'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'.

Meant to say, dread is good because it means if you do it right, you should never have that dread again because it's gone for good. Imagine that! Knowing what you own and why!

Ive used all old bubble baths & old shampoo as hand wash now, My bathroom has 4 bottles in now,
1 Shampoo, 1 conditioner, 1 body wash & 1 body scrub & NO spares!

I seem to have ground to a halt. Opened two kitchen cupboards and closed them again without throwing anything away

We've cleared tons of stuff, at least 6 bin bags, but somehow it hasn't made much of a dent...? Maybe I should have a plan? Tomorrow: finish doing books, magazine rack, laundry basket. Piano music.

On a positive note, I found 150 paper napkins stuffed in a cupboard. I was about to throw them out, and then thought why not just use them eg. instead of kitchen roll. So now we are using Christmas themed serviettes to mop up spills.

I've just done my first drawer of vertical tee shirts, it is DD's (age 8). Will see if it helps her to not pull most of them out when she is looking for a particular one which is what happens now. I've thrown away so many of mine that they only fill about a third of a drawer, need to put something else in there if I'm going to upright them or they will all just fall down again.

Meant to say, dread is good because it means if you do it right, you should never have that dread again because it's gone for good. Imagine that! Knowing what you own and why!. That is going to keep me motivated with the paperwork

On a positive note, I found 150 paper napkins stuffed in a cupboard. I was about to throw them out, and then thought why not just use them eg. instead of kitchen roll. So now we are using Christmas themed serviettes to mop up spills. I love the way the book makes you think differently about the stuff you own.

Can't remember who has 4 bottles in the bathroom, but God do I aspire to that!

I've been doing some pre-move garden decluttering today - with the help of PIL have dismantled a greenhouse and a playhouse and taken the greenhouse and a load of old clothes, shoes and toys to the dump (and some to the charity shop).

Still haven't finished doing the dc's rooms and need to do the coat cupboard and the cupboard under the stairs, but our bedroom is a haven of tidiness .

Payslips - I got rid of all old ones except the first one each of us had in a new job, and one where DH got a decent bonus, but kept the P60s so I could look back and see how our salaries did/didn't increase. Just have the current year to hand for any queries.

Paperwork is the one thing I'm going to be a little careful about decluttering - there were so many random bits of documentation that we've been asked for by solicitors etc during the course of this house sale and purchase - some of which we couldn't find or hadn't kept - that I'm going to be very wary of chucking that kind of thing away in future!

I would say anything relating to house sale/purchase/building work is worth keeping. I keep financial stuff 6 years (throw oldest away end of year then add latest to folder). I've gone to online statements for everything possible.

I am wary of throwing receipts away, though, as a friend had a burglary and the insurance company was being funny about replacing the TV as she didn't have a receipt (was past guarantee period so she'd chucked it) even though she offered recent photos with the TV in the background, and an instruction manual. Anything costing significantly more than the insurance excess I now keep!

Really inspiring read!

Also happy to be joining some of you in a bathroom bottles cull! I now have two bottles out. TWO! I bought two plain white/chrome pump dispensers in Sainsburys today - one for shower gel, one for shampoo - and that's all that I have out (I've stopped using conditioner since I had my hair cut short).

Now I need to tackle the basket full of toiletries in the bathroom cupboard... but at least it looks uncluttered around the bath/shower area.

I recently moved countries and that was a great opportunity to chuck out lots of stff. I found I have about 4 or 5 of those "hand cream" or "bath products" sets ala NEXT or DOVe etc etc. I must confess I found that so hard as they were unopened and in perfectly good "nick". I never open those things!
Ok, I boxed them up and put them in storage...WHY????
When I return to UK to finalise my stuff and move, I will throw them away.

Unused toiletries in gift packs are great for raffle prizes & charity shops take them.

Also food banks will appreciate them as well.

I cant remember the last time I ventured down the toiletries aisle or cleaning aisle in the supermarket, as I knew I had plenty to use up at home.

So is anyone actually speaking to their house yet ? And are you all emptying your handbags when you come home? I must admit, the handbag one would be good for me - my handbags are always full of random crap and I'm forever having to rummage through several bags to gather what I need to put in the one I've decided to use that day. Either that or I'm out and realise I left something vital 'in ny other handbag' - it drives dh mad!

Toiletries. Hmm. Um . I have tonnes. I am an addict. And DH buys me body shop stuff every Xmas. Haven't used last years yet as I bought some other stuff. And I'm a skin care junkie too. And make up. Have a whole basket of hair care stuff.

I have gotten precisely nowhere the last few days. I have pretty much finished DS's room though so the random bits from his room that were in my room are now back in his room. We should finish his room this weekend when DH is back and puts the doors on the wardrobe.

I won't get anything done today as this morning's job is to try and fix my tumble dryer which isn't hearing up. Do some washing. And then I'm out for lunch. Then I'm tackling the ironing.

Tomorrow I am starting my room. Th cooler weather means I need to sort out my clothes to find my winter stuff.

CiderwithBuda i think its because I dont iron anything apart from my work top that I have had time to get stuck in, can you ban ironing?

I only have one handbag!

I iron less than I used to but have let it pile up for a few weeks. I kind of want to get it all done before I start my clothes - there will be lots of my tops in there! As I go through the pile I will bag up anything that doesn't give joy immediately though!

Really liked her message on "even if you bought it and never used it, or it was a gift that was never used, thank it for the pleasure you got in buying/receiving it"

I bought some coloured mascara for £4 the other day, almost knowing i would never wear it, but the pleasure of looking through the nice packages and picking my favourite was worth the money in itself - would happily spend that on two coffees with "nothing" to show for it, after all.

I think the fact she thinks clothes are "easier" emotionally than books means she's never had kids and the size fluctuations that often go with the little tikes!

Woodenheart I applaud your 4 bottles!! I really do.

My bathroom is starting to feel a bit cluttered and messy again - though I have changed habits re incoming & I am pretty good at just buying stuff as I need to replace it now. I only stock up on the DC's hair stuff when it is on 3 4 2 at Boots - but we really really need that stuff (Curly hair).

A year or more on from my "big life changing declutter" it is great to be going through everything again now (albeit very slowly) as I can look at stuff I decided to keep back then and realise I haven't used it in these last 15 months.

I'm still working my way through sample size pots of scrubs etc years old. I know I should just chuck them.

Must admits that I emptied the two handbags I usually use, cleaned them and put them away. Now I've got a takeaway box in a drawer in the hall that fits a lipstick, pack of tissues, work pass etc. Saves me so much time in the morning. And yes, I have spoken to the house when I remember searches for crazy emoticon

I was thinking this morning the school will be collecting for harvest soon and unused toiletries are always gratefully accepted along with food - so I need to do the bathroom this weekend.

I don't iron! I hang everything I can on hangers to dry. That is all.

I do have one as I need it if I sew, but I can't recall the last time I ironed a piece of clothing.