want to make a back up of it on the pc in case your phone crashes and you lose everything .

You are all doing so well!

We are still on DS's room. Day two of building ikea desk, wardrobe and bookcases today. Book cases done and I have filled them with his books and random bits. No doubt he will change it all when he gets home from school! Which is fine. I'm also hoping he gets rid of a bit more 'tat'.

I'm doing my clothes next week. Not entirely sure how the folding method will go as my chest of drawers has two really deep drawers - double height ones. But I will give it a go.

After starting this thread I've only managed to do clothes (except tights knickers, accessories and shoes, which I'll do tomorrow)

My wardrobe looks FAB now.

I also managed to do a joint effort with our CDs, and we threw out about 20% of them which for my husband is amazing.

As a lifelong bookworm it's taking all my willpower not to start chucking books NOW, but am holding back as I know I need to pace myself.

Today we built a wardrobe. I haven't got rid of any clothes but have totally reorganized the shoes as the shoe racks were actually useless. Shoes are now paired and stored in the new,wardrobe drawer. I used coordinated pink pegs! And I sorted all the handbags and scarves. The scarves used to be in a box on top of the wardrobe and were never used. Now they're accessible I hope to wear them.
Dh and I also tidied the garage, 2 cars of rubbish to the tip. Another trip tomorrow with the old bedroom furniture.

When I did my socks yesterday I realized I need some lovely new socks to replace the poor old ones.

Next project = one of the book shelves. Dd is really helping by half emptying her room as she gets ready for uni.

I've still only done clothes and shoes too, but I've been away from yesterday afternoon to this evening. The funny thing is though, I found myself itching to get home and back to the decluttering! I am thoroughly enjoying it. Better get on with it though - rest of the house is still chaos and MIL is coming for the day on Tuesday !

I need to read this book! We have just had the living room carpets cleaned and the empty room looked so lovely it has motivated us to try and sort our lives out a bit.

Just wanted to say re the wedding dress - I gave mine to a charity shop my colleague's granddaughter volunteered in. A week later it was reported back to me that someone had bought it, and when she tried it on, she, her mum and the charity shop ladies were all in floods of tears, she had thought she would have to compromise on a dress and it was exactly what she wanted. Still makes me four years later, I think it might be my best good deed ever!

That's lovely trilby

Amiga could you put your wardrobes on free cycle, alternatively a couple of our local charities will pick up furniture. Seems such a waste to take them to the tip and if someone is willing to pick them up it will save you the trip.

Forgot to say, came home this evening and emptied my handbag, used a takeaway box to store all of the things I usually take out and out it in a drawer in the hall. The handbag looks much more happy think I've been brainwashed