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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Any recommendations for a decluttering book?

20 replies

Mrsemcgregor · 27/12/2016 19:38

Just that really, I have read the reviews on Marie Kondo but it sounds a bit nuts for my liking.

(I would be happy to be told it's life changing though!)

OP posts:

amroc18 · 27/12/2016 19:46

I know you're looking for other recs (and can't help with those sorry) but Kondo is def worth a read, just take the zany bits with a pinch of salt as the principles are very sound

EatSpamAmandaLamb · 27/12/2016 19:52

I'll be honest, I've read them all and they all said the same thing. That was until I read Kondo. I resisted (thought it was guff) for a while but it really helped me change the way I think for more than a one time go through of the understairs cupboard. I now have zero clutter (unless you count 6 children? ) and processes for making sure I don't accumulate anymore.

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 27/12/2016 19:53

Hmmmm! Maybe I will have to give it a go. It does have lots of positive reviews but I do t know if I can take all the being grateful to your clothes etc etc

I think I may need to open my mind, and I do have a lovely Amazon gift voucher balance to pay for it

OP posts:

emsyj37 · 27/12/2016 19:54

Kondo is life-changing and not at all nuts. Sorry, I know that isn't the answer you were looking for - but it's true!

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 27/12/2016 19:58

Ok I have done it and order crazy Kondo!

I will let you know when my life and home are changed

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HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 27/12/2016 19:59

Kondo book is FANTASTIC

It is too extreme for us right now so we haven't followed her full method, but what her book has done is change my relationship with objects in my home.

I think v differently about things that might be useful one day, meh clothes, presents from loved ones that aren't quite me, things waiting to get fixed, paperwork that I think I should hold on to, clothes that I hope to slim down into, knick knacks that I bought on holiday

The book teaches you how to only have objects you love in your home and happily say goodbye to everything else without regret

As I said, her full method isn't appropriate for us at the moment, but our house is vastly less cluttered for reading her book

Hopefully in a few years we will fully Kondo our house :)

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 27/12/2016 20:05

Now I am getting excited about this damn book, I blame the last of the Christmas alcohol!

I really want to make a change in my home in the new year. It's tidy enough and mostly clean. But there is just far too much stuff, everywhere.

What is Kondos answer for stuff that definitely doesn't give you joy but gives joy to your DH/P and DCs? Does she guide you through that mine field?

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didireallysaythat · 27/12/2016 21:03

Embrace the kondo way of living and borrow it from the library so you won't have a copy to store once you've finished. The lists and order of tidying are all online and easily found.

Knittedfrog · 27/12/2016 21:10

Home organization by Toni Hammersley. Or her Facebook/web site A bowl full of lemons.

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 28/12/2016 08:22

Thanks knittedfrog I shall check that out.

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TheFlis12345 · 29/12/2016 22:58

I don't know how Marie Kondo does it, but that book literally changes they way your brain works without you realising! Could not recommend highly enough.

alphabook · 29/12/2016 23:05

I love Konmari. The bits about thanking your shoes for working so hard for you every day I take with a very large pinch of salt, but it really does change the way you think about all the useless clutter you have lying around.

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 30/12/2016 08:28

The Kondo book has arrived!

Any tips on stuff I might need to get started (I am thinking bin bags etc)?

I will let you know how it goes

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squiggletea · 30/12/2016 09:10

Your house will provide...

This is in the book somewhere. It's true though. The book also addresses other people's stuff.

Time is the most important thing you need!!! I've had the book for a year. With a busy life, I'm nowhere near done. However: my home is tidier than ever!

goingonabearhunt1 · 30/12/2016 12:58

I'm another recommend for Kondo.

I was sceptical at first as well but it really does change your mindset.

I was able to stop feeling guilty about things and let them go. And also realise how much stuff I had that I didn't need or enjoy. I went through the whole process about halfway through last year and carried on with it over a few months.

Now I go back and occasionally re-do bits if I feel like it's building up again but it's never gone back to the level it was. It's made me a more careful shopper as well. If I see something and I have something similar/think I might not use it/don't have space, I don't buy it.

pithivier · 30/12/2016 16:23

As a Kondo enthusiast I offer 3 pieces of advice

When you begin don't get rid of other house members stuff or try to convince them to clear. After 6 months my OH gradually started to clear 40 years of paperwork and eventually cleared the garage, which has aggravated me for 20 years. Others have to come on board in their own time.

Down load Jershaand duppa list of categories. This because it is very hard to know where to begin. The book is very prescriptive and it's actual method does not work for everyone, because of time and space constraints. Begin small by picking just one category that you feel comfortable with or which is giving you grief.

Skim read the book, because the beginning is all the airy fairy stuff. The second half of the book gives the practicalities. I think the absolute best advice in the book is "same thing in same place". I now have one box for medical stuff. Collecting things from around the house yielded, 8 bottles of cough mixture, 17 packets of plasters an enough painkillers to start my own shop"

redexpat · 30/12/2016 16:28

Take before and after photos.

Know what can be recycled, where and when. Where I am it has to be in clear bags, so I bought lots of clear bin bags.

pithivier · 30/12/2016 16:30

I think the list is now called KonMari declutter list

parklives · 30/12/2016 21:56

Watching... I can't wait to get started on my wardrobe, in Oct I counted everything in there: 300 items hanging up (Dh has wardrobe in the other bedroom).
This doesn't include a chest of drawers full of stuff, and a few boxes in the loft
My excuse is I need to lose weight, but I know even when I do, I will want new clothes anyway!

Original poster

Mrsemcgregor · 31/12/2016 10:18

I made a tentative start yesterday on the kids chest of drawers. I have a whole bag full of stuff to go to charity/clothes bank. Another bag of school uniform that is too small for DS1 but can be used for DS2 come September and I have moved several items from DS1s drawers to DS2s drawers (there are 3 years between them and yes here was lots of 3 year old tshirts in there!).

I then refolded everything in the special fold and it really was so much easier this morning when it came to finding them clothes!

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