Declutter with marie kondo

What Is the KonMari Method?

• The KonMari Method is pro organizer Marie Kondo's minimalism-inspired approach to tackling your stuff category-by-category rather than room-by-room.
• The goal of the KonMari Method is to have a house full of items that spark joy.
• Marie Kondo is the author of the bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and she now has a popular Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.

Most people know about Marie Kondo from her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. When it was originally published in 2014, Kondo had established herself as a Japanese cleaning consultant with a revolutionary idea (organizing category-by-category instead of room-by-room) and a track record of clients who never relapsed back into their old hoarding ways. Today, she's become household name by literally visiting American homes in need of her help on her crazy-popular Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. And it's getting people off the couch, too: Now everyone wants a piece of the KonMari Method.

What is the KonMari Method?

The KonMari Method is Marie Kondo's minimalism-inspired approach to tackling your stuff category-by-category rather than room-by-room. There are six basic rules to get started:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up.
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
3. Finish discarding first. Before getting rid of items, sincerely thank each item for serving its purpose.
4. Tidy by category, not location.
5. Follow the right order.
6. Ask yourself it it sparks joy.

And five categories to tackle:

1. Clothes
2. Books
3. Papers
4. Komono (a.k.a. Miscellaneous Items)
5. Sentimental Items

While many people associate her method with tidying, it's really about discarding items that lack value. To determine what makes the cut, Kondo has you start by removing everything out of your closets and drawers (category one), all the books off your shelves (category two), all the paperwork out of your desk and bins (you get the idea). Once you have a big pile, you're to go item-by-item and consider if it sparks joy. While Kondo admits that this can feel awkward or unnatural at first, she assures readers and viewers that you'll get better at recognizing what sparks joy as you go. Once you've tossed items in every category, you should have a much smaller set of remaining items that you can return to various closets, drawers, shelves, and boxes. Note that you're to finish one category before moving onto the next one.

Because you're actively choosing items that spark joy, and discarding what doesn't, the intention of the KonMari method is to end up with a clutter-free home that is better able to bring more joy and prosperity to your life. While tidying, she encourages you to visualize the life you want to live — to be less stressed, for example — and what you need to get there. Anything that won't help on that journey isn't deserving of your space or you, she says.

Does "KonMari" mean something?

There's no deeper meaning here: KonMari is simply the combination of Marie Kondo's first and last and first name. Kondo trademarked the term because, well, it's her name (and genius idea!).

What is the KonMari folding method?

Kondo has very specific guidelines for how to properly fold clothes. Watch this video to learn how to fold clothes the KonMari way:

View full post on Youtube

It's actually the way you store clothes that makes a difference. Leaving clothes in a stacked pile — no matter how neat — makes them hard to reach and even harder to see. Instead, stand clothes upright to help you stay true to Kondo's idea of appreciating items through touch and use.

This helpful video by Lavendaire gives you a step-by-step guide for folding trickier items like bulky sweaters and hoodies:

View full post on Youtube

What is the KonMari checklist, and do I need it?

In Kondo's book Spark Joy, you'll find a guide that'll help you decide what to keep and what to toss across a comprehensive list of categories including kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, and even digital photos. So if you think of yourself as generally indecisive, then yes, this checklist will make your process of tidying up go much faster. It also covers how to fold just about everything, from dress shirts to socks.

Can I hire Marie Kondo to do the work for me?

Since she's super busy building an organization empire, Kondo is no longer available for hire. However, you can hire one of her 200+ consultants to tidy your house. All consultants are assigned certification levels, ranging from green (10 tidying sessions with 2 clients) to master (500 tidying sessions with 50 clients). Rates vary depending on a consultant's experience level. For example, Simply Spark Joy, a green consultant — the lowest tier — charges $595 per session (number of sessions TBD). Minimize with Purpose, a platinum consultant — the second highest tier — starts at $3,000 for an introductory package, which includes six tidying sessions. Moral of the story: Unless you're rich, you might be better off doing the work yourself. And if you find your joy through KonMari, you can eventually become a consultant yourself.

Learn More About the KonMari Method

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

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Amanda Garrity

Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.  

About the KonMari Method – KonMari

KonMari Method™: Fundamentals of Tidying is a digital tidying course that offers step-by-step visual guide to mastering the KonMari Method.

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The KonMari Method is a simple but effective tidying method, ensuring you will never again relapse to clutter. It uses a unique selection criterion – choosing what sparks joy! You are not choosing what to discard but rather choosing to keep only the items that speak to your heart. Through tidying, you can reset your life and spend the rest of your life surrounded by the people and things that you love the most. 

• About the KonMari Method |
• Overview
• Why Tidy?
• Experience the Magic of Tidying
• Books and Resources

Overview

Most tidying methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever.

The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.

People around the world have been drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking.

“Life truly begins only after you have put your house in order.” – Marie Kondo

Why Tidy?

Tidying is a powerful tool, but it’s not the destination. The true goal of tidying is to clear away clutter so you can live the life you want. When you put your house in order using the KonMari Method™, you have no choice but to listen to your inner voice – because the question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life. When you reassess your belongings and organize your home, you set the stage for a huge transformation. This is the magic of tidying!

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Experience the Magic of Tidying

You can’t tidy if you’ve never learned how. By studying and applying the KonMari Method, you can escape the vicious cycle of clutter. Concentrate your energy on eliminating clutter thoroughly and completely, all in one go, you’ll see instant results that will empower you to keep your space in order ever after.

KonMari Method™: Fundamentals of Tidying

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The 6 Basic Rules of Tidying

Rule 1: Commit Yourself to Tidying Up

The KonMari Method™ is not a quick fix for a messy room or a once-in-a-while approach to tidying.  It’s a chance to reset your entire life – but only if you commit to following its principles.

Setting the intention to seriously tidy up – and resolving to put in the time and effort required – is the first rule of tidying.  When you approach your tidying festival with a clear vision and a can-do attitude, you’ll find the energy and motivation you need to tidy all of your belongings in one go.

The effort will be worth it in the end.  Not only will you experience the joy of living with objects you love, but you’ll also be on the path to establishing your ideal lifestyle.

Ready to move to the next rule? Proceed to Imagine Your Ideal Lifestyle in the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Rule 2: Imagine Your Ideal Lifestyle

Marie’s tidying process is not about decluttering your house or making it look neat on the spur of the moment for visitors.  It’s about tidying up in a way that will spark joy in your life and change it forever.

Think about what kind of house you want to live in and how you want to live in it.  In other words, describe your ideal lifestyle.  If you like drawing, sketch out what it looks like.  If you prefer to write, describe it in a notebook.  You can also cut out photos from magazines.

When you imagine your ideal lifestyle, you are really clarifying why you want to tidy and envisioning your best life.  The tidying process represents a turning point – so seriously consider the ideal lifestyle to which you aspire.

Marie walks us through this process, above.

Ready to move to the next rule? Proceed to Finish Discarding First in the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Rule 3: Finish Discarding First

As you embark on your tidying adventure using the KonMari Method™, remember to focus on what you want to keep.  Cherish the items that bring you joy, and let go of the rest with gratitude.

Discarding is not the point of the KonMari Method™, but it is an important part of the process because it provides an opportunity to learn from your past experiences.  If you let go of a belonging you never used, it taught that you have no purpose for something like it in your life.  Thinking deeply about each item you discard will affect how you live and acquire new things moving forward.

On a practical level, discarding first also allows you to have an accurate grasp of how much actually needs to be stored.  Only after you’ve discarded can you turn your full energy and attention to that which brings you joy.

In the example above, Marie lets go of sentimental items – photos – with a proper send off, using salt (a Japanese purification ritual) and expressing gratitude for what they’ve taught her.

Ready to move to the next rule? Proceed to Tidy by Category, Not by Location in the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Rule 4: Tidy by Category, Not by Location

It might seem logical to tackle one shelf, closet or room at a time.  But tidying this way will doom you to a life of clutter.  In order to tidy up completely – and change your life forever – you must tidy by category, not by location.

People often store the same type of item in more than one place.  When you tidy each place separately, you’re repeating the same work in many locations.  You can never grasp the overall volume of each type of thing you own – you’re more likely to keep the paperclips in your office if you don’t take into account the stockpile in the attic.  The result is that you become locked in a never-ending cycle of tidying.

Tidy by category – clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items) and then sentimental items – and you’re on the path to success.

Ready to move to the next rule? Proceed to Follow the Right Order in the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Rule 5: Follow the Right Order

The order in which you tidy is crucial. Take it from Marie – she landed on this vital step of the KonMari Method™ after conducting hours of tidying lessons with clients. Tidying your belongings in this order – clothes, books, papers, komono and sentimental items – has proven to be the most efficient and effective.

By starting with clothes (relatively easy) and ending with sentimental items (challenging), you hone your decision making skills as you go; by the end, choosing what to keep seems simple.  There’s another reason clothes come first: Completing that category provides tangible proof of your efforts.  Being greeted by your favorite clothes in a tidied closet each morning is motivation to keep going!

As you move through each category, your energy and enthusiasm increases; you may be physically tired, but getting rid of unnecessary clutter acts as an invigorating pick-me-up. Throughout the process, you gain a deeper understanding of the method – and of yourself.

Ready to move to the next rule? Proceed to Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy in the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Rule 6: Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy

Only you can know what kind of environment makes you happy – this is the underlying principle of the KonMari Method™.  It’s also what sets it apart from other tidying techniques that rely on strict guidelines instead of personal criteria.  You’ve probably heard “Discard anything you haven’t used in two years,” or “Every time you buy something new, get rid of something old.” But Marie’s method is different.

In the KonMari Method™, your feelings are the standard for decision making – specifically, knowing what sparks joy.  To determine this when tidying, the key is to pick up each object one at a time, and ask yourself quietly, “Does this spark joy?”  Pay attention to how your body responds.  Joy is personal, so everyone will experience it differently; Marie describes it as “…a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising. ”

Through the process of selecting only those things that inspire joy, you can identify precisely what you love – and what you need.

Need a refresher? Review the 6 Rules of Tidying.

Books and Resources

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review of the book "Magical cleaning". Part 1

Today, the oriental theme is popular - in the field of fashion, all kinds of hobbies and spiritual practices ... The rather prosaic theme of cleaning and decluttering has not remained aloof either. Today I want to share with you a review of the bestseller of the Japanese Marie Kondo “Magic Cleaning. The Japanese art of putting things in order at home and in life. The author proposes to clean up according to the algorithm developed by her, called the KonMari cleaning method (the first syllable of the surname + the author's name).

So what is "konmari cleaning" - decluttering, cleaning or tidying up?

Paradoxically, the book about the KonMari method of cleaning - is not a book about cleaning . She's talking about something else. And this is the first thing that catches your eye literally from the cover - a slight confusion with the words "cleaning" and "tidying up" or even "cluttering up".

Indeed, in a Russian-speaking environment, by cleaning we usually mean dusting, mopping, cleaning plumbing, etc., and not sorting out one's wardrobe, books, or the ability to properly fold things . Namely, the latter will be discussed.

KonMari cleaning method: what did you find useful?

1. Declutter by category, not by location. You decided to properly thin out the amount of things and went to clean up the bedroom, then the bathroom, then the kitchen, then the hallway ... Marie Kondo writes that you won't be able to get cluttered like that at all!

KonMari decluttering means that you need to sort out entire categories: for example, all the clothes at once, despite the fact that some of them are stored in the closet, some in the hallway, some in the bathroom, etc.

You should bring all the clothes in one room (at the same time, estimate the scale) and disassemble each item for whether it is needed / unnecessary. It's the same with books and stuff.

2. Store things of the same type in one place. Often the same items can be stored on a shelf in the bathroom, in a drawer and in a couple of other places around the house.

KonMari cleaning means choosing one single place in the house for one type of item and not letting these storage places spread throughout the house.

3. Declutter one category at a time. Moreover, according to the method of cleaning KonMari in decluttering, a strict sequence is necessary - clothes, then books, documents, miscellaneous (Kondo calls this category "komono" - all kinds of differences from pins and buttons to discs, decluttering cosmetics and electrical appliances), at the end - sentimental items and souvenirs.

What I really like is that decluttering sentimental deposits is the last thing to do, it is really a very slow and sometimes sad task.

4. Understanding that things come into life with different purposes : one to be worn to holes, the other to show that some color does not suit, the third to please yourself at the moment when you received it (for example, postcards). This is one of my most rewarding KonMari cleaning discoveries!

5. Total decluttering according to KonMari will help you better understand yourself - your interests and vocation, because only what you truly love will remain in your house. Because of the "noise" created by unnecessary and unloved things, this can be difficult to understand.

6. And finally, the main thing in the KonMari cleaning method is not just to put things in order, putting everything in the old places, but first get rid of everything unnecessary, and then come up with a single place to store the remaining necessary .

Read also: How to optimize your wardrobe and organize your closet

Marie Kondo on decluttering: quotes to remember

. ..Things stored out of sight are sleeping things. This makes it much harder to decide whether they make you happy or not. Exposing them to the light of day and, so to speak, reviving, you will find that it's surprisingly easy for you to tell if they touch your heart.

...Each object must play a certain role. Not all clothes come to you to be worn to holes. It's the same with people. Not every person you meet in your life will become your personal friend or lover. Some you won't get along with, some you won't be able to love, but these people teach us precious lessons: thanks to them, you understand who you like, who you love, to appreciate those special people in your life even more .

For those who do not like long reading, there is an alternative - to watch the film "Life is the exciting magic of cleaning."

What did you find useful about the KonMari cleaning method, what is your opinion about Magic Cleaning? Have you decluttered KonMari?

P. S. How to declutter and dismantle household rubble? How easy is it to part with unnecessary things? How to restore order, which is preserved, and does not disappear in a day?

Answers - free guide contains 18 rules for decluttering and order. Get it for free! - VKontakte or to your email.

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how to pack things, decluttering Konmari, Japanese cleaning

How to turn cleaning from a heavy duty into an easy and simple ritual?

Do you think that cleaning is a boring and tedious task that spoils the mood, upsets the nerves, and gradually loses health? And here is the author of the bestseller “Magical Cleaning. The Japanese art of putting things in order” Marie Kondo thinks otherwise.

In her opinion, this activity heals, calms and puts thoughts in order. And both housewives and those who are interested in the issue of maintaining order in the house and in their lives like her approach. As proof of this, there are multi-million copies of the book, which are sold out like hot cakes.

• Marie Kondo Cleaning System
• Decluttering
• Cleaning KonMari
• Stacking KonMari
• Benefits

Marie Kondo Cleaning System

900 As a result, as the creator of the methodology promises, serious changes take place in the lives of its followers, a person understands what he should do and what he should not undertake.

Marie Kondo considers cleaning in two planes - spiritual and practical.

The spiritual side of the methodology includes the following aspects:

• Things should bring joy, not tire or annoy.

• Everything that appears in the living space is alive and feels the attitude of the owner. Therefore, things cannot be scattered, but you need to carefully fold, take care of them. Then the benefits from them increase, positive energy accumulates, and the service life is extended.

• Items that have reached the end of their useful life and are subject to recycling should be thanked as if they were true friends at a certain stage in life.

But no less important is the practical side of the technique. Order releases energy that will be needed to perform other tasks.

The principle of cleaning: get rid of what you don't need and find a better way to store what you need.

Another rule - "someday" will never come. Things should be useful here and now. It makes no sense to litter the space in anticipation of poverty, life's hardships, or for the sake of memories of the past.

Before putting things in order, Marie suggests asking herself questions:

• What should the living space look like in the end so that you want to return home?
• What are the activities for the landlord at home?
• Why is such an order necessary?

The answer to the last question is usually: "To be happy. "

The cleaning system was named KonMari, where the first letters of the author's first and last names are used.

Decluttering

Keep the things you really need at home

Decluttering is the process that begins cleaning the Marie Kondo Method.

KonMari recommends getting rid of junk in one fell swoop. After that, the person experiences a feeling of relief and enlightenment. The day when this event is to take place, let it become a holiday and a starting point from which another life will begin - in a clean house, with pure thoughts, with energy for new achievements.

Each member of the family sorts out his things himself, with the exception of children who still have little life experience. Relatives should not participate in decluttering. They will appeal to the senses, seeing how an expensive handbag or memorabilia is thrown away, and this will affect the result of the cleaning if emotions prevail.

At the same time, you need to focus not on what is to be thrown away, but on things that should remain. People surrounded by their favorite things become calmer, happier.

Read also: how to get rid of trash and unnecessary things.

Tricks on how to force yourself to clean your apartment if you can't get started.

Cleaning by KonMari

Here are the cleaning principles that Marie Kondo proposes to use for housewives.

Pursuit of excellence

Get rid of everything that no longer pleases

Other authors of tidying techniques advise not to be particularly zealous, but to start small. So, it is recommended to throw out unnecessary things every day. As a result, by the end of the year, the house will be freed from 365 pieces of garbage. Kondo, on the other hand, sets the highest goal - perfection. She believes that working half-heartedly, it will not work to put the house in order, so all efforts are directed to this. You need to deal with everything in a day. At least with one of the categories that will be discussed later.

Put everything away at once

People don't store similar things in one place. Usually they are dispersed throughout the house. Therefore, the method does not work when cleaning is carried out in one place - first in the bathroom, then in the kitchen. This leads to the fact that things only migrate from one place to another.

Throw away the unnecessary

The most difficult thing is to throw away the unnecessary. There is always a temptation to leave something for later. According to the methodology, you need to get rid of things that do not cause joy, do not give positive emotions. Things that were not useful before will not be useful in the future. If a person, as planned, has not made a bag or rug out of old jeans for a year, then he will never do this, because he does not want to.

Clean by category

Sorting is carried out by category. Start with what makes it easier to make a decision. The following order is recommended:

• clothes, shoes - the most liquid part of household property;
• books;
• documents and papers;
• miscellaneous - CDs, hygiene items, cosmetics, accessories, electrical appliances, kitchen utensils, provisions;
• items dear to the heart - souvenirs, gifts, photographs.

Throw away unnecessary papers - stickers, old training manuals, unused notebooks, expired warranty cards, instructions for devices and devices. Excess paper only clutters up the space. The same applies to books not read during the year. The Japanese suggest using gadgets for recording, using information from the Internet, online libraries. This not only saves space, but also conserves natural resources.

The most difficult category is memorabilia, as it is associated with memories and experiences. According to Marie, cleaning is not only cleaning the house, but also a way to deal with the past. Some things are stored by inertia. But they ask themselves the question: what are the memories worth if they are forgotten immediately, as soon as the "beacon" disappears from the field of view?

Ruthlessness towards gifts, even if they are useless, is not to everyone's liking. But, according to the Japanese woman, every gift fulfilled the function assigned to it, when it was handed over, it caused joy. If he is no longer useful, it is time for him to move to the trash can.

Used and out of order are thrown into a landfill, and not offered to friends, relatives: what's the point of cleaning when rubbish from one house moves to another, or worse, to the next room to a sister or brother. Memorabilia is often sent to parents. This is also not worth doing, since this box will most likely remain unpacked, therefore, its value is small.

We fold by KonMari

Keep things in their places

When you get rid of all the excess, you need to properly fold what is left so that you less often clean up the house.

It is recommended to store all items of the same category in one place. So, books are placed in a bookcase and nowhere else, clothes are in a wardrobe, etc. After use, they are put back in place. Otherwise, they will “spread out” around the house again and necessitate another decluttering.

All things are sorted into categories, and within a category - by size, color.

Clothes are stored in the drawers of the nightstand. Products are folded vertically, having previously rolled up according to the principle of sushi or folded into a rectangle, the height of which is slightly less than the height of the box, and strict rows are formed.

This arrangement has several advantages:

• takes up less space than in a hanger cabinet,
• getting things in order is easier;
• achieves maximum visibility of objects.

According to the method, it is more convenient to use chests of drawers with drawers for storage than wardrobes, and instead of partitions and organizers, use shoeboxes.

But this does not mean that clothes are not hung. Coats, jackets, dresses, suits cannot be stored in bundles. These wardrobe items are hung on the shoulders according to the principle: the heaviest - on the left, the lightest - on the right. The sequence is:

• coats, jackets;
• jackets, suits;
• dresses;
• trousers;
• skirts;
• blouses.

Bags are stored one inside the other, handles up. Out-of-season clothes are not hidden so as not to forget later about any item of clothing.

Organization and storage, video advice:

Benefits of

Keep organized

Those who have already used the system say that in this way they can get rid of half of the things and free up space. Another advantage of this technique is cleaning in one fell swoop, which eliminates the backlash effect, when delay returns to the original mess.

Marie Kondo's advice in her book is simple. And they are suitable for the inhabitants of our country. After all, the notorious "Khrushchev" buildings, which the townspeople complain about, will seem to many Japanese as royal mansions. Indeed, often the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun have to settle in 10 square meters.

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