KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

oceanspirit

Hello and welcome stephnyc.

Whilst the folding seems a bit of a faff at first, the more you do it the quicker it becomes - I now even Kondo fold my pj's to put the under the pillow in the mornings as it's just second nature.

Try putting on some favourite music and having a bit of a dance around whilst you do it at first, or put on a favourite film etc - whatever floats your boat so it doesn't seem so much of a chore.

The other thing to maybe try is just 5 minutes here and there in between other things that you're doing which is how I did it at first, just leaving the wash basket on the bed until it was empty. I can now do a whole washload and it doesn't seem too onerous. HTH

Charis

I also find Kondo folding second nature now but I'd draw the line at doing it for older children or partner. Lead by example LOL. It's something you can't enjoy if you do it in a rush or unwillingly, but done more slowly it has a meditative quality. The challenge of making each piece stand up before putting it away gets easier, and more satisfying with time. Marie K talks about fabrics resting and I thought yeah, yeah, but surprisingly if you check a just washed and folded set of T shirts and knicks against some that have been 'resting' the latter are smoother and softer somehow. I also noticed that Marie doesn't mention the 'i' word in either of her books, although she's tiny enough not to wrinkle her garments. Lately I have been using the iron less regularly and for casual stuff it seems to make little, if any difference once the garments are unrolled.

luxor4t

Went back over the cd and dvd shelves, I didn't lift them all out but touched the top of each one.
A box full is now on its way to Zapper and £12 odd will be in the bank relatively soon.
DH decided "not yet" on some, which is progress from the "No!" he used last time


Oh, and two books fell into the CS bag!

GreyQueen

Welcome to new kondo-istas.

I fold kondo-style very rapidly. As others say, it does become second-nature and speed up. You also become accustomed to finding the sweet spot where certain garments want to be folded in order to make neat little packets. Also, the depth of the drawers they are going into will have a bearing; mine are only 5 inches deep so a folded garment can't be more than about 4.5 inches tall for there to be clearance for the drawer to run smoothly.

I find that casual tops are perfectly fine with a quick smooth and fold and don't need ironing at all. I presently iron almost nothing, as in may go from one month's end to another without getting the iron out at all. Can't see any difference in anything I wear and if anyone else has noticed, no one has remarked on it, in office or leisure life.

mavvymoo, mould is the curse of the overstuffed cupboard, isn't it? Particularly one with one side on an outside wall, as Mum's BDofD had.

Actually, when I come to think of it, I wonder how many minor health problems are caused by dust and moulds accumulating on and around excess belongings? And how we could be feeling physically as well as emotionally better for not having these things around.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold

And it even name-checks cluttered storage areas as one of the mould spots in the home.

Been working all day and will be having a meal shortly, then a little rest, then up to the lottie for a couple of hours. Weather's grey and chilly for time of year but not actually raining, and I have things to do.

Igamogam

stephnyc wrote: »

I would love some motivation or ideas to make this easier from all you Konverts! Thanks to all, it's a fascinating thread :T

How old are the other 3? Old enough and big enough to fold their own clothes? If so.............teach 'em or tell 'em you are not doing it anymore!!

springdreams

This was posted on another board, but I thought it suited this thread too:

mhoc wrote: »

Heaps of Stuff by Pam Ayres

How I wish that I was tidy
How I wish that I was neat
How I wish I was methodical
Like others down out street.
I tried to stem the rising tide
I tried to hold it back
But I have been the victim
Of a heap of stuff attack.

Yes, heaps of stuff come creeping,
They clutter up the hall.
And heaps of stuff are softly
Climbing halfway up the wall.
At each end of the staircase
Is a giant heap, a stack;
One to carry up the stairs
And one to carry back.

In a heap of stuff invasion
They settle everywhere –
They grovel on the lino
They tower on the chair.
You’re searching for a jacket,
“Is it in here?” you shout,
And, opening the cupboard door,
A heap of stuff falls out.

But heaps are many-faceted
And heaps are multi-faced
And what a heap is made of
Will depend on where it’s placed.
Now if it’s in the passage
It is mostly boots and shoes
And if it’s on the sofa
It is magazines and news.

If it’s in the shed
It’s broken propagating frames
And if it’s in the bathroom
Well, it’s best to say no names,
And if it’s in the bedroom –
Your own and not the guest’s –
The heap of stuff is mostly made
Of socks and shirts and vests.

For a heap is indestructible,
It’s something you can’t fight.
If you split it up by day
It joins back up at night.
So cunningly positioned
as from room to room you trek,
Increasing all the chances
That you trip and break your neck.

But step into my parlour
Now I’ve forced the door ajar;
I’ll excavate an easy chair –
Just cling there where you are.
And together we’ll survey it
Till our eyes they feast enough
On the tidiest home in England
Underneath the heaps of stuff.

springdreams

Igamogam wrote: »

How old are the other 3? Old enough and big enough to fold their own clothes? If so.............teach 'em or tell 'em you are not doing it anymore!!

I did this ........ now my 15 yo DS's clothes live in laundry / ironing baskets scattered around his room and in the bath :eek:

I am still holding out though, and refusing to pack them away for him. I do the laundry, and fold the clothing when it has dried. He is old enough to pack his own stuff away ... Just a pain to keep removing the baskets of clean laundry from the bath every time I want to use the bath. Fortunately we also have a separate shower

GoingToDoIt

Hi Kondini's
Kondoed a list of bay of e goods, it's taken me a while to get round to it, but still, the ads are live now so let's hope they sell and we can part company.
I'm still collecting boxes- it's getting silly now so they are all but one going in the recycling tonight. I need one for the sock drawer, and no more!
Had just a few items for the rag bag, and added a coat to the pile today. Not sure why it's taken so long for me to release - I absolutely hate it and it makes me angry! So glad it's gone.

greenbee

HUGE amounts of cardboard evicted from the garage today for recycling collection tomorrow. Recycling bin is full...

Large amounts of water parsnip and thistles removed from the garden (about 10 garden waste bags). I have more to do and need to mow as well once everyone has gone.

Kids room was sorted out just in time for their arrival. My room is still a tip (I have no clue where all the airers are going to live). My dad has put up the embroidered wall hangings (from Sri Lanka) on their walls. All curtain tie-back hooks are also done. If there is time tomorrow we might get some pictures up. Or at least some decisions made about which pictures are going in which rooms and where...

My office is a tip. which needs dealing with as i have a massive work backlog.

However, I also need to get the stream clear before I start my next round of work travel next weekend.

silvasava

Wonderful Springdreams. Pam always seems to hit the nail on the head in such a gentle way. Spent time in the garden today Kondoing weeds & spraying the fruit trees. I've done a little bit of sorting, but need to make decisions on where it can be disposed of properly. Think some may be on Fleabay when I can muster up the enthusiasm to take photos etc!