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.

After a really unproductive week I have finally done something! Only a small something - my make up bag. I found a pair of earrings in there that I've been looking for and also a memory stick! I have replaced the bag itself (cheap plastic and quite tatty) with the posh Clarins one I got for Christmas. I did handbags too. I'd already discarded last month but hadn't got round to storing. They all fit nicely inside 2 larger ones just as MK suggests and only take up about a quarter of a shelf in the wardrobe.
We now have THREE empty drawers in our bedroom. I keep wondering what to put in them and having to remind myself that it is OK to leave them empty at least until we need them or choose to store something in them. I think part of my problem is that I see empty drawers and cupboards as spaces that need to be filled but actually just knowing that they are empty is a quite nice feeling.

I have a HUGE pile of empty storage containers now. Very encouraging. I am keeping them for a bit until we are more sorted but there are just so many.

I have the same problem with empty boxes (and box files), ItIsnt. I'm waiting until the end of the process before I decide how many to get rid of. I also ended up with 2.5 empty drawers in our bedroom Pointless; one has now been converted into a present drawer for odd gifts that may (hopefully will) come in useful at some point, but I have the feeling I'll need to kondo it at some stage.

misscph I wish my bank would go paperless - I think I said earlier in the thread that we have to pay for statements to be sent to us by post if we don't go into the bank often enough to collect them.

Re payslips (again), I would be a bit wary of getting rid of them after just one year - I think I would keep them for the 22 months recommended on gov.uk and just keep P60s otherwise.

No kondoing here today as I was busy with work all morning and we'll be out most of the afternoon. But am itching to get back to it.

There are so many good ideas on here it makes me look forward to each different stage of the process.

Miles upthread (yesterday? ) lockie kindly advised me to swap the stuff on my bedroom cupboard shelves for my clothes, currently in plastic crates in the bathroom. This makes a lot of sense.

I can't work out how to put the clothes on the shelves! This must sound crazy . The boxes are too wide for the cupboard and too deep to be ideal for the clothes but I have managed to get everything vertical/rolled /folded and like with like. It is a source of joy to be able to see everything when I open a box and far easier than the previous multi heap all over the house 'system'. It is not a source of joy that I have to unstack giant boxes to get at a clean pair of jeans hence wanting to put my clothes away in my bedroom in this enormous built in sliding door cupboard. The shelves inside are 30cm deep Ivar IKEA ones.

I have various small boxes scattered through the house but it seems a bit mad to start emptying them. I also see the logic of not buying new containers yet. I'm a total convert to vertical storage so I don't want horizontal stacks on the shelves - help!!

I'm laughing my head off at cross posting with empty boxes

Payslips - decided to keep all for now - at least until I've sorted out all my pension stuff, and then I will keep probably 2-3 years.

On the payslips things - I access mine online so I don't keep any paper copies. If you do have paper copies just scan them so you don't have to keep paper copies.

Took photos of things I intend to ebay, planning to put them on this evening.

Spoke to my mum, she doesn't want the suitcase back that I tought she wanted! Really pleased. Couldn't get myself to ask her about some items that she gave me years ago that I don't want/never used, I was so happy that she actually told me to give the suitcase to charity. I told her of my progress, hoping to inspire her.

As much as I'd love to take the credit, think it was brings idea. Again, I would say don't buy more storage ... It's half of the problem. You won't need it, trust me.

As for kondoing the thread - our motto should be that you don't have to catch up! Just jump in to the current stream of conversation. The same questions come up over and over regardless and I like that.

Some threads are really bossy about the need to catch up, I'd like to think we're a lot more joyful easier going in here.

Agree, lockie, it can be overwhelming to read the threads in their entirety. I think I have read 2 threads, but skipped the other ones.

I think the main point is to participate!

Yes it would be nice not to have the pressure of catching up! I also like the fact questions get repeated, it's good to have a refresher isn't it.

I think it's a sign that you care, bring, and that's not a bad quality to have ;)

I just had another mad dash in DDs room - didn't take too many things, but found a few things that don't belong in her room and a lot of rubbish.

I have become really good at maximising space! I am definitely developing organisational skills ;)

I like the Japanese enormous cupboard idea that she mentions in the book. Though mine would be used to hide junk! Annoyed as I've a lot on (none of it fun) this weekend and won't get much decluttered. Need to do smaller areas (like bathroom supplies) I guess when not much time.

Look at oshiire on Google images if you want to see how the Japanese cupboards look!

And oshiire, translated literally, means 'push into', so it gives some idea of how they have traditionally been thought of in Japan!

Sick at the moment, but still managed to get rid of a few cookbooks.

anzu is an oshiire where traditionally bedding/mattress would have gone into? I don't know why, but I thought the cupboards would have been bigger than that.

Tips, links and ideas thread

Here's a link to a new thread which can be used to keep tips, links and ideas in a safe place, so you know where to find them.

Please add anything that could be useful. The idea isn't to change these chat threads, just to have the best bits in another place too, for easy retrieval.

Paperwork thoroughly kondoed. 5 bags of paper in the bin. Pensions all happily filed together in one place - a job I have been scared of for about 5 years! Almost disappointed that I have to stop to collect the kids. Feel a spring in my step!

I just gave a huge amount of clothes / shoes / handbags to charity. Lots of cool vintage clothes that I used to wear. The fact is I'm nearly 40 & am not that girl anymore... It's been harder to deal with that fact than I thought. Part of me is sad about my past. Part of me wonders if I might have opened a cool little vintage shop or had a roaring trade on eBay. But, I know I've done the right thing! Consignment stores weren't interested & I was holding onto the stuff for years. It was in my parents' house & just thought of how I just don't want it back. Ever...
Found it easier to do books. Paperwork, old letters & scrapbook items next. I hate the house we live in at the moment, but once we move I'm so looking forward to living somewhere with no stuff. It's just baggage really, isn't it? He's the same & is finally sorting out all of his crap too. KonMari is the first house fixing thing that's actually worked for me!