Become a Konvert in 2015 - Kondo thread 5. All welcome!

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

Thought I better set this up when I realised I had inadvertently posted the 999th post on thread 4!

Join us in purging our lives of things which do not bring joy and discover the wonder and magic of folding your knickers!

I have kondo'd my DHs drawers without getting rid of anything. I've just said that he should feel free to get rid of anything he's done with. I was enthusing about the power of the book earlier and how it has helped with all sorts of decision making for all sorts of people... he glazed over a bit... but I wonder if I just gifted it to him on Kindle whether he might accidentally start reading it.

I kondoed my flat at the beginning of January and so far, it's stayed tidy. It doesn't look bare, like I was worried it would, it just looks nice.

A big thing I noticed after doing this is that I don't spend ages looking for something that I'm pretty sure I have but can't say for sure. I had already gone through everything so I already know what I own and what I don't but now I can just go to this one place and if it's not there, I don't own it. I used to have so many papers (like four filing folders and several ring binder folders) but now I have about a quarter of that. It just makes things a lot simpler.

Hello, read 50% of the book last night and feel ready to stop lurking and join in! I kind of wish the first step wasn't to do clothes, as it's such a massive task. And I don't get the folding yet at all. It seems really noticeable that her clients often are single people living with parents - not very typical here I think! And I don't know where to do toys in the order process, they are probably the biggest mess. My wardrobe is a mess but at least I can shut a door on it!

My 8 yr old ds is a real hoarder and his room was stuffed full. I explained the concept to him and to my surprise he really took it on board! Have just dropped 3 boxes, a bin bag and a pop up tent to the charity shop, and thrown out 3 bags of rubbish and a bag of recycling!!

Sorry for double postings - but am sitting with a large pile of tops on my bed. Do I literally lift them and say "does this bring me joy?" Not sure if any of my work clothes will do that!

Being smart and comfortable for work is a type of joy. Maybe count your work tops and decide how many you need and ditch the least joyful.

Brilliant, thanks. Just need to take that first step!

Just coming up for air again! DS's nick nacks and teddies are done. Now for the sea of chaos on the floor to be tamed.

Coming up for air too from the loft. Three bin bags of soft toys cleared, whole bag of care bears gone, bin bag of just rubbish, three crates of books and cds gone, box of wool discovered for eBay and now have about seven empty storage and cardboard boxes!

Has anyone got to the fridge yet? How have you stored things?

Violetta Did you read the made up extra chapter in the book that said once your home is sorted you have to go and help someone else Kondo theirs?

Wow Spork thats a bit bigger than I was imagining - so it actually has a Mezzanine level? Omg, I was thinking it was a low platform/cupboard? Definitely take some pictures though, it sounds cool. :)

No Kondo-ing here for a while... I need to look round and try and get some "easy wins" to get me back to being enthused about it all, instead of just reading what everyone else is doing!

themummy congrats on your new post and all your Kondoing success

I Kondoed some paperwork last night. I was supposed to be getting ready for a party but got distracted. In the end DH had to remind me to stop filing and go get changed I couldn't decide between magazine files or a concertina file for paperwork so it was interesting to read what PP's use.

yy to the joy of knowing where items are. DH asked if we had any tissues the other day and I was able to say 'yes' and go straight to them. Same this morning when I was looking for a hair bobble. In the past I'd have known that I'd bought tissues and bobbles but wouldn't have been certain where they were. It just makes life much easier.

Brand new, just wanted to say I'm glad you started with clothes. It is like looking after yourself first, and has brought me joy every time I get changed, so at least twice a day. That's a boost of happiness just when you need it, because somewhere else is chaotic while you're kondoing there.

I, in slightly non kondo spirit, have started kondoing DH's clothes with him. And folding them for him. He has an ancient and weirdly organised old built in wardrobe, but I think we can change the direction things hang in, which will work much better. He also has odd siced shelves, which I bought baskets for to make them work like drawers. He is in the process of losing a lot of weight, but found a jumper bought 5 years ago he can now fit in to, which makes us both very happy.

I hate hate hate infantilising grown men, the equality activist in me is howling, but my DH is just a very different and counterbalancing character to me. This is how we roll.

Also dining table is almost clear. Hurrah. But I can't find my lovely notebook with handwritten recipes in it . I am just hoping it didn't accidentally leave with the books...

Have sort of halted a bit as ive been back to work and been ill. I also don't feel like i can do much until ex-p has moved and he has a date to go now so looking more likely he will go! (only taken 3yrs..long story) so once he has gone and started moving some of his stuff i will really want to get stuck into this.

clothes i did just before xmas are all still tidy and the kids are also helping to keep it that way and its so much easier to get ready. will be even easier when i replace my broken chest of drawers. I dont mind taking the time out to fold things property as its worth it and you are more likely to see if things need replacing etc. I'm keen to start on my kitchen i know there is loads i can get rid of, any ideas for something to hold my baking trays and roasting tins vertical in the cupboards for easy access? need a rack of some sort, be so much better than where they are now which is under the cooker where the draw constantly breaks and gathers dirt inside thats to hard to clean!

Right finished DC1 now on to DS2's room!!

Phew. Found the notebook. It was just hiding on tightly packed shelf.

And have added successful home made chicken nuggets recipe. Yum!

Iggi, I was reluctant to start with clothes, but glad when I did. It's a big job, but even bigger payoff... Something we interact with every day and a huge time waster for many of us. But having said that, I'm being a bit flexible about the order, to fit in with work, recycling collections etc. if taking on a smaller job will help get you started, then do it, but choose something that's going to affect you every day, because feeling that benefit is what keeps you going.

Yikes! And Yey! A new thread! This Kon Marie method sure is popular. How great to be helping so many of us...Marie Kondo, our hero!

I noticed the other day how much my Kondoing has helped my DH too, he has ADD and he's finding it so much easier to function in our more organised home. He's even getting out of the house for work early!! Who is this man?!
We're generally all happier since we started this fab way of thinking & doing. Long may it continue

Thanks, Hermione and Starface, have finished with tops now and admiring my new drawer Though I forgot jumpers are part of tops, so still have those to do! No way will I have room to fold those though, not enough drawers. I have always periodically chucked clothes out, but I notice this time I've got rid of more "good quality" stuff that looks crap on me, rather than feeling I need to keep it all.
Have just counted - keeping 25 tops and getting rid of 29!

Checking in, briefly!! Ds and I have been to town to kondo some post-christmas impulse purchases . All returned now and the cash back in my bank account

There has been great progress in my kitchen. My friend came over yesterday and was in total shock when she saw how little was out. Surfaces, which were previously covered in clutter, are now completely clear except for the kettle, toaster and a small basket of Cook books.

I'm a bit concerned that it looks too bare. I've emptied my bread bin and decided that it isn't really all that useful. Most of what came out of it was either disgustingly covered in mould or wasn't even the slightest bit bread-related (haribo, fancy hot chocolate, plastic forks, serviettes ) and the current loaf of bread usually sits on the work surface or on top of the bread bin. So, I think it can be repurposed but not sure for what. It will stand up on its back for vertical storage but the lid won't close when it's like this. If it can't be repurposed then I'm happy for it to go to the charity shop.

Any suggestions?

Also, I'm finding myself procrastinating over the next categories and worried that I picked the kitchen and bathroom because they were easy.

Paperwork is what I really want to get under control because the tax return deadline is looming but I keep finding all sorts of reasons to not get started. Actually, I'm not even giving excuses, I'm just not doing it but I really have to.

Right, just given myself a kick up the rear and am off to make a start. If I'm not back in an hour, for a break, send out a search party!!

Just finished kids bedrooms. So far there's 3 bags for charity, one bin bag of rubbish and everything else has a home.

Still to do. Personal letters and photos, kids drawings/certificates/school books

Sounds like everyone is doing really well.
We had an epiphany today whilst killing time browsing round Next homeware shop. We saw some lovely stacking mugs DH said we should buy them as we both liked them and they would take up less space in our tiny kitchen. My response was that we already have loads of mugs. DH pointed out that even post-kondoing we have a whole shelf of mugs of which we use about 6 regularly and we are embarrassed when people come round because none of them match. Then I realised I only really like 2 that I use regularly. I think I've been doing the discarding but not the only surrounding myself with things I love bit, particularly regarding things that are useful. We still have too much stuff in our tiny kitchen.
We also realised we don't really need our massive fitted wardrobe now as most things would fit into one or two nice chests of drawers then we could rearrange our bedroom and have a lot more space and light. We have planned to finish discarding over the winter but then to do some decorating and change our house into one we both love. Very excited!

HiccupHaddockHorrendous I have a wooden, rectangular bread-bin which I don't use, (I keep the bread in the fridge, because it keeps better). I'm debating whether or not to remove the drop-down door, so I can use it as small book-box or for MK 'shoe-box' type storage. If neither are needed, it will be going... along with an electric egg-boiler, which at some point I thought I needed! Wtf?

Off to tackle sweaters. I'm procrastinating. Keep the inspiring posts coming. pleeease!

Kondo magic keeps working. Managed to get rid of some garden toys today. I am putting off doing the paperwork though. I just can't bear the thought.

Woollyjumpers it was me who'd been local Facebook selling. People tend to comment on your photo saying they're interested, then you sort out day and time and give your address over messenger. It's been fine, we've literally exchanged at the door or at most in my hallway. If you're willing to deliver instead people jump at that, or you could always arrange the pick up at your office if you work somewhere central.