The KonMarie method

luxor4t

Judi wrote: »

Got lost under the sink in the cleaning cupboard this morning. Theres stuff in there i bought a long long time ago that i will never use.

Its all gone down the sink.... If you dont hear from me again, you'll know the fumes has sent me funny.:D

I did mine too. Not much fun but very satisfying to look at now.

Who knew oven cleaner had a 'use by' date?


We had three rolls of cling film opened - two are now taped shut. DH would buy it weekly if I let him ...it's a strange thing to get anxious about.




Edit to add: add me to the 'Love Story' cutlery club. Ex-DH's mother bought us a set of basics then intended to add extras each Christmas or birthday. We split up before she got to the fish knives.... he retained custody of the cutlery, even though he hated the design.

SpikyHedgehog

I've been reading through the thread for the past few days after thinking "What is this Konmarie thing that long thread is about?" and starting to declutter my house while waiting till my birthday (at the end of August) to get the book.

I wanted to say I can already see doors opening as a result of getting rid of bags of stuff - the cold tap in the downstairs loo wouldn't turn off last Sunday, so I called the housing association first thing Monday & said other taps are also hard to turn off (because we live in limescale land). The plumber couldn't come out till Friday afternoon so I learned how to use the isolation valve to stop water getting to that sink; when the plumber came on Friday, he changed the very annoying taps with no grips on for lever taps and we have an appointment to get the bath sorted in September. This will involve a much longed for turning the bath round so the taps are not tucked away in a niche you have to lean round the loo to get to, or if you are a plumber replacing the taps, taking the loo out to get to them...

I currently have 4 big bags to take to a charity shop, 1 big bag of stuff to return to my parents (mainly books), 1 big bag of hand me down clothes for middle sister's son, 1 small bag of toys for baby sister's son that go with the train track we passed on to him a couple of years ago, 1 big bag of textiles for rags. Oh, and 1 big bag of assorted recycling that won't fit in the recycling bin as that's been full for a week now. Thank goodness it gets emptied on Tuesday!

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

.... Overspill of me treating myself to chiropodist appt the other day, I mentioned DS1s badly infected ingrown toenail to him, he told me that he wouldn't treat him if he wasn't happy BUT ds1 was welcome to go round and chat to him. Being 20 I wasn't sure how that would go down, he's been suffering for 3 years since someone knocked into him on holiday and a wooden skim board landed on his toe. Various visits to the Drs have resulted in repeat ABs but nothing more. He came home from last nights chat, with his toe all cleaned up and dressed with special ointment that "is better than ABs" and an appt for next week to start treating the problem. It will cost £15 money very well spent I think. I honestly don't think I would have made my appt if it wasn't for kondoing so another good result for MK

I read this with excitement as DS1 has yucky big toes and the antibiotics from the GP haven't helped. Last time he went he & the GP discussed having the toenails off, but he won't be able to ride his motorbike or wear shoes that are practical in a kitchen for some time afterwards, so that really is the last resort or he'll have to be off work. Ex-husband had his toenail off earlier this year and it took 3 months before he was back at work.

PollyWollyDoodle

luxor4t wrote: »

Who knew oven cleaner had a 'use by' date?

it does? :eek:

I think I may need to revisit the cupboard-under-the-sink!

Goodintentions

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Anyway, don't want to depress everyone on what looks like a glorious day here in England's driest county, I'm going to alternate between garden and kitchen today as I can't spend too long in the sun.

Are you near me Polly? I am not sure which is the driest county, but it is definitely one of the driest parts of the country here

Well, I moved a lot of paperwork into the summerhouse onto the clear desk. I have emptied an old broken box file of various manuals, receipts, etc. Also found the guarantee for the woodworm treatment I had done when I moved in (still a few years left on the 30 year guarantee), and the house buyers valuation we had done. From the age of the receipts, this box hasn't been looked at in about 9 years. I didn't know it had anything in it, and it has been in my wardrobe!
I started to sort out the pile of paperwork associated with my dad's house, will, etc., but decided to call it a day as I didn't have the emotional energy (and it was very hot in there!). I found an envelope containing my step-mums birth and death certificates, and their marriage certificate. Do you think I should pass these on to my step-sisters and let them decide what to do with them? Do we need to keep these? She died in 1997, and my dad died in 2007.

Anyway, it was good to take the junk to the CS - shame we missed the wellies - they were still on the patio when we got back! Doh!

I need to crack on with some 'paid stuff' now - I use the term loosely. It is work related, but I am not getting paid for it! The joys of being self employed and working from home I guess!

Enjoy the sunshine everyone

iQueen

mavvymoo wrote: »

I had a local lady who trained with one of the big companies (dont know which) Now works SE as a style advisor she does colours make up personal shopping. The best thing was for me that she comes to your home and can see your lifestyle and help you see what works in your wardrobe and what doesnt.

I just googled style advisor in my local area and there were a lot to choose from.
Most have websites so you can get a feeling for them and then get your iTwin to also check them out and tell you what to ask her

She cost £140 but was here 3.5 hours Also she is sending me links on the types of clothes that she feels would suit me. To point me in the right direction also I have been asking her about makeup colours so she is still earning her money :rotfl:She told me she is happy to do this for how ever long I need.

So maybe really worth while to go down this route ( She will work with 4 people at a time and no more) I think she was Bl**dy good value for money and I would use her again if I needed to.

Good luck in finding someone just go with your gut instinct and you will not go far wrong

Mav x

Ah, mav, aren't you the lucky one on here - the only one (so far) with an iTwin! Although, you didn't really need my endorsement of your stylist! :rotfl:

Been wondering what accent colours you are wearing with your greys? I rather think burgundy, having seen your photograph! Or are you going for brights?

Thanks, GQ, for all the advice about clearing deceaseds' homes. Personally, I would want the 7 days in writing, from the Council/Housing Assoc.

I also understood that rent had to be paid after the grace period. The HB tip is helpful too.


Must go... daughter is due over anytime. :dance:

maman

grunnie wrote: »

My mum was in very sheltered housing and we were told we had to pay another month's rent of £1300 + ( can't remember the exact amount) if we didn't empty the room within a week. She rented the room with a fitted carpet but they ( Hanover housing ) ordered us to remove the carpet. The day before the funeral we OH and me both in our sixties were on our knees cutting up a beautiful carpet into bits to take to the dump. We cut it into stips 2 feet wide rolled it up and pulled it out threw the window. It nearly killed me and was more upsetting than the actual funeral. A very sad memory for me.

I had dealings with Hanover as executor for my aunt. She rented a flat and it had to be returned in mint condition So they're on a winner as it's the tenant (or family of) that is responsible so Hanover don't have to redecorate for re-letting. I'm assuming that if we hadn't done it ourselves we'd have had to pay for them to do it. Fortunately there were no money worries so we paid rent to give us time and the whole family chipped in to declutter, clean and redecorate. I remember us all there working together with the Charity shield match on the radio. My aunt, a keen sports fan. would have approved. So fortunately not distressing as your experience proved to be. I still have a number of inherited items from my aunt that give me joy.

PollyWollyDoodle

goodintentions yes I'm in the beautiful and much-maligned county of Essex although in the Western quarter; I think we vie with Suffolk for the claim of 'driest county', all I know is that the water butt is nearly empty again and the ground is like concrete!

If you're in touch with your step-sisters, yes I'd pass those on - they may never need them but if anyone's doing family research they might find them useful.

Grunny your experience sounds awful. There's enough to deal with after a death, without having the anxiety of clearing a lifetime of possessions. I bet in many cases the relatives just use a house clearance company. The seven day thing sounds very typical from the responses on here.

iQueen

What is it with younger people?

"We'll be round at 10."

Change of plan. "We'll be round at 11."

Me: I'm all ready, so do whatever you'd like to do, and come round when you want to. xx"

"We will take the dog for a walk and meet you at the restaurant at 12:30."

I've been ready since 9:45 - think of the kondoing I could have done, if I wasn't dressed up! :rotfl:

I'm off for lunch now - that will bring me joy... and no washing-up!

Floss

Re: clearing of homes after a bereavement... My mum died on the last day of the month & on a Sunday. Her pensions stopped that date, her rent was paid up 4 weeks ahead due to her HA doing 48weekly payments in a year, and me & 3 brothers cleared it to the accompaniment of the final Ashes test in 2005 on tv, with one of us always within sight or sound for the exciting bits!

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

My MIL has already cleared out her housing association bungalow in preparation for when the time comes. You would all be really impressed with the lack of clutter - and she has never heard of Marie Kondo!! She is in her early 70s and fit and well but having been through this with her own mother just wanted to leave the bare necessities behind when she goes.

Decluttering continues here. I have done DSs bedroom cupboard with his help, simply because we couldnt get anything else in it.. I will return to the proper list this week but I am just happy to put another carrier bag full of stuff in the bin, and another set aside for cs.