KonMari 2020 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying

VJsmum

Morning - i have dipped in and out of this thread for years.  Kondoed my house about 5 or 6 years ago ( where did that time go?).  Since then the children both left for uni - and then came back one after the other).  They're here for the foreseeable future so there is a lot of stuff here again. 

So kondoing is now going to be ongoing (i am a poet and...).  Last wednesday we did a tip run with an old mattress that we'd kept in our large bedroom cupboard for when people stay overnight but was well past its prime and we have fewer staying now; some carpet remnants that we'd kept - god knows why; loads of bits from the loft (some old bathroom scales, an old laundry basket, caravan cushions when the caravan went years ago - why were we keeping all this stuff) and other stuff from the bedroom cupboard.  We'd taken the back seats out of the car and it was still full to the gunnels. 

The biggest thing is that DD, who is the untidiest and hoardiest of all of us, cleared out her bedroom 4 weeks ago.  She got rid of loads of stuff and her room looks fab for it.  Not only is it still tidy ( ) but she has also now done the same with the main bathroom that she and DS use.  She works at lush (currently furloughed still) so there were a LOT of pots with bits of this and that in (body lotions, shampoo, shower creme etc).  It's much easier to clean the bathroom now.

I still keep my clothes 'kondo folded' in their drawers.

PollyWollyDoodle

I think we joined this thread at about the same time, @VJsmum. I still keep my underwear folded, and rolling up scarves was a complete revelation, they fill a drawer but are so much tidier.  Stuff has crept back into other corners of the house though. Like many others I had a bit of a turnout during lockdown, and then haven’t been able to get rid of it.

Today I was at a loose end, I had provisionally agreed to help a friend with something but it couldn’t happen today. She said she had a few things to go to the charity shop, so I rang round to find one that was taking donations. 

Not only is our local hospice shop accepting them, but they also take small electrical items and, wonder of wonders, the manager informed me that they have a back door!  Anyone who has tried to park on a busy High Street close enough to get stuff into the charity shop will understand my excitement. 😀
 ‘How many bags have you got?’ she enquired ‘oh, three or four’ I blithely replied. Once I had carried everything downstairs (and I still haven’t emptied  the spare room) the boot of the car was filled ... and that was before my friend added another six bags!  I thought we would have to spread them over several shops, but I was delighted to find that the hospice shop accepted them all and we were even able to fill out a gift aid form.  We both agreed that we felt as if a weight has lifted off us when we left there. 
I’ve still got some magazines and books to go, and a printer which the shop wouldn’t take because she said they don’t sell. 

It’s inspired me to get back into Kondoing some of these areas again.  I am thinking of moving house next year, and the thought of packing everything really focuses the mind. 

greenbee

I've managed to get rid of the playhouse today, and a friend also took away a punchbag and associated bits when she came for coffee on Tuesday. I'm just trying to work out what else I can shift over the weekend!

Frugal_Freda

Pleased to be back reading your posts after a few signing in problems.  VJs mum's post  has reminded me I also have carpet remnants that need to go; although I suppose they are providing extra insulation by being up there

PollyWollyDoodle

Well it's been quiet on here ... perhaps we are all fully Kondoed and don't need this thread any more!  Except ... the clothing has all stayed folded/stored as I did it, and if I'm honest after the last year I have realised that I need far fewer clothes than I thought!  The bathroom, kitchen cupboards, books etc are still under control but I am noticing that mess is creeping back in.  Craft projects (unfinished, of course) and paperwork seem to be the worst culprits, and I am recognising that it's because I just don't have a place to put them.  Of course nobody has been to the house for more than six months, so there's been less incentive to tidy up but I am now (gulp) planning to put my house on the market in a few weeks, so an overhaul is due. 

I wish I had taken 'before' photos because I know my house is a lot less cluttered than it used to be.  My biggest problem at the moment is nowhere to donate stuff, I have a lot waiting to go to the charity shop.  Anyone else feeling the need to ReKondo? 

silvasava

Hi Polly, I hav'n't been on here for ages but I'm feeling the need to clear accumulated 'stuff''  in 2019 we knocked through from or kitchen breakfast room into the dining room and refitted the kitchen. I did manage to kondo the dining room suite but china and glass ware has been stored since then. I need to either use it or lose it!  I've got china from my mother's house stored in my loft and realised this week it's been there 20 years in November!!  I'll take photos and post on FB as some of it is collectable/ desirable. I have been sorting old paperwork. I save toilet roll holders and roll up the paperwork to stuff them as tightly as possible and they've been put on the woodburner. I've got a row of bags in the RoD for various charity donations and ragging etc.but must admit there's a lot to do.
Good luck with house overhaul! 

Igamogam

Has a new thread been started anywhere or are we indeed all done and dusted with the kondoing?

PollyWollyDoodle

No, I don’t think there is another one anywhere. In reality I don’t think we’re ever quite done and dusted with it, but I can see that the urge to post about it probably went away! 

I am so glad that I went through the process, because I know I got rid of bags and bags of stuff. Nonetheless, in getting my house ready for sale I have despaired sometimes at the amount of possessions I have!  I just keep reminding myself it would be even worse if I hadn’t done the Kondoing that I did back then. 

How about you, Igamogam? Have you kept it up? 

helensbiggestfan

I am going to have a rekondo this year.  😁

Igamogam

PollyWollyDoodle said:

No, I don’t think there is another one anywhere. In reality I don’t think we’re ever quite done and dusted with it, but I can see that the urge to post about it probably went away! 

I am so glad that I went through the process, because I know I got rid of bags and bags of stuff. Nonetheless, in getting my house ready for sale I have despaired sometimes at the amount of possessions I have!  I just keep reminding myself it would be even worse if I hadn’t done the Kondoing that I did back then. 

How about you, Igamogam? Have you kept it up? 

Fits and starts Polly! I have to say there is a 'net flow' out of the door although no fr**gle in my area and charity shops closed during c19 restrictions means it has been a slow process. I have made use of my local FB selling group though and the local general FB group and rekindled my relationship with E*bay to the tune of £900 in the last 12 months:). We also decided to rent a lock up which was to be for ' a few months' whilst the adult children came home from their disrupted 2020 world travels..........12 months on we still have lock up and 1 adult child and their plus 1 who have now secured jobs in the area for the time being. So the lock up has been worthwhile but cant wait for charity shops to open as there is a lot in there already bagged and ready to go. What is left we will bring back to the house and end the contract.

Biggest change for me has been the change in attitude to the possessions and 'stuff'. I can now see why things got out of hand at times but there is no point dwelling on it. It happened and now it doesnt. I have changed. If nothing else the last 12 months have brought a lot to be grateful for and that gratitude is not found in collections, things, possessions, stuff! I was never a MK fan but my underwear remains folded, my socks rolled and tea towels 'spa rolled' I haven't bought ANY clothes now going into 3rd year, accept some swim wear and new work trousers.

Ok off to do another mammoth E*bay listing push........aiming for 50 items by the end of the day