'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'.

Thanks Zing will try that app

Finally tackled the paperwork today- 5 lever arch files and a huge box file all condensed into one ring binder.

There were even payslips from the year 2004, lord knows why I was keeping them. I also got rid of lots of university work (I graduated 5 years ago, I'm not going to need it now!)

Feels amazing to have more junk out of my life. I do agree with whoever said earlier that clothes will be an ongoing thing, I put a pair of jeans on today and thought why did I keep these?!

I'm making slow progress, but I cleared out a kitchen cupboard - flannels and bibs have been Konmari'd, 6 tea towels that didn't bring me joy have gone in the charity bag. I discovered 3 half-used packets of sugar that have been condensed now & a full packet of sunflower seeds & a new jar of sudocrem - both of which I thought I'd run out of. :)

I also now have a big cleared space in the cupboard - that was bursting at the seams, so I'm feeling positive about what I've done.

But... I don't know why, but I feel a bit apprehensive/sick at the thought of doing any more sorting. Does anyone else get that? I wonder what Konmari would say?

I should have said - big congratulations to everyone making such good progress here! Its really inspiring.

Yes Leeloo, me too! I always seem to get nervous about the next category.

And also yes, I also tried a pair of jeans today that I had kept but on trying to wear are now too small (and in no way flattering or fashionable), so they are going to charity this week!

I think our garage could be the death of konmari, you could never sort it by category or in one go. I don't normally go in there as DH is a tradesman who stores all his shit necessary work gear in there. I usually stand at the door and offer brews/random pointless advice/take the piss photos. Today, with my new-found de-clutter attitude, I went in. I actually thought a grown man would cry at one point but a full car to the tip later and I think we're about 1/8 of the way there. One large box of lamp bulbs caused us some bother, but I told him to say thank you for their time and then get rid, I think he tipped them just because he thought I was nuts but who cares?! Misson accomplished!

Thanks to this thread I'm reading the book on my phone on the Kindle app and I have started on tops.

I am really hopeful that at last I will be able to make significant progress and let go of a lot of stuff that brings me sadness, regret or gloom.

So impressed and grateful for everyone's stories

Well done everyone!

After decluttering my trrousers last week I had a moment of doubt when I realised I had only kept one pair of jeans. I panicked and rescued another pair from the charity shop bag. Today I decided to wear that pair of jeans and by midday I had remembered that they were too low waisted and made of really stretchy denim so that they were too tight in the morning but felt like they were falling down by lunchtime. In fact, they were annoying me so much that I took them off and put some different trousers on. Back in the charity pile go the jeans, and I promise never to doubt our dear leader again

This weekend I sorted my maternity clothes. That wasnt so successful. I have a lot of clothes - for example about ten pairs of jeans which seems silly, but I have everything in a variety of sizes as I grew so much last time. And I didn't throw much out because I know i won't be able to justify buying replacements that I love which will only last a month or two. I threw out a few vest tops which were falling apart and will eBay a posh dress which made me look like a whale, and the rest has all gone back in the loft in bin bags as there's no room for it in my wardrobe.

I've made some cardboard 'drawers' for dd's wardrobe and her stuff is all nicely folded. I'm going to stick her artwork from nursery to the fronts of the drawers to make them look prettier.

I also did my shoes. I am experimenting with storing them vertically in a box in the shoe cupboard and will report back on its success or otherwise.

Re. Loose change, we have a nationwide children's savings account for dd and they will accept any coins for children's accounts so it all goes in there.

I'm resisting the temptation to buy any of the lovely storage things posted on this thread but I am noting it all down and will buy whatever I still want after Xmas when I should be well on the way to being clutter free and hopefully everything will be reduced in the sales

DH has folded all his clothes

When I asked him why, he said, "Well I noticed you did yours and the kids that way so I thought it was just how we were doing it now."

His drawers are squashed full as he hasn't quite come round to getting rid of things in one fell swoop. He did release one T-shirt because it had a hole under the armpit. He even thanked it - very elequontly too!

..when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or fear for the future.

says KonMari. Could that be related to the apprehensive feeling you mentioned leeloo?

DH broke the gravy boat yesterday. he automatically chucked the plate that came with it.
I thought it was in the bin by accident (DD playing post woman? ) but no!
he said "why keep it? we have a garage full of crap like that we never use"

so proud of him.

Hello can I join?
Lots to declutter, clueless where to start. I loved clear your clutter with feng shui by Karen Kingston which I did pre children. But am now back to the bad place again :(

I did half my clothes last night (ran out of time!). decided to chuck all the knickers which were ripped/washed out/bleached/stained - it was 2/3rds of what I have. Have ordered two new multipacks to be delivered to local M & S by Tuesday and thankfully have enough decent pairs to get me through til then.

I feel really really guilty for throwing them out - even though I'd have been ashamed for them to be seen, it seems so wasteful to throw things out for cosmetic reasons. Also chucked 1 bra, 1 slip, 1 pair converse (want to like wearing them but just don't), lots of tops, a pair of shorts etc. Some things are on probation until Christmas because they do bring me joy (pretty) but never get worn. I have earmarked them and if they're not worn at least once by Christmas they go.

I also chucked loads of black trainer socks, I had about 20 pairs, totally unnecessary. Kept 5 pairs in a tiny IKEA drawer divider. I'm afraid my socks seem to like being rolled up though

I wanted to ask people's opinions about workwear. I need to wear suits (smart business wear) to work and have a LOT of work-specific stuff. This means I will never have a tiny capsule wardrobe as half my hanging space is taken up with jackets and skirts and blouses. Same with shoes - lots of black heels/flats. What can I do?

Anyone else feel like the tidying and decluttering is taking over their consciousness...it's all I want to think about,talk about and do! Every person I speak to I feel the need to drop into conversation about what I'm doing and I really hope they take an interest guess that's what this thread is for, to stop me becoming a total bore with everyone else!?

Excellent progress from the cult - high fives all round. I am v interested in the vertical shoe storage so do feed back plz!

Rummikub welcome. Another fan of that Karen Kingston book - my first ever clutter book while I was still a student I even bought the loopy prequel about ringing bells and bowls of salt. Somehow the Marikon one just works better for me.

Peonies I guess the same principles apply to business wear - keep the ones that are a joy to wear. I would probably keep a few meh ones if you really do need a lot of business wear until you can find joyful replacements. To be honest you might find that tops and accessories will jazz up a smaller number of suits rather than keeping all the suits. I have noticed before that a really nice a scarf or necklace can totally transform a plain black skirt suit.

Hubb yes we are here for you to obsess to. We will help you keep your friends

Welcome Rummikub

Hubb, yep, everyone is getting told all about it, although to be fair they all know what a hoarder I am so me clearing out is newsworthy!

"..when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or fear for the future.

says KonMari. Could that be related to the apprehensive feeling you mentioned leeloo?"

Quite possibly Coughle.

There are quite a lot of changes happening for me at the moment - 99% of them fuelled by DH and I have little control over them - or support from him - so perhaps the clutter (as much as I - and he) hate it is something I can control? Or a safety blanket of crap sorts?

I started re-reading the book last night and she talks about having a huge clear out in 1 go, so you have space to focus on where your life is really going/whats important to you (she said it far more elegantly of course) - so I guess perhaps I'm actually afraid of what comes after the clear out & not of the clear out itself?

Sorry, thats a depressing post on this uplifting thread.

I have this book!! It's fab! Very late to the tidying party but would love to join in. Off to read all your posts and ready to be inspired:)

Welcome PolkadotRosa! It's never too late to join our tidying party/cult!

I finished paperwork yesterday and the DC have been enthusiatically helping me shered it! Hope to get most of it into the recycling on Wednesday.

Three bags of clothes re currantly sitting outside by my gate waiting for the charity collectors to come.

I've just started on books.... and we have a lot of books. Discarding the ones that bring no joy or are too babyish now for the DC is easy. The trouble comes when I find they have 8 books on dinosaurs. All are lovely. All bring joy. But we don't need 8 books all on the same subject. So how can i decide? (I can repeat this question for space books, car books, animal books etc.!)

leeloo I think I am in a similar situation, poised on the brink of something but not sure what that thing is. TBH I've felt in limbo for a few years whilst various personal issues play out around me, and I've been holding on to a lot of physical items because I'm not sure where I'm going with my life at all.

But the thing is, even if you do nothing at all, your life is moving forwards anyway, so you might as well embrace the change and open yourself to whatever's coming your way. I have found that this process and letting go of a lot of stuff (not everything, I've faltered a few times with gifts from parents especially (my Dad passed away 6 years ago and I'm not ready to let go of his things, or things he bought for me ) but all the other stuff... Oh I am feeling SO much better for watching it leave.

I genuinely feel much more un-stuck now. Much happier for it.

I have nearly finished the books (a hard category for me) and have discarded four huge boxes so far. Feeling very proud of myself today!

Shocking that is very helpful to hear, that you're feeling more unstuck now. I too am afraid of life-after-tidying...I think what I'm most afraid of is that nothing will change, nothing will shift - I'll be the same non-person, just with a tidy house.

Well, on a brighter note... Kids craft materials are all organized in plastic takeaway boxes (see how I didn't spend money on containers?) in two sets of Really Useful rainbow drawers! The takeaway boxes are the perfect size and because the 1 year old is unable to open them, they're great for safely corralling choking hazards like pompoms and googly eyes

And I didn't buy the rainbow drawers, I already had them

Coughle

same non-person?! pardon my French, but bullshit. I will not have you talk about yourself that way.
I think you will feel liberated to dare to do things you haven't tried before and you will be amazed.

I bet you're a great person already.