Kondo thread 10

[SnozzberryMincePie]

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

I've only cottoned on to KonMari a couple of months ago when the book kept coming up on mumsnet top 5. I've dipped into all these threads (no time to read thoroughly) and articles about Kondo. I was wondering if the mumsnet population thinks reading the book is essential or if just reading the key points and hints/tips on forums and articles is enough to Kondo? Planning for our new house when we move next month and it gives me a clean slate to declutter.

Can anyone tell me the title of the book that everyone's reading? Is it the Spark Joy book or the Tidying one?

Imperial I've only read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying one.

Should I would recommend reading it as, although she is a bit mad in some places, she goes through a lot of the reasons why we keep things and maybe it isn't a good idea. I found it helpful.

For me, it was very freeing to realise that I didn't need to keep something just because somebody I love gave it to me as a present years ago.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying is the first one. I borrowed a copy of that from my library, and found it very helpful reading it. Plus the need to return it to the library means it's not cluttering up my house permanently

I've since bought Spark Joy - I haven't read that cover to cover yet, but the introduction makes it clear that it's a follow-up book aimed at people who've already bought into the philosophy outlined in The Life Changing Magic of Tidying.

I have been following the threads and Decluttering via MN for 3 months. I learnt the folding techniques from YouTube.

I only bought the book last week. I don't think it matters which way round you do it. I skim read the book but I am going to read it again properly because, for me, the philosophy behind it was interesting.

Can anyone recommend a website that buys books. I now have an entire box of books that don't spark joy.

MusicMagpie buys books but only certain ones - I tried a couple dozen and only one qualified. And they have failed to collect a box of ex-lodger's CDs twice now...

Almost hoping it's crap weather tomorrow so the kids and I can sort through their books, magazines and plastic toys! I'm very good at keeping on top of their clothes - stuff ds outgrows is usually worn out now so have one chest of drawers, with a drawer of trousers, one of tops, one for vests/pants/socks/pyjamas, one for school uniform and fancy dress outfits, including a couple items with holes for when it's dress as X day, then the top smaller drawers for spare bedding and random cloth for playing with. Dressing gown and spare coat to grow into on back of door, raincoat and main coat in the hall, shoes and wellies and sandals on bookcase there.

Similar for dd, plus one drawer under my bed of stuff too large for dd and a few really nice outgrown items for friend's dd. Anything else outgrown is Freecycled (pants, socks, well-worn stuff) or charity shop (both bagged in same under-bed drawer until there's enough to give away).

Will look up the MN article as I need to do paperwork - but with the amount of dealings I have it's still going to be a lot...

Day 2 - managed to get through sports clothes, and bags / handbags (including carrier bags - have around 200 to give to the Ocado man next time they come - they refund 5p a bag!). So far I have 7 large bin bags of clothes for charity and 2 bags of rubbish in two days. The sports clothes were harder than the normal clothes, things like walking gear are not loved exactly, more functional. Still managed to get rid of some stuff though.

I have shelves and need to get some boxes to put the sorted-out stuff in on the shelves, I've run out of shoeboxes now so might need to pay a visit to Muji or somewhere.

Haven't actually made it yet to the charity shop - can't wait to get the stuff out of the house now!

Hello! I'm getting Kondo inspired! Do I need to buy the first book first or can I just go straight to the Spark Joy book? Thanks :)

I've only read the first book. It's definitely worth reading, but I'm not bothered about the second one.

I'm doing books and making a start on misc. stuff today. In theory books won't take long as I had a good cull recently and took 2 boxes to the charity shop and DS has been through his shelves. The problem I do have with some of DS' books though is I just can't bear to throw the ones he loved even though he has outgrown them. I'd rather put them in the loft than put them out of the house. We have a big walk in loft and there is a danger of it thwarting my attempts to kondo. We won't be having any more DC so I need to stop holding onto their special stuff once they have outgrown it. This is going to be hard.

Lady I've got that problem with DS's outgrown books too.

Something that helped me with his outgrown toys was when DH suggested that I took a photo of them before charity shopping. DS now insists on my selling any of his old toys so that he can have the money, so I naturally take photos and just keep them.

I wonder if it would work with books? So you could remember which ones to buy for any grandchildren. But part of me wonders whether there will still be books in 20-30 years, when our DS might have children of his own.

Just popping in to keep my place on the thread. I'm still reading about things regularly, even if I'm not doing much.

Does anyone have any idea of how to get rid of 3/4 litre of olive oil? I found it in my cupboard with a bb date of 2014. I don't want to block the drain with it, but it won't go into our food waste bins either without just making a mess!

When we went to our local tip the other week I noticed a cooking oil recycling thing educating.

Before now, I used to just bottle used oil and put it into our normal household waster. I'm now saving it for my next tip trip.

That would be waste, not waster...

Lions and Isit...more like 60+ books I can't let go of. I'm convincing myself I should hold onto them but DGC are many years away and unless I go to the trouble of vac packing them I can't believe they will be in nice condition by the time the family grows into the next generation. The loft is dry but when books have been stored for a long time they inevitably take on a musty smell. Common sense needs to prevail but I kept my older DS's best books and was really glad several years later when DS2 finally turned up and he has enjoyed them too. Taking photos is a good idea - lots of them are picture books so I'd probably end up doing the whole book and not just the front cover. Books are such emotive, tactile things it is very difficult to let them go. Maybe I'll see if there is a hospice or refuge which would have them. I'd want them to go to a really, really good cause. Some of the books are quite valuable as they have been translated from another language and they aren't widely available in the UK....I feel like I'm at an impasse on this one. Perhaps I'll do some misc things and go back to the DC books when I know who I could give them to. Culling my own books has been straightforward though.

Cooking oil...does it give you joy? I'd just take it to the tip.

Lions I think you are right. I need to move on and come back to the DC books. Cookery books next and then a conversation with DH about his collection. From past experience he will grab the chance to grow his library and use my recently emptied shelves to sneak in more of his books!

Hi everyone,
I discovered the magic of tidying thanks to a thread on mumsnet just over a week ago and immediately downloaded the book... since then my partner thinks I've lost the plot! I've got rid of 30+ bags of stuff!!! My bedroom is unrecognisable... I've never been tidy my whole life and it really feels like a weight has been lifted. There's so much more to do, certainly not at the clock point yet, but I can see a tidy future!

*Click point!