Kondo thread 10

[SnozzberryMincePie]

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

With practical stuff I think of the joy the item's purpose brings - waterproof clothing and wellies are rarely joyful but being warm and dry is. Toilet paper is not exactly joyful either!

Someone on one of the early threads said that 'spark joy' was something of a mistranslation, and that it would be closer to asking yourself whether something resonates with you. I'm glad I remembered that because both terms have helped me.

Some things definitely 'spark joy' though. My little collection of 80s toys. My vintage 50s picnic basket. A t-shirt from seeing the Stone Roses at Heaton Park a few years ago. My Persephone and Folio Society books. My MAC lipsticks. My Doctor Who Adipose plush toy!

I have noticed that if I somehow lost all my bags and shoes, and most of my clothing tbh, I wouldn't be too bothered. There are shoes and bags out there that I love, and I've made a note to start working towards attaining some of them when this process is over (and then I can give up my so-so bags and shoes!)

I'm about to start on clothes. I have things that probably won't spark joy but I use them regularly eg old tshirts to sleep in, vests to go under other clothes etc. Do they stay or go?

Derbyday According to the book they should go and you should only every wear beautiful things even to scrub the toilet but I think most people treated this stuff as a separate category and make sure you aren't keeping stuff just because you don't want to chuck it out

you should only every wear beautiful things even to scrub the toilet

If I only ever wore beautiful clothes I'd be afraid to scrub the loo for fear of getting bleach on them!

Old t-shirts to sleep in - would you feel fine answering the door to the postman in them, or leaving the house quickly in the event of an emergency? That was my big test for sleep wear.

Vests to go under clothes - are they as comfortable as they could be, have they kept their shape, would you be embarrassed by them if you had to take your outer layer off? I had some nice white vests that had gone grubby and tired looking at the straps so I'd have to constantly adjust my top if it crept down. I got a couple of Primark basics ones for now! They 'bring joy' in that I don't have to worry they'll let me down.

Its magic!!

Since posting my pic this morning I've sorted out all my clothes, my jewellery, all the wardrobes and my make up. And enjoyed it! Its amazing :)

How many carrier size bags of stuff have you decided to get rid of, Midnight?

How satisfying is folding clothes?!?!?

Three bin bags ready to go to recycling and I have about 30 left over hangers!

I found a useful post on Reddit by the lady herself (in a Q&A) saying that some things give us a subconscious feeling of joy so if there are things we wear often and find useful it's fine to keep them even if there's no obvious spark.

Before and after.

Iljkk I threw 6 binbags but tbh my problem was that I have some weight to lose but hadn't got rid of my smaller clothes as I bought larger ones so I had complete wardrobes in 3 sizes of clothes. So I only kept clothes in my current size in my room and 9 bags of clothes are now in the attic as I'm actively losing weight :) I feel so happy tonight :)

It's a great feeling isn't it Derbyday. What next?

I'm doing bags next then DVDs then paperwork I think. Not until next weekend though.

Nice Derbyday! (I love before and after pictures)

Two bin bags of maternity/worn out clothes done! One taken to the textile recycling thingy already, the other is waiting for a charity shop run.

I also folded all my socks and underwear again last night while desperately trying to get the baby to sleep. Desperate times and all that. (Baby has about 10x the clothes I do, but at least now all the too big stuff is in labelled boxes!

Checking in (although kondoing has halted a bit since going back to school). I love going to my wardrobe now and having a limited amount of choice-makes things simpler in the mornings plus has the added benefit of not letting laundry build up too much.
I got cross with Giles on the Back in time for the weekend programme, there was no allowance for giving joy which kind of spoiled the principle for me.
In other news, kondoing weight now stands at 21lbs gone!

Hello, can I join? Overwhelmed by clutter, life feeling completely out of control etc etc etc so read book and am newly converted. Even if would secretly like to read MK: Post Toddler Apocalypse wherein MK arrives home, takes off her trousers and thanks them only to discover that she has spent all day walking round with a pirate sticker on her bum...

But anyway, have started as instructed with clothes and done tops, trousers, skirts, dresses. Disturbed to discover how many things I have been keeping that don't fit AND I don't like. Why??? Anyway, feeling motivated but somewhat intimidated by suspicion that have done the easy things...

Any key tips for the hopeless newbie?

I don't think clothes are that easy biscuit we attach feelings to clothes, and memories. I found paperwork much easier.

I am dreading paperwork, am weirdly phobic about it have admittedly totally nutty belief that if I look at it properly it will reveal that my whole life is built on sand. Ho hum. But glad to hear that I've made an ok start .

The cleaner is due today and there is literally no tidying up needed because everything has a place. I haven't reached my click point yet though. I think I will look at the 200 categories and work through them again as I have a bin bag for charity that has only 4 items in and I can't see anything else to go in it by just wandering around the house- I need an actual process to work with.

stiff you are living the dream!!!

I'm still doing it, albeit bit by bit. Have spent most of the last week or so doing categories in the kitchen - with a proper spring clean of the areas at the same time. It's coming on.

I'm loving just how much better organised I feel in myself.
I don't feel such a need to get everything ready for the morning the night before, because it's not a case of finding it amongst the clutter I guess. I know where the things we need are.
And I'm wiping down sides! - I didn't have many clear sides to wipe down until now :)
Clothes feeling a lot nicer too, better looked after.

Anyone know how often Free Listing Days come up on EBay? I've got some nice clothes that no longer fit to try and flog but I've never sold on eBay before!

Not sure what the deal is for new sellers, but all sellers now get 20 free listings per month as standard. Then there are other short deals on top of that, but they are by invitation only.

Wait, what are the 200 categories??? Are they an expanded version of the 5 in the book? That would be really helpful, because nearly everything in the house seems to come under what is effectively 'other'.

Biscuit They are in a link in a post upthread by QwerkyJo.