Clearing the clutter, important everyday items within reach and accessible, organizing with small boxes, it’s all good. I watched the entire series. I first thought the folding of clothes into small Bento Box-like sizes was crazy, heck, but now I am doing it. It is amazing how much space you save with this folding method and the best part is that you can see everything in one quick glance versus clothes piled on top of each other and the ones on the bottom never being worn. This folding method takes a little longer, but it is worth it. And the clothes folded this way unfold un-wrinkled.
The other huge take away is to get rid of stuff and only retain what you really want, like, and need. Marie refers to this as keeping items that “spark joy.” It’s so true. Those pants in your closet you always pass by for others? Just get rid of them. You’ll never miss them. The boatloads of kid gifts that float into the house all year long like markers (how many does a kid really need?), stickers, coloring books and—don’t get me started on this one: stuffed animals—let me just say these clutter-makers are going to end up all over the house and constantly need to be put back, yep, mostly by you—actually I didn’t even need to say that.
It is amazing how much we acquire in our lives in a given year.
One family on the show, the mom saved EVERTHING. Plastic bins contained two- to three-year old toddler clothes, toys, every year! She didn’t get rid of anything. You need to see this episode in which the husband reacts to her (come on, it’s hoarding) on one clean up day and just leaves the room saying he couldn’t deal. This was probably the first time he saw was really happening at the house. Boxes and boxes and boxes in the garage.
Something I wish was more discussed in Marie Kondo’s method is reuse (of things we normally through away such as cans and glass containers, both of which can be re-used in a variety of creative ways and given a new life), recycling, shunning the use of “plastics” as much as possible and, in general, being more aware of items you throw away—and not just dropping unwanted items into the garbage. Clothes you don’t want any more someone else most likely will. And that goes for everything you’re getting rid of that still could be considered a useful item or even taken apart for reuse.
I would recommend watching the series, it’s a relaxing and fun watch. You’ll be amazed at how much you pick up and start applying to your own life. Clean and organized just feels good.
—SBM
Single Busy Mommy 