The KonMarie method

out_of_debt_at_last

On misc now think it is called kimono, and have 2 bin bags full of paper waste, plan to go in the loft next weekend and following week! looking forward to it, I really need to get out more

GreyQueen

Greenbee, I inherited 19 cans of paint from an earlier tenant when I took over my previous flat. Tried the old shake and listen test to see if they were still liquid and ended up prising the lids off them.

14 out of the 19 were solid, a few more were dodgy and one of them was OK and matched the kitchen window frame, so I was able to freshen that up. But mostly a complete and utter waste of time.

I don't get thru a lot of paint as this place is so small that I was able to put 2 coats of emulsion on the bedroom, sitting-room, bathroom and hall and still have a third of a 2.5 litre can left.:rotfl:And I am NOT making that up. But the hall is mostly doors, anyway.

In another life when I was desperately poor, I was able to tone down revolting and strong emulsion wall colours by scrumbling a bit of white emulsion over them with a sponge. There wasn't enough to do a proper coat, you see. Then I was able to paint just the one coat with the proper colour.

I get the wood treatment I use on my allotment shed at the bootsales, usually Curpirn0l Autumn Gold. I think people buy it, take the top off, don't like the look of it, and put it back in the shed. I've had 2 unused tubs of it over the years for £2 each. I also see paint come up, might be worth a punt if cheap enough?

Bigjenny

GreyQueen I can quite understand why people don't use Cuprin0l Autumn Gold when they open the tin. Used it on my fence, its more like Dayglo Orange when it goes on, fades after a while though, fence is in back garden so only I can see it, still got half a tin to use next year, after that its brown all the way.

115K

I just saw this review of the book on Unclutterer if anyone is interested.:)

https://unclutterer.com/2014/12/08/book-review-life-changing-magic-tidying/#comments

DawnW

Has anyone else been horrified by the sheer quantity of things that they are discarding, whether to charity shops, friends and family, freecycle, car boot pile or the tip? I have always considered myself pretty anti-consumerist and frugal, but the number of clothes, bedding items, towels, kitchen utensils, general household stuff etc I have got rid of (or am in the process of getting rid of) is staggering. Much of this was either bought cheaply (for example from a CS or ebay) or gifted, but not all of it was :eek: A sharp lesson for myself to not buy ANYTHING in future unless I really need it! In a world where many have so little, it seems downright immoral and I am ashamed of myself :mad: The worst feeling of all is when I find items I didn't even know I had

And as for the paperwork mountain, don't even get me started :eek: Particularly scary, as I do actually go through this every so often and chuck a load out. Not enough, obviously!

I have read the book, and thoroughly enjoyed it (I bought it with Amazon trade-in money - books are another area that I have been working on) and it brings me joy so I will keep it . I didn't find the cultural differences a problem, as I have worked with Japanese people (and found them charming) - I could visualise a particular neat, pretty, organised lady I am still in contact with when reading it I must say I haven't gone in for all the folding, samosa-ing etc though , or at least I haven't yet. I didn't find the bit about carrier bags in the book, and minimise them anyway by taking reusable bags, or returning the Ocado delivery ones to the delivery man. The few I have go into a fabric sausage thing and get used for binbags.

I haven't posted much on this thread, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences

littlegreenparrot

GreyQueen wrote: »

Littlegreenparrot, I've had a thought about your banana boxes for underbed storage. What about making cloth covers for them, to stop fluff landing inside? This happens in even the best maintained homes as it is shed by the bedding. My underbed area has to be a very active storage space, so this is something I am well aware of.

You could use something like old duvet covers, cut out a rectangle just a wee bit bigger than the top of the box (plus seam allowance) then cut 4 rectangles to match each of the sides (plus seam allowance) and enough for a channel to run thin elastic around the bottom. Once assembled, you have a tailored cover which would hold onto the banana box.

Apart from some elastic, and a c.s. duvet cover is you haven't fabric in the stash already, all it would take would be your time, and it's straight stitching all the way.

Thank you so much for this suggestion, it sounds simple enough but would never have occurred to me. This week's lunch time plan is to start looking around the local charity shops for something suitable.

I have more to do, but I am already starting to feel a bit better about things around the house. Have to be careful though, its making me clean more regularly :eek:

rosie383

Anyone point me in the direction of how to fold jogging bottoms? I have googled but just find t-shirt folding everywhere.
You know the type with quite a thick elastic waistband and big elasticated trouser cuffs. I have tried to ranger roll, too thick. I have tried to samosa, again, too thick and bulky to work.
My clothes are fine as I have kept only what I actually like and need. It is my DH's clothes (double wardrobe stuffed) which are the problem. His football shirts and t-shirts are sorted. It is all of the other trousers and jeans (13 pairs of jeans!!).

rock_queen

It's been a busy week of slowly unpacking the boxes and sorting them out. I've finished clothes and books. Although I will have another go through them in 6 months or so when I've managed to save up enough to replace my wardrobe with things I actually like. I've managed to scale it down to the bear essentials to get me through the rest of winter. Books were relatively easy as I have spent the last 7 years training myself to scale back and only keep those that I'm likely to read again. I still managed to find some to add to the pile though.

I think the next job will be bathroom and bedding.

Frogletina

I had what was for me an early start this morning. Usually I stumble around gathering what I need - today was different.

Yesterday I had re-done my day to day wardrobe (short length) and had sorted items into tops, dresses, skirts, cardigans and what KM calls lounge wear. It contains 58 items plus one jacket - I also have two coats in the room which are hanging on the sides of a long mirror.

My underwear and tights were all together in a small drawer so that was fine then into the wardrobe to get a pair of trousers, a top and a cardigan.

Into the shoe and accessory cupboard where I took out my shoes and my hat and scarf.

Once showered, sprayed and clothed I picked up my handbag which also was in the bedroom and was able to leave the house.

Normally I have to look to see where I kicked off my shoes and left my coat, and my scarf and hat usually are somewhere in my main room - maybe on the sofa or dining chair but possible fallen under the dining table.

I still have a long way to go. I've been decluttering for some time now but have only just started on this method.

But this morning was a revelation.

I wish I was able to keep all of my clothes in my bedroom but it is just not possible. I have a two long length wardrobes in a second bedroom but that room is now being used by a house guest. I cannot keep going in there to get my coats so I have brought two of them into my bedroom - I am wondering if I have room for a coat stand in there but space is tight.

One thing that I have not done yet which she suggests is to remove things from your handbag when you get home. I do sort it out frequently but would find it difficult to ensure I had everything I needed in it if I emptied it every time. Has anyone decided to do this?

Justamum

My eldest daughter has nearly finished sorting out her room. Bags of rubbish and bags of clothes for the charity shop.

A couple of years ago I picked up a record player from the dump. I had visions of listening to albums like I used to in days gone by. I've hung on to a number of albums for decades, and I've also got cds. I don't listen to any of them and the record player is not even plugged in at the moment, so I've decided it's going back to the dump, and the albums and cds will go to the charity shop (I prefer listening to the radio rather than putting music on).

I've got a couple of dresses in my wardrobe which I don't wear as they are a little too snug fitting. I was hanging on to them for when I lose weight. However I've come to the conclusion that I'm never going to lose weight, so they are going out.