People around the world are obsessed with this household decluttering method (2024)

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This might be what your bedroom currently looks like right now. To start "kondo-ing," put all of your clothes in one spot and sort them by what to keep and what to throw away.

Oh what trouble we get into, late night. May the purge begin and may it end in less chaos. #prekonmariclothing #konmarimethod #longnightahead This mess consists of: one closet, three dressers, and two large storage containers all full of clothes plus three additional smaller containers -one swimsuits, one UK gear, and one full of scarves,hats, and gloves. Talk about overwhelming.

A photo posted by Kaitlin Patterson (@kaitlinshawn) on Jul 7, 2015 at 9:10pm PDTJul 7, 2015 at 9:10pm PDT

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The point of kondo-ing your home is to surround yourself with things that you love. Kondo recommends only keeping things that "spark joy," or that make you feel lighter when you touch them. She says you'll recognize the feeling immediately.

Thanks to my beautiful little sister @planettaylarose I am on a cleaning/discarding/decluttering spree this week! Am finding it hard to understand WHY I have soooooooo much stuff in the house that I don't really like, need or want! #konmarimethod #wintercleaning #throwitout #donatetoanewhome #clutterfree

A photo posted by Ashlee (@ashy_m1987) on Jul 5, 2015 at 11:56am PDTJul 5, 2015 at 11:56am PDT

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That means you'll probably end up throwing out or giving away a lot of what's in your home.

How did 6 trash bags make it on Instagram? The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up that's how. It was a solid reminder to not keep things you don't need. So these 6 trash bags are filled with my clothes. They're clothes that I kept around because they fit into the business casual spectrum but I never wore, were pilling but I never got rid of them, said the University of Wisconsin and I didn't have the heart to part with them. I think that last part spoke volumes. I love Madison and loved my experience there. Living in the military, I don't think I get overly attached to things or clothes but anything from Madison and I just hold it dear. Those love of memories let me hold onto sweatshirts that have gone through so many laundry cycles and UW attire that when put on, made it look like I was working for tips at a campus bar. So I took the time today to separate them. I kept a few but in a separate pile from my normal clothes so that I could make Theta and UW quilts. While I think some aspects and stylings of the author did not fit my personality, I do recommend taking out all of your clothes and going through each piece. I went through my clothes twice and each round brought out more clothes. I'm ready for exciting new things and hopefully opportunities to get NEW Wisconsin apparel 😊 #littlefierceblog #konmarimethod #lifechangingmagicoftidyingup

A photo posted by Kimberly Erskine (@kimberlyersk1ne) on Jul 12, 2015 at 3:21pm PDTJul 12, 2015 at 3:21pm PDT

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Kondo says she's seen clients get rid of as much as 200 trash bags filled with clothes.

Day 1 result of reading #konmarimethod Japanese art of tidying up... #cleancloset

A photo posted by Stacey D. Atkinson (@staceydatkinson) on Jul 12, 2015 at 12:14pm PDTJul 12, 2015 at 12:14pm PDT

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The organizing expert has a specific way of folding shirts so they can stand on their sides. She said it allows you to see what you own better than if you stacked your clothes.

Had to see what all the fuss was about...#konmari #sparkjoy #iamaconvert #murphobrien appears dubious

A photo posted by Suzanne (@sobrien) on Jun 29, 2015 at 3:03pm PDTJun 29, 2015 at 3:03pm PDT

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Kondo also recommends folding socks and standing them on end instead of rolling them into balls.

#KonMariMethod

A photo posted by Jordana Zeldin (@jordanazeldin) on Jul 11, 2015 at 1:18pm PDTJul 11, 2015 at 1:18pm PDT

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It's important to have a place for everything, according to Kondo, so that when you come home, you will put things immediately back in their spot.

Cada coisa no seu devido lugar... Inspiração pra semana... #mariekondo #caixas #organizacao #casa #home #imoveisavenda #decoração #ximenes

A photo posted by Silvio Ximenes Imóveis (@silvioximenesimoveis) on Jul 13, 2015 at 2:53am PDTJul 13, 2015 at 2:53am PDT

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After you've finished sorting your clothes, Kondo says to tackle your books, documents, miscellaneous items, and mementos, in that order.

#postkonmaribooks #konmarimethod #declutter #lifechangingmagic #tidyingup

A photo posted by Nichole (@nicholecarbs) on Jul 9, 2015 at 3:59pm PDTJul 9, 2015 at 3:59pm PDT

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Eventually, your book case could look this orderly.

#kondoed my #bookshelf

A photo posted by Hege Wiik haukeland (@hegewhauk) on Apr 3, 2015 at 5:17am PDTApr 3, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

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After you're done organizing, you'll realize you have a lot more room for storage than you previously thought. Your home, Kondo says, will feel much lighter.

#postkonmariclothing @konmari_method. I can't believe I did this. I can't believe this was me. 10 hrs, and still so much work to do - but what a joy. Just looking at this makes me joyful. #konmarimethod #mariekondomethod #tidyingup

A photo posted by Andrea (@thefoxandbee) on Jul 6, 2015 at 9:05am PDTJul 6, 2015 at 9:05am PDT

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And once you learn to tidy up the Kondo way, she says that you'll never go back to being messy.

Simplified living room. I have a bunch of books and tchotchkes to donate. Truth be told, I've felt sick and feverish all morning, but I swear working on this project allowed me to sweat out most of the gross. #endlesscottage

A photo posted by Daena (@endlessweekend) on Jul 12, 2015 at 10:02am PDTJul 12, 2015 at 10:02am PDT

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"Working in this order, you can improve your judgement and determine which items spark joy," she told Business Insider.

A blank canvas. What a relief! Finally, everything has it's place. I ❤️ organizing for others, but wow does it take me forever. But I only have to do this type of #organizing once. The beauty of #MarieKondo way -- only after knowing what one has, can one assign a place for everything. It helps me tremendously to somewhere label on each drawer/shelf what belongs there--then I don't have to think about it again--it's just a technique that soothes my easily addled brain 😇. Whew! Now to pick up from wherever I was before this move . . . xoxo Jane

A photo posted by The Quote Lab (@jane_c_dolan) on Jul 12, 2015 at 8:43pm PDTJul 12, 2015 at 8:43pm PDT

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Tidying up all at once the Marie Kondo way could even have a positive effect on your body, she said.

Throwing sh*t away, prompted by the book "The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying." Feels gooood 💃

A photo posted by Lindsay Norman (@lindsaypnorman) on Jun 19, 2015 at 12:29pm PDTJun 19, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT

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She said some of her clients' acne cleared up while others lost weight. "Your self perception is improved by living in a clean and neat room," Kondo told Business Insider. "This can change lifestyle and in turn appearance."

Used the #kondomethod to declutter my kitchen and it feels so much calmer, bigger and happier. 😊 #kitchen #homedecor #minimalism

A photo posted by Melissa Carr (@meliss604) on Jun 8, 2015 at 11:37am PDTJun 8, 2015 at 11:37am PDT

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Now go forth and "kondo."

@Regrann from @embleyandyewbert - #konmari #konmarimethod #organizing #tidying #truth #Regrann

A photo posted by Karen (@thebrokenbird) on Jul 3, 2015 at 8:52pm PDTJul 3, 2015 at 8:52pm PDT