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Kondoing away the chaos: Kondo thread 7 for yet more life-changing magic

999 replies

LinzerTorte · 07/02/2015 14:58

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 6
Thread 5
Thread 4
Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1

Tips and links thread

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
GrouchyKiwi · 19/02/2015 15:51

My babies spent a lot of time in their bouncer as they hardly slept during the day in their first 6 months. We got one with music and soothing vibrations. They both loved it.

AmateurSeamstress · 19/02/2015 16:16

Weasel, yes the bouncer does only last 6 months or so, but it is hard to do without your arms for that long! We had a basic argos one that vibrated a bit, and it got tonnes of use. it's nice to be able to put the baby down so they are not flat on their back and can see you, or the washing machine, or whatever.

BertieBotts · 19/02/2015 16:24

Ah fair enough, don't worry then :)

BertieBotts · 19/02/2015 16:43

Baby bouncer - Get one from a nearly new sale and then give it back afterwards. I think I paid £7 for mine and it was brilliant. DS had all his naps in there. And they don't seem to mind being put down "in" something as much as being dumped on the floor.

FizzyBubbly · 19/02/2015 18:07

Haven't posted in a while but have kept an eye on the amazing kondoing taking place on this thread!

So frustrated. Filled a box full of toiletries to send to give and make up, took it to the post office to be told that it would cost £12 to send by parcelforce but if I split it into 2 smaller boxes they would only cost £2.80 each. So, toiletries repackaged and taken to the PO today, am asked if there are any aerosols inside. Said there were 4 hairsprays in one box and was then told you can't have more than 3 and they wouldn't be able to send it.

Arrrgh!! I'm trying to do a good deed by donating these toiletries but I really don't think I can be arsed with repackaging and yet another trip to the PO Angry

Rummikub · 19/02/2015 18:14

Same with nail varnishes. Think it's max 3 in a parcel. I don't understand why!

Starface · 19/02/2015 21:04

Re bouncers / rockers - these are v useful as places to put baby down. I had one upstairs and one downstairs. For kondo style, as bertie says, go second hand. Car boots are great for baby stuff. Otherwise ebay, gumtree and (dare I say it) nethuns nearly new. also, you won't feel so bad about moving it on quickly. Baby stuff is v bulky but used for a very short time.

MILLYmo0se · 19/02/2015 21:33

weasal def get a baby bouncer ( I'd get a swing too, saved my sanity with a refluxy baby :)), but def pick one up second hand on a local FB page or something .

HazyShadeOfWinter · 19/02/2015 22:29

Another voice in favour of bouncers - we have a quite tasteful one with muted dots on a cream background; 14.99 from Mothercare. It looks ok in our living room, and is brilliant for all the reasons above. Plus after two kids its basically had a year's use which isn't bad for the price.

Oh and don't bother with wardrobe: I have never hung up any clothes for either DS: only the eldest has a shirt worth hanging and I always just fold that for him. Coats on hooks in the hall. If you had a girl with nice dresses I could see you might want to hang them but then you could display the outfits but putting up hooks on the wall to hang from. Or perhaps I have spent too long looking at nurseries on design blogs.

I'm starting to feel the magic. The usual rush round to tidy up before the cleaner came wasn't as bad as it normally is, and I feel that I'm getting headspace and motivation to do little projects which I've meant to do for ages but put off. EG turning an old frame into a place to display/organise jewellery. Having kondoed both jewellery and frames this project (still ongoing, paint drying) was my reward.

NotCitrus · 19/02/2015 23:57

I've had a couple months with no decluttering, but this week back with a vengeance!

Attacked books - 4 charity bagsful to take to charity shop, 4 recycling bags of papers, cards and magazines (MrNC finally admitted that even Linux computer magazines that were 10 years old could be chucked - he stopped buying them around that time as he never read them, but 'they might be useful'

Have got 2 carrier bags of child socks and pants to go - I did think I was chucking too many but then counted and dd still has 25 pairs! Will give selling cloth nappies one last go - have joined FB groups for them - then if they don't sell the local nappy library will have them.

I need a tall bookcase for my room, so I can tidy - MrNC was sad he didn't get one off Freecycle, but then pointed out if we get enough crap off all the shelves in the living room (5 lots), then I can just use a bookcase from there! So now I have a huge incentive...

The battery drawer, craft drawer, games cupboard, drawer of potential presents, and Wierd Electronic Bits Cupboard are certainly making my life better!

NotCitrus · 20/02/2015 00:03

Lionsdont - I have a 3yo too and its really clear how much she and the 6yos enjoy space to play, more than toys - however mercenary the boys might be at constantly wanting new Lego/Angry Birds/superhero bits of plastic. We inherited enough Lego to fill a couple suitcases and can now fill a couple more... it mounts up! I've snuck about a carrier bag of plastic bits of tat into the bin, but hopefully in a while ds will be up for the idea of selling some toys on eBay in order to buy more (smaller) ones...

NotCitrus · 20/02/2015 00:09

weasel - don't bother with a wardrobe: a chest of drawers is fine. You can get ones with detachable change table parts or just use a mat on a large chest.
A bouncer is great just as somewhere safe to put your baby, and a bit upright (good if they puke or cry when flat - dd slept in mine a lot. Also when they roll, it's handy to have to stop them exploring while you shower or cook.

Toomuchtimeonmyhands · 20/02/2015 00:39

Can I join too?! Have been a bit slack compared to many others on here but have kondoed my clothes & DCs too - am hoping it will rub off on OH but not quite there yet! I've also made some headway on books, papers & misc junk. A couple of things are giving me problems & I wondered if anyone of you lovely people has come up with a foolproof solution! Firstly, wrapping paper! I seem to have an impressive collection of rolls, bags & ribbon. I currently have it stashed in a cupboard but the rolls don't fit so are stored elsewhere - very unkondo! What do other people do with wrapping? Secondly, photo albums. We have lots (& I mean lots) including going back to OH's childhood. Any suggestions about how to store them? Currently have them on a bookcase but they get very dusty & we really need the space for books - despite my best efforts I can't bear to part with many of my books even though I know I should. Anyone ideas welcome!

GatoradeMeBitch · 20/02/2015 01:22

I'd been dragging my feet over books, but the last boxful has gone now, so I'm going to go through the rest of the paperwork.

Actually I don't know if I would have chosen this order if I did it again. Clothes, books and paperwork are actually my three hardest categories, and aside from my son's stuff which I'm not touching anyway, the categories with the most sentimental attachments. I think I should have started from the other end of the list!

Toomuchtimeonmyhands - is there room in the cupboard for the rolls to be hung on the inside of the doors? I think Lakeland sells something like that.

anzu66 · 20/02/2015 06:54

Haven't been on for ages as our internet connection is playing up.

So it's probably already been linked and I just can't get to watch it, but just in case it hasn't, there is a youtube video of MK folding socks, knickers, etc. at

Bertie I also have a Malm chest of drawers, and have modified my folding of knickers and socks so that it fits to about the exact height of the drawers. What I've been doing is: knickers laid out flat, then folded in at each side (i.e., two folds, one at each side) so that you basically have a narrowish tube that is almost the shape and size that the inside of a toilet paper tube would have if you squashed it flat, IFYWIM. They would not stand up alone, but are held in place by the other things (socks) in the other section of the drawer.
These are then put into the drawer standing on end with the newly folded ones always going in at the back, and older ones always getting taken from the front.

On the other side of the same section, socks have been folded, in pairs, into half once only, which means, for the size of socks that I wear, that they also just fit the height of the drawers.
So basically everything is being held in place upright by the pressure of everything around it, but even with a week between washing, it still manages to stay tightly enough together to not fall down.

I agree on clothes and books being the most sentimental items for me! There is one whole category of clothes (tops), that I have put off until last, as there is no way I am ready to go through them yet. IMO, starting with underwear is probably the easiest way to get into it, as there are usually so many items in socks and such like that do not bring joy.

Wrapping paper for me: I repurposed a largish square rattan container - think it was meant to be either a rubbish bin or one of those things you can put large pot plants into so that the pot is hidden. Anyway, it's about a foot high, and fits perfectly into the base of our broom/miscellaneous items cupboard, with just enough room for the broom to stand upright next to the container. All long, thin, hard-to-store items are now in there on end, so: rolls of wrapping paper; a couple of posters that are rolled up at the moment, but will probably get rotated with other at some point; a picnic blanket rolled into a sausage shape; and a feather duster with the stick end basically stuck into the rolled picnic blanket. So kind of an eclectic mix, but all fitting into the category of: long, then, needs to be stood on end to be stored most easily.

NotCitrus · 20/02/2015 09:07

Wrapping paper can stand on end in a wine box or similar tall small box. Or the box a fencing foil or epée came in, in our house.

What I really want to get rid of that would improve my life is a set of nice but not needed repro furniture - there's two bedside tables and a dressing table just in the way really, but the two wardrobes are where spare towels and linen and blankets are kept (some of which could go but not much).

Just kondoed the fruit bowl while making breakfast. For some reason it's the best place for the baby de-snotter - so bonkers we remember it's there and it always ends there after being washed up!

DavidTennantsBeard · 20/02/2015 09:08

I've converted the teenage DC to Kondo-ing by showing them the prices that job lots of Lego go for on eBay. DS2s Lego collection has been bid up to over £400 so far and DS1 is about to get in on the act!

JKSLtd · 20/02/2015 09:11

I keep wrapping paper in a wooden magazine holder thing. But haven't kondoed yet so it could change.

I saw a very crafty idea for an upside down stool and the person had made fabric bags for the sides for extra bits.

We have 2 wooden bar stools in the loft with no purpose - not sure when we thought we might have a bar!?!
I don't need both though. And I don't think I could manage the bag making bit.

FizzyBubbly · 20/02/2015 10:05

Its funny talk has turned to wrapping paper - was having this conundrum myself and I know we're not supposed to buy any storage until the end but I ordered one of these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIFT-WRAP-STORAGE-ORGANISER-BAG-CHRISTMAS-BIRTHDAY-WRAPPING-PAPER-RED-/191311567106?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Make_Up_Cosmetics_Foundation_PP&var=&hash=item2c8b0ed902 Arrived this morning so am off to try it out now...

weaselwithin · 20/02/2015 10:55

thanks for your help everyone Smile

I keep Xmas wrapping paper and xmas gift bags with the Xmas tree out of the way.

birthday paper is stored vertically by resting against under stairs cupboard wall! only have about 4 rolls though

NotCitrus · 20/02/2015 11:25

MrNC is getting a tall Billy bookcase for my room, which I don't think I'll love but getting books off piles and out of boxes will bring joy. And it can go back on Freecycle if a better one comes up. Or put linen on it so the oak set can go.

Music Magpie will pay 30p to £3.00 for most of our CDs, so now need to rip them all and back up before they change their minds!

BrandNewIggi · 20/02/2015 12:27

What (if anything) do I want from ikea for storage? On my way there Smile

TimeGoesBy · 20/02/2015 14:13

Weasel totally agree with everyone else. No need for wardrobe or changing table but definitely bouncer... Wouldn't have gotten a shower for first 6 months with dd otherwise;)

My packing cubes arrived during the week and I lurves them! Will try and take photos on them in "action" at the weekend, although probably wont be good for my mental health to pack for a holiday that isn't happening...

I keep wrapping paper in a big cardboard tube that dh had from work drawings.

Well done on progress everyone and welcome to the klub toomuchtime!

LinzerTorte · 20/02/2015 14:40

How exciting Time - my Eagle Creek cubes have just arrived as well and I can't wait to try them out! I've just ordered the one colour so far as I wanted to have a proper look at them before I decided exactly which ones I need for the DC. It's just a shame they don't do five different colours so we can't all have a colour each. Wink

Still snowed under with work so hardly any time to kondo, but I'm trying to keep myself motivated by reading a paragraph or two of book 2 whenever I have a spare minute. Apparently MK doesn't own a single pair of trousers - this is inspiring me to think about getting rid of the one or two pairs I still have (I never wear them but am keeping them "just in case").

OP posts:
VioletMoon4683 · 20/02/2015 14:47

Weasel we had every item of baby equipment going for DC1 - all cheap via nct sales. However by dc4 we had nailed it all down to the basics - a wrap for early days, an ergo sling for when slightly older, a changing mat for the floor, a portable small blanket for the floor for baby to roll around on and some baby clothes/jackets. We co-slept and hardly used a buggy. Toys were just random household items.

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