Kondo thread 10

[SnozzberryMincePie]

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

CDs are done.
All copied into iTunes and 75% sold to music magpie the rest are off to the charity shop along with 3 bags of DH's clothes.
DVDs next. Then games.

OK, I was on here (briefly) quite a while ago to say I'd got started. Then RL intervened and Kondoing just ground to a halt while I dealt with that.

But things are calm again now so I'm back at it and having a big push before the summer holidays. I've sorted -

our medicine box
cleaning stuff
our toiletries
bedding - I worked out some of our duvet covers are at least 12 years old so that's why some had started getting holes in
duvets and pillow - ALL our pillows failed Anthea Turner's pillow test
my reference books
my stationery - it seems I rather like collecting notebooks - to admire, rather than use
our cookbooks
my paperwork - ugh, that was a HUGE job

I'm not sticking to her order, but I am tackling the whole category at a time, which I think is the important thing. And I've reorganised the shelves in our cupboard under the stairs (using boxes and baskets that turned up around the house as I sorted, of course ) so the things we use the most are nearer the door - it's lovely getting things in and out of there now.

I am finding it physically tiring and sometimes mentally exhausting, but I feel energised by it too, so will definitely carry on. I have the checklist someone linked to before (sorry, can't remember who) that broke the categories down into lots of small sub-categories and I'm really enjoying crossing things off there when they're done.

I'm also earmarking one of ds1's days off over the summer holidays to help him sort through his room. He has at least 3 large boxes under his bed that are full of who knows what ... He doesn't seem particularly excited about the prospect but I know once it's done ds1 will enjoy being able to find his things more easily.

Phew!

What is Anthea's pillow test?

I saw it on the Perfect Housewife - you balance the pillow on your forearm or hand and if it stays straight(ish) it's fine - if it flops down both sides it needs replacing. All ours were flopped!

We prefer firm to medium pillows so that's a good test for us, I'm not sure how even new soft pillows would do with it though.

I have been sorting out my kitchen so I read that bit of Spark Joy. A quote that cheered me up -

"Ladles and spatulas are very tough. it's their job to leap bravely into the fray, sauteing meat or dishing up soup, while sparks fly between food and frying pan. ... For this reason, after your joy check, you don't need to take as much care when you store them."

I suppose cooking dinner can sometimes seem like a battle

I do like spatulas..... I want the spark joy book, would you recommend it?

I'm not sure I would actually, if you've got the first one, but I personally like Spark Joy better.

I bought it after DM asked if I would mind giving her my copy of The Magic of Tidying as a birthday present, since she wanted to know what I was going on about, and that gave me the excuse to buy Sparks Joy for myself.

It has much less of her own journey in tidying and more comments on each category and how to store them, as well as some cute sketches of how to fold various things. But the main inspirational theme is the same, of course, and I'd already got that from The Magic and these threads so .....

Perhaps you have someone you could give your copy of The Magic to, so you too have a reason to get Spark Joy

I do have the original. I could loan it to my Mum... Thank you.

We did some more sorting in the office last night. One box of clothes for a friend's little girl to post and a big box of clothes for another friend to sort through and see if they need anything.
Huge bag of paper recycling. Some bits to shred and generally tidied up a bit. I can see my desk again. It was quite satisfying!

We have almost cleared out an 2x4 expedit unit in our living room. Huzzah!

DvD's done keepers all in cd wallets and cases chucked rest charity shopped. We only have an original wii so not many games so just needed a quick sort and a new storage box for the controllers.

I was also very brave and tackled my books only 2 bags to charity shop as I stopped buying physical books about 4 years ago when I got my first kindle.

Placemarking to get back to this. The hardest thing for me was getting started, or rather making the space to get started without making a mess in the superficially tidy rooms downstairs as that would not go well towards getting DH onside. Having a 10 month old means I can't rely on a clear chunk of time to finish a category, however tiny so any sorting needs to be in one of the spare rooms. I have done my books so they fit in the available bookcases (nearly) but are alphabetical by author for fiction and sorted by subject otherwise. To be fair my books have generally been kept in alphabetical order or by category, they just bred to exceed all available space... the number of authors is definitely decreasing even if there is a very strict one in one out policy. Unread books also spark joy - but I have got rid of ones that didn't appeal.

I'm kondoing my laundry basket! I had to tip it to sort lights/dark/colours and its metal with holes in the side, so its like a big cheese grater.

I'm going to get some Algot mesh drawers from Ikea so I can separate the dirty clothes and then see when I have enough of one category for a load. That will save my back as I won't need to tip up the metal container and it'll save my fingernails from the giant cheese grater.

Slow going here as work has been busy for me and DH the last few weeks.
But we have gone through our tech and electricals. There were leads and random connectors for things we don't even have anymore.

Have you seen the official Marie kondo app? I think it's only for iPhones unfortunately, but it's free. I downloaded it (am yet to fill it in, though!!)

Oooohhh an official app?

I've just downloaded it. It's very rigid and seems only half finished really. I can't look at other categories before I finish the previous category in a set order. glad it is free!

I must admit I haven't even looked at it....

And you have to upload before and after pics before you can see the next category!! Hmmm. I'll stick to the clutter less app I think...

I just thought I would take a look. Although to be honest I know what I need to do where so I probably won't bother with an app.

I think I will stick with my bullet journal, I keep track in there too - then it doesn't clutter up my head so much.

App deleted

Hahaha! It might just be me that finds the app awful.... I have ticked all the boxes for clothes and books (and added before and after photos.... Well, kind of ) but it won't unlock papers for me.... Argh. I should delete it!

I wasn't using it, anyway!

On another note: it's true what they say about getting the crap out of the house before moving on. I'm ashamed to say I had some charity shop bags and boxes of books still knocking about....gone! I feel a million times lighter. Now to continue! Dp and I had a falling out this weekend about the state of the house

I just worked out that I earn around 25% more now since starting kondoing! I've had 2 really decent payrises, mainly because I have been noticeably more focused at work. Life-changing magic indeed.

Have now done the rest of the book collection. Most not mine but have added most of my (well out of date) uni books to the recycling pile and all the other reference/non fiction books are sorted by subject. I have 2 cookery books too many for now - but a couple are on probation and as DH's reference books are now sorted by subject and I've planted the idea in his head that he should do something with the huge box of CPD notes in the loft we might get somewhere.

Still need to redo clothes now I've dug all my pre-baby stuff out of the loft - they were too buried to deal with the first time and contrary to the true once chance way I was desperate to find and wear most of them - they'd been put away with regret when I got too big and then we moved into a project so they got buried in the disaster loft room.

On the subject of the disaster loft it is mostly papers up there. I have reduced about 5 boxes of old cpd notes to half of one and found about a tonne of stuff to shred. Need to make a tip run when DH is up to minding DD for an hour or so!

Another letter from a charity has arrived, £8 raised including gift aid. This is the charity shop near DH's office so there are still 2 more shops to hear from.

Kondo weight loss now at 2st 9lb!

DH agreed to do the shed so struck while the iron was hot!

Phew! Read whole thread!

I am near the beginning & using the Clutterless App which is simple & excellent.

Just done bags, so scarves & accessories next.