Kondo thread 10

[SnozzberryMincePie]

Just noticed the old thread was full, so hope no one minds me starting the new one

Oh, and I know I've a way to go yet, perhaps it all comes together at the end with sentimental items. But the empty shelves....
Until now my method of decluttering has been to put a shelf up and fill it up. So there are quite a few. The ones I've now cleared do look pretty scruffy. I guess I could take them down and redecorate later in the year.

Welcome Sistermonkey, it sounds like you have made a brilliant start. I agree, MK is really sweet.

A long day at work. I've only been home for half an hour but it feels really good to come back to such an uncluttered space. A sanctuary of calm! Wish I could say the same about my office at work...I think that needs a good kondo as well.

Sistermoonshine even!

Thanks stumblymonkey, I'll look into it

Haha, moonshine I wouldn't worry yet! You might find that by the time you have finished, you want to downsize to a tiny log cabin in the woods- and you can forget the shelves completely! Tee hee!

DH has finished paternity leave so I've been home alone with DD all day, DS was at nursery this morning. I've managed to Kondo the two plastic files I have for each kid. How did I have so many papers and leaflets for a 13 day old baby?!

I've also got dressed, applied for child benefit, sorted travel insurance, applied for DD's EHIC card and 3 loads of washing. DD is a little dream (famous last words?)

13 day old DD's drawer of newborn clothing needs to be kondoed already, I think I'll take out the blue bits which belonged to DS as there's not enough room will all my niece's borrowed bits too. I will have to get to grips with the fact that I'll probably not have any more kids now when I thank DS's clothes before putting them away in case DSis can use them in the future.

I've been lurking, but haven't yet read the book. I have been going through my belongings with KonMari principles but not necessarily her method (I can't cope with categories and prefer to do one area of the house at a time). My family think I have been abducted by aliens. I just re folded DD3s trouser drawer while waiting for her to brush her teeth and get PJs on. - Madness.

I discovered this evening that the audio book is on you-tube. I've got through the first 40 or so minutes whilst doing one set of shelves in the kitchen (they are now completely empty - a bin bag full of stuff went to the bin and various bits of schoolwork went back into the DDs rooms) and will finish the rest of the book tonight/tomorrow.

My DD1 is in her final year before her baccalaureate this summer - studies have not been going well. When I was listening to the book MK mentions that it it much easier to concentrate once your work area is clear of clutter and it came to me that something I can do to help DD is to sort out her room. I wasn't sure how she would take it so I suggested to her tonight that I would spend Saturday doing her room and she didn't need to help if she didn't want to. Instead of the objections I was expecting I got a big hug :)

I feel a seismic shift in my and my families life, both exciting and scary at the same time.

Wow...stiffsink...you are my inspiration for post-baby productiveness!!!

You're getting more done with DS and newborn than I do with just two cats

I feel bereft as I have almost finished the house. Going to do the garage once the weathers warms up.

No idea what I will do with myself now there is no constant tidying to do.

Querky - want to come and help me?

Querky- haven't you discovered what you really love doing, having got rid of all the crap? Personally if o ever get that far I am looking forward to clesring head space and actual space to complete craft projects etc!

I am a bit envious tbh!

I would love to take this up as a profession. I would not even want paying. Any takers????😀

Oh. My. God. When can you start?! I'll pay your travel costs!

Hi, I've read the book and started with clothes and books. Also sold a load of DVDs and Cds to music magpie.

I'm loving my new downsized wardrobe.

Papers - please keep ALL your P60s. I work in employment advice and have dealt with cases of people having to prove their employment history for pension purposes as far back as the 70s!

"almost finished the house"
I would LOVE to be where you are Jo. When did you start?

I'm making a real mess of these books!
I was doing the Ziffit barcode thing, but then thought that's perhaps just a delay tactic on my part. Now there's books bloody everywhere except on the shelves. Busy at work for the next few days so it's a bit on hold and it's a proper mess.
And the bits of stuff that was amongst the books on the shelves - komodo? Look a right mess now too.
I so hope nobody pops round for a bit.

And keeping on top of the general stuff while trying to do it eh?
The DC's room, washing up, tea etc.
I am getting some pleasure from putting the washing away into it's new tidy places though.

I'll be on to papers next Fanny, so thanks, I'll bear that in mind.

Well it is a bit easier for me as there is just the two of us. Kids have all left. I have only done my own stuff but OH is fairly tidy, but is a bit of a hoarder. I am (was) the messy one.

I started quite a few months before I heard of Konmari. He used to question everything I threw out. So I started doing it when he was out.

Once I got the book and started following Her system it all went really well. When I first started reading I dismissed the philosophy but after a while it made sense. I even used some of her words on OH. (Without telling him of course). That helped him add some of his stuf to the charity pile.

Last week I was invaded by 3 GKs for the week and usually this causes chaos because we have have a very small house with two bedrooms. Because of the extra space I had freed, I was able to put all their stuff away as soon as they arrived. I also only unpacked half of what my DiLs had packed for them.

zippi I am retired and in London so No travel expenses. I wish I had the courage to do it.

When I first retired I was a Part time mothers Help. They were the best jobs I ever had.

Hi I'm new to this but have read about halfway through the book. My house is chaos so I really want to give this a go as it seems to have worked for so many people.

I find it difficult to devote large chunks of time to sorting things out as have young dc & work pt.
I can see it taking an age to go through all categories. Surely it would be quicker to do a room at a time?

I have Friday off work, 5 hours to myself so how should I best use that time to get started?

It really is not quicker to do it room by room because once you have decided what to keep you really do need to know where it is going to go.

The best tip on here is up thread, where someone has linked a category list broken down minutely. My daughter is unable to do it in the order that the book says for the same reason, lack of time and space.

I sent her the list and she just picks one of the mini categories and does them in a convenient order.

Like the book says, keep things which are the same in the same place. Most of us have things all over the house.

If you start with clothes, try to do, pants, tights, vests tops, then nightwear. It will take 4 days, 30 minutes a day. I honestly believe that this will get you on the right track. I never thought I would throw out so much underwear, that I would fold pants, or that I would get a spark of joy opening my undies drawer.

Aiming for some time to kondo this evening. It is definitely more difficult make progress during the week but the house is tidier for longer. I've been emptying my bag and putting clothes away. It does make a difference.

I'm on my second attempt at Kondoing. First time around I sent off ten bags of clothing and bedlinen and thought I was done (still had loads of clothes.)

Today I filled two binbags just with tops... And I suspect there'll be a third round at some point too

And the folded clothes in drawers really are pleasant to look at aren't they? Being able to see everything at a glance instead of burrowing through and making a mess.

I really do agree about following the rules. I decided to be a little maverick and skip ahead to CDs. I sent 40 of them away with Music Magpie, and today I found a couple of random CDs in my fleece and hoodies drawer. I'll probably find a few more as I go along too. It means I still have to deal with some CDs at the Komono stage anyway. It really is best just to start as she suggests. I'm not sure I agree that tops are easier to sort because they're nearer the heart, as QuerkyJo says, underwear and sleepwear is probably an easier start!

Joining! Just folded/kondo'd my overflowing and can't close tights drawer and was amazed by rolling and inserting into a cardboard box drawer liner how much space I had left! Am tempted to apply an elastic band to some to stop the buggers unravelling when I remove a pair!
My sock drawer is also a thing of beauty now they are folded and wrapped. Can't bring myself to do DH's yet but folded his t shirts and again gobsmacked at his much space it leaves!
Have kondo'd books, tech/wires and toiletries so far and got shot of a bag of clothes - I feel great!
My wash powder, conditioner and white vinegar are now in lovely glass jars and bottles so the washing feels more pleasurable now I really am verging on sad!

Alot of the clothes I've bought since having dc are from places like h&m, primark etc so aren't looking great anymore. I could probably quite happily throw out most of them but would literally have almost no clothes left.
I can't afford to buy a load of higher quality replacements so what should I do? Keep stuff even if it doesn't spark joy or get rid & have hardly anything to wear?

Ooo ooooo ooo I want jars and bottles for the wash powder and conditioner