Clutter, emotions, and folding our socks - Kondo thread 6. All welcome!

[SteptoeAndDaughter]

The Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, Cathy Hirano

Summary of the process link from mipmop

Article of top tips by Marie Kondo

Thread 5
Thread 4
Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1

And BeCool's copy of Coughles list of ORDER from Thread 2 for everyone:

"ORDER TO DECLUTTER/LOCATE THE JOY*

Clothes folding by rummy
Books
Papers
CDs
DVDs
Skincare products
Make-up
Accessories
Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc.)
Electrical equipment and appliances (digital cameras, electric cords, anything that seems vaguely ‘electric’)
Household equipment (stationery and writing materials, sewing kits, etc.)
Household supplies (expendables like medicine, detergents, tissues, etc.)
Kitchen goods/ food supplies
Other (If you have many items related to a particular interest or hobby, such as ski equipment, then treat these as a single subcategory.)

KonMari stresses that sentimental items should be left till the end. So for example, when you are doing papers, don't include photos of your children, love letters, old school reports etc, leave anything with a sentimental connection for later."

*As discussed in previous threads, your order for decluttering and finding the joy/spark/recognizing may be different to recommendations.

Yes I thought that about the stuffed peppers too - it seems obvious now!

Oh and thanks for link pointless, some of those are ingenious.

bring I knit so slowly that if the started now it will probably be fashionable again by the time I finish!

Love the link. Especially the sharpening scissors on sandpaper. So logical. Though I don't think I've ever sharpened scissors. Hmm.

Shredded a huge box of papers and bagged ready for recycling on Friday.
Finished sorting the CDs. Have managed somehow to have 2 separate music magpie orders. Can I merge them? And i definitely want them collected any tips?

Dh definitely getting into the spirit of getting rid which is great.

All his old records being collected tomorrow.

Just folded clothes in front of telly. It was nice.

Am thinking of doing some paperwork that is stored in the loft at present. Papers to do with old properties we used to own but don't anymore... That can all go, right? We are UK.

Hello everyone,

I've followed these threads right from the beginning and have not posted but have been quietly doing my own thing while being inspired by everyone's stories. You're all doing fab and I'm impressed!! Anyway to the reason for today's post.
I've been telling Dh about the whole thing and he is on board (though maybe not totally getting "the crazy Japanese lady" as he calls her).
Our garage is unrecognisable and the man in the Air Ambulance shop greets me like a friend now. Last night I was binning an old pair of tongs having bought a more joyful set which actually meet in the middle when DH gave them a salute and started whistling the Last Post. Then he said thank you to them and in the bin they went!
The magic of Kondo!!

Fresh I love it! Brilliant.

I've realised a Kondo mistake this morning. A few weeks ago I took a top to the charity shop. It was a cheap one that I bought just after DD was born as it was easy for breastfeeding and hid the remaining bump. It was now much to big for me and I was unlikely to wear it out of the house but I took ages deciding what to do with it as it reminded me of such a happy time last spring with my new baby. In the end I decided to part with it. Today I actually feel sad and regret it. It's stupid over a cheap top that didn't fit me but I wish I'd kept it. I could have worn it around the house. I think this was an instance of putting practical reasons above joy and I made the wrong choice.
Also my mum had just turned up with a gift of....nee socks! I have so many pairs of virtually new socks, she only bought me some at Christmas! They are nice though so I might have to redo the existing socks yet again!

Pointless I think it's inevitable that we will regret kondoing the odd few things, but remember the space you've gotten instead.. I have a habit of bestowing things greater significance in my mind. Eg gave my sister a loan of a dress. While she had it there were loads of times I'd think if only I had that dress I'd be sorted. Got it back and wore it precisely never
The odd mistake here and there is worth it in the grand scheme of things!

Nice work Fresh! Your DH has definitely joined the Kult

I spent 2 hours dealing with Komono in the bedroom yesterday and it's now cleared.

Ive got 4 other rooms with piles of komono in that look dreadful.

Today I'm posting a bag of wool to my sister that I won't use but she's always running out for her crochet projects so I know she will be happy.

I've got rid of a big pile of costume jewellery - I tried to freecycle it but no one wanted it.

I've also done wrapping paper - I have enough for 4 Christmases and a hundred people's birthdays

Hi all! I have spent my adult life hoarding junk because it might come in handy. I feel stressed every time someone comes round because of the clutter and end up shoving everything away so it isn't visible which then is never seen again. I have bookcases full of books I will probably never read again and quite a few I haven't even opened
I have been been inspired by this thread to take control and have ordered the book! I am determined it will not become one of the unopened ones

Hi snow fire :)

I have started on toys. They don't feature in her list but they are probably the biggest single source of clutter here.
I know my kids have too much. And it embarrasses me. And they don't even know what they have to play with so stuff doesn't get played with.

I have halved the number of jigsaws already. And filled a bag with rubbish/broken stuff. Which I would've said we didn't have any of.
And I'm only part way through the huge expedit thing. We bought a 5x5. Wish we'd chosen a smaller one now or could exchange it as life changes.

Only another hour today but once I've finished lunch I'm back to it.

Oh and friend took dh's old records this morning.

Oh, Pointless, I guess it's "kondoers remorse" ;) I know how you feel, but at the end of the day, isn't it more the memory that brings you joy, rather than the top itself?

I posted a few ebay sales today, and what didn't sell is now in the charity bag. I did have to stop myself putting it back in my wardrobe ;) I still have another 10 listings up. I really need to get all the ebay items off my bedroom floor before my MIL and SIL arrive for the weekend ;) Not because they would mind, but I mind.

Thanks, Time and misscph. I'm sure I'll get over it and at least I have a nice photo of me with DD when I'm wearing it.
On a more positive note I bought some plastic wallets this morning to sort paperwork into. Hoping to do that this evening whilst watching tv.

Pointless, I had a similar-ish moment this morning. I ebayed a top that's now too big so I won't wear it.
It was a lovely top though, and I started regretting letting it go, until I realised that it's new owner is far more likely to wear it, and will get far more joy from it than I would in future.

(stupid auto correct wanted to say the new owner is fat! The top's not THAT big! )

Welcome Fresh - I call her "the crazy Japanese lady" too.

Welcome SnowFire - you'll be addicted in no time!

Pointless - I agree that we need to be careful not to fixate on practicality to the detriment of joy. But also, say in a week's time, think about how you feel about the jumper then. I've had a few wobbles over things that have gone... Usually in the 24 hours afterwards, when it still feels like a reversible decision. Sometimes it might have been a genuine mistake, but sometimes it's really just the doubt that goes with my OCD tendencies!

Welcome Fresh and Snowfire!

Kondoed the change table today. Doesn't my rainbow of cloth nappies look pretty? (Big thanks to Lindt for my new stash.) This is why cloth nappies are addictive. They definitely bring me joy!

Oooooh, Kiwi! I want your nappies, and I don't even have a baby!

Thanks for your helpful comments. I think I'm a bit emotional this week, hopefully someone else is enjoying my top but if I see it in the charity shop am I allowed to buy it back?!!
mango, your autocorrect made me laugh!

Welcome fresh and snowfire

*Grouchy I love it - makes me want to finally get round to kondoing mine so I can display them nicely. I was a bit addicted with DS1 but with DS2 I am only just managing to get in the hang of using them again - Ihave definitely found it harder going from 1 to 2 kids than first time round!

pointless I was going to say that it's probably because mat leave is ending you are having a wobble. Part of me thinks that if you see it in there it's fate and you can buy it back...another part of me thinks you did the right thing to part with it now rather than hanging on to it for years as it gets less and less practical, and then keeping it because it has even more history, if that makes sense?

Oh, yes, I came on to ask a clothes storage question.

Am kondoing bags, and struggling with a leather bag which was my fathers, bought when we lived abroad as a family. It's a sort of overnight/soft holdall thing, he no longer uses it but I took it a few years ago as it's lovely.

But of course I have never used it - too impractical for trips away; too big for everyday. And it's getting mouldy in our damp flat. I am going to clean it up anyway, whether I keep or dontate, and was wondering about using it to store out of season clothes. I know MK says you should have all out at the same time but I like the ritual of getting out the very warm jumpers and very floaty dresses at different times of year. However I dislike the smell of vacuum bags, so hoping after kondoing I could fit all out of season things in this bag with some lovely lavender bags to increase joy ,

Do you think that's a) allowed and b) a sensible place to store clothes? Bit worried they might not be able to 'breathe'

Hazy
Well, I think that there is not really anything that is not 'allowed'. The question is, always, does it truly bring you joy?

But if your flat is so damp that the bag itself is getting mouldy, then wouldn't clothes stored it in be similarly compromised? If it were me, I'd be feeling a bit hesitant.

Hazy I plan on storing some out of season clothes. I think it would be different if we lived in Southern California where you could wear everything year round. I love the ritual or changing clothes over and the inevitable freak heatwave/cold snap that follows when I have nothing to wear!
Would be great to repurpose your dads bag. Not sure about breathing. My clothes are always in those sealed plastic boxes and they are always fine, so would probably be the same thing???