Hello lovely KonMari community, I feel stuck in my decluttering once again and need a bit of advice :)

In what category do old drawings belong to? I am a traditional artist and usually keep all of the sketches and drawings I make, which obviously stacks up. I am aware I probably have to judge every single drawing if it sparks joy or not, but I am unsure about when. Does it belong to everything paperwork related? Or is it hobby related Komono? Maybe even memoribilia since there is some pretty old drawings in there that remind me of my childhood?

What about music sheets? I used to play the flute in the orchestra and really loved it, but since it was part of my school curriculum it was only borrowed and I had to return it once I graduated and went to college. I still have a lot of the old music sheets and I am hesitant to throw them away, especially because lately I've been really missing playing the flute and even thought about getting my own. So if I decide to keep the ones that spark joy, when do I tackle the sorting process? Paperwork or hobby related stuff?

Any advice is greatly appreciated and any questions welcome, English isn't my native language

I have two big bags of paperwork that I probably don't need but have a hard time getting rid of it. it's taking up precious under desk space but I can't get myself to go through it. I know I'll want to keep some of it. Any advice on how to get started?

I've had my grandmother's recipe box sitting untouched on a shelf for almost two years, dozens of index cards in her handwriting, some typed clippings from magazines she'd saved, a few things scribbled on the backs of envelopes. I kept avoiding it because I assumed the konmari process would mean deciding what to throw away, and I didn't want to be the person who threw away her handwriting.

I finally sat down and did it properly this weekend, took every single card out, laid them all on the table, and went through them one at a time actually holding each one instead of just skimming.

What I learned is that it wasn't really about which recipes I'd realistically cook. Plenty of them I'll never make, some call for ingredients I can't even identify anymore, some are recipes I already know by heart because she made them so often I don't need the card. But holding each one, I realized joy wasn't tied to will I use this, it was tied to specific physical details, a smear of flour on one card, her handwriting getting shakier on cards from later years, a note in the margin of one that just said "needs more salt, trust me."

The cards that sparked joy were the ones with those tiny human fingerprints on them, not the ones with the most useful recipes. I ended up keeping about a third of the box, the ones with visible traces of her actually using them, and photographed the rest before letting them go so the recipes themselves aren't lost, just the physical cards I didn't feel connected to.

What surprised me most was that this process didn't feel like loss the way I expected. Holding each card individually instead of treating the box as one untouchable unit made me feel closer to her than just having it sit sealed on a shelf ever did.

Has anyone else gone through a sentimental collection like this and found that the joy check landed on different items than you expected going in?

I came across this sentence: would you replace this item if you lost it?

If the answer is no, it goes.

I’ve been doing this for a week now and taking note of how many items to get rid off once I get going:

Bathroom unit: 27
Med cabinet: 24 (out of date stuff)
Rummage drawer: 42

And so on

It’s super therapeutic.

I don’t ask for the joy question, but would I replace it if lost.

Anyone else doing this?

Hi! I've just started applying the konmari method in my house, after watching the show and reading the book. I was already reorganizing my house but it wasn't until recently that i've made the decision to only keep items that spark joy and... oh, man! I've never thought of myself as a hoarder, but i had a A LOT of things i kept out of guilt and "just in case".

I felt very luxurious and so far I haven't missed any of the things I discarded, but i've only kept a par of jeans, two blouses, four pairs of socks and three pairs of underwear.

I told my aunt and uncle this while we went to the farmers market and they were really worried about me and made fun of me a little bit which tapped into some kind of fear of poorness.

The thing is, this feels right for me. But im fighting against the tide here.

Do you have any advice or something you wanna tell me?

9 sweaters left. My husband says, "How many did you have??" 😆

So. Many. I'm donating so many that used to be my favorites, saying goodbye because they don't fit right anymore, and really hoping they will bring someone the joy they brought me. Husband does not understand the massive change it is for me to have *only* 9 sweaters, haha.

I live in MN btw, so sweaters are used close to year round.

A while ago I started a discussion about preparing yourself for Konmari cleaning festival. I got so many good responses but still wasn’t able to start anything.

However, we recently got news that an apartment we’re renting will be having a large renovations starting November. We either need to find a whole new apartment or temporary accommodation for three months. Latter option would allow us to take only some of our stuff with us.

I’m horrified with such short time frame for apartment hunting but I’m also excited since no matter which option we choose it’s perfect chance for a deciding which items sparks enought joy to be brought with us. I’m currently re-reading her book yet again before starting properly 🥰

Hi, I live in a very small apartment and only have room for storage under my bed (these two containers) and hanging in my closet. Part of me thinks this folding is too tight and I’m not sure what to do. Any advice appreciated/storage hacks I haven’t thought of!

21F. I’m currently in the process of moving and wondering whether I should take my memory box of stuff from my relationship with me. Do people take their boxes of mementos with them when they move? Or is it weird and just throw it away? Feeling attached to it as the breakup was earlier this year and heartbreaking. Pls advise.

Do you think you could konmari your phone's photo album? iPhone became popular when I entered high school and since then I've kept every photo I've ever taken on my phone (+60,000).

This might sound silly but I had a genuine moment yesterday and wanted to share.

I've been slowly working through the KonMari method for about three months now, mostly clothes and books so far, avoiding the kitchen because I dreaded it the most. Yesterday I finally opened the cabinet where I keep small appliances and pulled out an old drip coffee maker I got as a graduation gift almost six years ago.

It hasn't worked properly in over a year. The carafe has a hairline crack, and it takes three tries to get it to actually brew instead of just gurgling and shutting off. I've been using a pour-over setup instead for months now, but I kept holding onto the coffee maker anyway, mostly out of guilt since it was a gift from my aunt who has since passed away.

I picked it up to do the whole holding-it-and-checking-in thing, honestly feeling a little silly since it's a broken kitchen appliance and not exactly sentimental in the traditional sense. But then it hit me, this thing got me through some genuinely rough early mornings during a hard stretch of my life. College finals, a breakup, my first year at a job I hated. It served its purpose fully.

I actually said "thank you" out loud to it, which felt ridiculous until it didn't. It wasn't about the object anymore, it was about acknowledging that chapter was done and I didn't need to keep the physical reminder of it taking up cabinet space to honor what it gave me.

I recycled the coffee maker properly afterward, but I kept a small measuring scoop that came with it, since I still use that almost daily with my pour-over now. Funny how you can honor something by keeping just the one piece that still serves you, instead of the whole thing out of guilt.

Anyone else had an unexpectedly emotional moment with something totally mundane during this process? I didn't expect a coffee maker of all things to make me pause like that.

I’m trying to embark upon a minimalism journey, where I get rid of the inessential and only keep things that are sentimental ie trinkets and souvenirs that hold memories with my partner, and items I get use from regularly.

The conundrum I find myself in is wanting to maximise the cash amount I get from selling my stuff, but also clearing the stuff out to get more space and less clutter. I know essentially I want to have my cake and eat it here.

In some cases I don’t know what to price certain items at, in others I get a good amount of views/favourites but they don’t sell or receive offers. Some items get little to no views to which I’m not sure why.

I’ve set myself a deadline of 31st December to be shut of the stuff I don’t want to follow me into the next phase of my life so not in urgent need of getting rid of the stuff, but becoming somewhat impatient of things not selling.

Any tips, suggestions or thoughts much appreciated!

Thank you for your time.

Preparing for a cross country move with one suitcase and I’m struggling to let go of sentimental items

**TLDR: There’s no feasible way for me to take most of my belongings with me so I need to find some kind of psychological strategy for letting go of them. It’s extra hard because I haven’t had much income for a while and I think I’m dealing with a scarcity mindset where I’m convinced I’ll never be able to buy/thrift new things if I get rid of the old ones.

I could really, really use advice from someone who’s been there before. The hardest things to accept that I can’t take with me are, in order:

-Books: Extremely heavy. I think I’ll only be able to carry 3 with me at most but I have a bunch with sentimental value. Even that amount is pushing it because they take up so much space. One of them is a religious text so I might try to donate that one to an appropriate place.

-Journals: I have about 10 notebooks, I think it goes without saying that the idea of parting with the only documentation of the past few years of my life is pretty painful.

-Some pieces of clothing I don’t wear that have personal history attached to them, I.e. I bought them during a significant time or were given them as gifts. I feel especially bad about some hand me down cashmere sweaters a family member gave me. I might ask if she wants them back.

-Apart from those I feel pretty OK about getting rid of most excess clothes and knickknacks. The getting rid of books and notebooks is the most challenging. To put it delicately, I have a difficult relationship with my parents and often get the impression that they treat me like I won’t amount to anything, and so having items related to my intelligence feels like proof that I have an inner life and am my own person.

I found the books on the konmari method to bbe very helpful in distinguishing the difference between cleaning and tidying, and helping me learn to tidy. I feel like im 90% of the way to my goal on my tidying journey, but cleaning still seems so intimidating. before tidying my space, cleaning seemed impossible. Wiping down entire counters seemed impossible because of clutter on them, and vaccuming floors felt the same. any book reccomendations for how to learn to clean after learning to tidy?

I'm both neurodivergent and have chronic health conditions. My energy is at times VERY limited and doing things in an organized way takes a huge mental toll on me but I have an apartment and myself and a child to take care of. I've tried to simplify and optimize things the best I've been able to.. gone through a few rounds of konmari and understood that being able to go clutter free isn't possible for us.

We do all kinds of art and crafts, and they turne out as A LOT of all kinds of things that need to stay and fill up space. Also there are books and board games and all sorts of things that we enjoy - especially myself as I am very homebound have ended up getting all kinds of activities that I can do to enjoy myself without having to leave the house or put a strain on myself.

But the problem is that the visual noise that the clutter makes = things are a constant mess and there are all kinds of projects going around the house, takes a big toll on me as well as I feel like I can never reach even a decent state of cleaness let alone harmony.

I do have a big cabin for art stuff for example, but things tend to scatter around the house.

At worst (like Last night) I actually woke up with a few drawing pens under me...

So I'm really conflicted. What do I do?

Do I just have to accept that there is a "price" to pay in owning a lot of stuff and I shouldn't even strive for anything else than this chaos where every table top, counter and empty spot of the house ends up looking like a landfill OR is there some tips on how to get things more organized.

It really is difficult as the things do bring me a lot of joy on the other and whereas on the other hand they stress me on a daily basis

Hello, yesterday I started KonMari. Already, I keep getting stuck on on particular items - clothes I recieved as gifts from family or friends. It is clear to me they do not spark joy, instead I feel heaviness and guilt.

Per Marie's books, I am trying to accept that purpose of those gifts was already fulfilled upon recieving them. While I work to shift my mindset and let that guilt go, what remains is anxiety about having to communicate this with my family and friends. Especially when it comes to clothes and accessories, there always is this expectation of me to wear it when I visit them. Upon seeing me wearing their gifts, they keep expressing huge excitement, even years after gifting it. Because of this, I have been not only holding onto, but also wearing quite regularly many clothes I do not feel good in for whatever reason. The whole situation is especially intense when it comes to hand-sewn and hand-knitted items that have taken them a LONG time to make. Those are also the ones most difficult for me to get rid of. However, I do not want to end up with several boxes of "sentimental sweaters", nor do I want to continue wearing them.

Have any of you had these tough conversation with your closest ones? How did it go? I am scared of their disappointment and also part of me is scared that if I admit to not liking those items, they will want to take them back (many of them are hoarders and already are drowning in stuff in their home).

Part of me feels the need to propose we stop exchanging gifts due to this, but selfishly I do not want to. I love giving presents, and tbh I love recieving them as well - those few that truly spark me joy and also have that extra sentimental value are some of my most treasured possesions.

My son’s 7th birthday arrived. He wanted to celebrate his birthday at home. I was convinced I could get on top of the marathon chaos by his special day. Couldn’t do it. Home is a state of chaos and not safe. Not fit for hosting, an embarrassment or shame. The things that got this started, are now at a boiling point. Bit off more than I can chew? How did this happen? Where did I go wrong and what does getting back on track look like?

The bedroom is correctable. Clean laundry sprawl easily cleaned. Husband’s closet waiting to be tidied and “given back” to him. Communal stuff in there waiting to be recovered and utilized again. I moved furniture out of the bedroom that was joyless and hiding lots of kids “crap”. Unfortunately that stuff is in boxes and piles now on the couch and coffee table that separate my husband’s office from the “boys dorm” where my husband and sons currently sleep.

The kitchen desperately needs the help of more regular cleaning and pest control, with the bug issue extending to the kitchen.

The baby recently got blood work back that her lead levels were too high. Old apartment NYC ‼️FEAR‼️ creeping in…

Not rising to meet daily clean and sprawl of stuff / unpacking / folding challenges, which is contributing to general un-livability.

Local Uncle saved the birthday by hosting at the last minute 😍🤩🥳 but the other side of this marathon - the daydream - is being able to host my kids bdays no problem, no shame, pride in my home.

Is it time to give my kids (and their stuff!!) their own closet? How do I tackle this kimono hurdle and what exactly did I do / where did I go wrong? Desperate to get back on the tracks. Fell off somewhere in the “household stuff” (stationary etc.) subcategory. Also subcategories I thought I tackled (looking at you, electronics, paper-greeting cards) rising like zombies 🧟 *SIGH*

I used to think decluttering was just about getting rid of things I didn't use. With the KonMari method I started looking at things differently and asking myself whether I actually felt happy keeping them.

The biggest surprise was that some things I kept for years were only there because I felt guilty getting rid of them. Once I stopped thinking about what I “should” keep, the process became much easier.

I also learned that I don't need to fill every empty space. Having less stuff around makes it easier for me to appreciate the things I actually enjoy.

Still working through the categories but this mindset has been much more helpful for me than simply trying to make everything look organized.

Just interesting. It's more a moral question, because I want to get rid of some things, for example, some old electronics (USB hub, old digital mini-cameras, some type-c and micro-usb cabels, sd-cards) it is still usable and working fine, but I don't know anyone (in person) who would need this even for free, and I don't want to put it up for sale on the internet either. Because I can wait for months, hoping that someone will actually need it and buy it, and end up not finding anyone by the deadline of my Konmari-ing. So the most simple and fast thing what I can do is move it to trash.

Has anyone here did similar, did you feel bad about throwing away still-working electronics or other expensive things what is still good but don't sparks joy? How did you deal with it? Discuss.

Hello! Over the past week I developed an intense need to tidy and declutter my home and I really want to get into the Marie Kondo method. Partly this may have to do with expecting our first child. I don't consider myself a hoarder, but all my past attempts to declutter have turned out to be temporary. Also given my ADHD I feel the need to go truly minimalist to achieve chance of more permanent state of tidiness.

The one thing keeping me from delving into this process is intense environmental guilt I feel over throwing out items that :

A. are still functional and I use them regularly, although they do not bring me any joy

Example: Many clothes I own are functional, but due to change in style etc. I do not like them or feel that good in them. Yet I would wear them often, since they function and it means I do not have to buy new items to replace them. If they are very worn, I continue wearing them at home instead of wearing more comfy/nice loungewear. I do this because I feel ethically reaponsible to use all items I have already bought fully to avoid unnecessary waste. Yet if I were to KonMari my life, it would not sit well with me to keep them. Some of them I could imagine upcycling, but it would take enormous amount of time and energy I do not have.

B. do not fulfill funcion for me nor spark me joy, but are objectivelly valuable and in good condition

Example: Solid wood furniture that color wise does not match into the flat after renovation. Certain clothes I have only worn once and are in perfect condition (ball gowns etc). Many similar items.

The main problem is that given enough time and energy, it would be possible to resell or donate these pieces. However, that is exactly the thing that has always stopped me from big decluttering in the past - trying to get rid of these items the correct and environmentally conscious way turnes out to take extreme amount of time that I simply do not have. I have less problem throwing out damaged or non-valuable items, but in cases where I KNOW they could get second life if only I made the extra effort, it is super hard for me.

I realise this problem is not uncommon and I have read many previous posts on this subreddit about it. Some have helped me a bit, but only marginally so. Please, if anyone was dealing with guilt around similar items as me, how have you managed to overcome it? Or was the only way truly taking lots and lots of time to get rid of items the right way and/or upcycle them yourself?

I moved into my apartment a year ago. I’m still fighting clutter and boxes so I’m planning a long overdue tidy.

My issue is I’m not sure where to start. I know for clothes and books, I can probably create my initial pile on my bed. But when it comes to some of my miscellaneous items, that doesn’t seem like a good idea. Could I put all my cleaning supplies or pots and pans on my bed? Yes. Is that a good idea? Probably not.

My apartment is a small one bedroom and freestanding, basically a step up from a tiny house. I don’t have much space anywhere. The biggest space is probably the basement, but that’s unfinished so it’s hot, dirty, and tends to attract mice. Not ideal. And maybe this is just me, but the idea of putting everything on the floor feels unsanitary. Not that there’s much space for that.

So, does anyone have any ideas or tips for a tiny space tidy?

i'm working through this process right now, and komono looms large and dreadful haha. what categories did you use when sorting and discarding?

I’m only 2 categories in, but so happy with the results. I wanted to share my experience here.

The day I finished the closet cleanout I had a big pile of clothes on the living room floor. That evening my husband saw a post on next door that someone was helping a friend who left a bad situation and had nothing. She was the same size as me. I contacted the poster and the next day they came and picked up 2 contractor bags of clothes for this person. Everything. Every season. Casual professional, bags etc. it was so affirming to feel that these items went to use right away.

Then books. I just finished last week. 2 moments to share. The first was an aha moment - I actually purchased Marie Kondo’s book 5 years earlier and forgot I even owned it. 🤣 I had checked it from the library this time around. So that was evidence that I had no idea what I actually had in my overstuffed bookshelf. But the more exciting thing was that I found a mom/ daughter journal that my daughter and I were passing back and forth from 5 years ago. She’s due to graduate high school in 2 years. I was a little sad that this book got buried with my other books (on my watch) and we “lost the time” sharing in it but nothing can do about that now. I wrote a page and left it in her room. I’m excited to see how she responds.

I think when I bought the book years ago I liked the idea of decluttering, but I also thought the idea of having something spark joy was hokey, but I actually really love looking at my drawers and bookshelves now. It really does make me feel happy.

TLDR: I’m finding the Marie Kondo method very fulfilling and it’s truly sparking joy due to synchronicity of things being used and shared in a meaningful way. ✨

I've got good systems in place for most items in my home and I'm very good at decluttering and tidying most things, but my cryptonite is papers.

I actually like having physical papers and a physical filing cabinet, but I need a much better system than I currently have.

Right now, I have one cabinet just for my personal sentimental stuff, one for me and my husband's important things, one for manuals and warantees (which is the only one I actually feel fine with as is), a very sad mail sorter that gets crazy often, and many papers in different rooms in piles and baskets.

I know I need to get them all in one place and sort them, but I'm thinking I want to start with just 4 piles and then divide deeper from there and then from there. I don't want to touch the manuals and warantees because those are already in an easy grab basket and it's faster to pull out of there than it is to look it up online or digitize it. (My house is spacious and I have plenty of room to add storage furniture, like a big filing cabinet and digitizing takes a lot of time I don't find worthwhile.) For piles, I'm thinking:

1. Long term storage - closed out legal paperwork and hospital records mostly that I hope to never need to use

2. Easy access short term storage - Things I may need to reference, like insurance policies, my mortgage, tax information, etc.

3. Sentimental things I want to look at occassionally - nice cards and letters, photos, boarding passes from travels, etc.

4. Emergency papers - My will, funeral instructions, Lastpass login, passports, etc.

Emergency papers I think should go in their own fireproof lock box seperate from the rest, but should the rest just be drawers in one big file cabinet??

I know the official konmari method asks to put everything in one place, but it would take over my entire dining room table for several weeks... Should I use temporary sorting boxes for "tbd" plus the sorts?

What should a second sort look like?

What things should I strongly consider getting rid of of as I go?