When Marie Kondo published her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and debuted her own Netflix original, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, she became an instant hit. And it’s no wonder why.
Forget the overly complicated rules of cleaning and decluttering, Kondo’s decluttering technique only has 6 simple rules one needs to implement to keep your house – and by extension, your life as a whole – in order. In addition to the streamlined process, the other reason why the KonMari method has been so appealing amongst the masses is its claim to only need one tidy session to attain lasting results – provided if you do it properly.
If you’ve been wondering what’s behind the rave of the KonMari method, or simply wish to have another general cleaning technique in your repertoire, here’s what you need to know about the Marie Kondo technique!
The Mechanics Behind The KonMari Method
The KonMari method is a systematic cleaning technique that requires you to break down the process into 5 simple steps.
1. Having Vision
One starts with a vision – a vision of your ideal home, lifestyle and version of yourself in general. This very vision will be the end goal that you’ll be making the efforts towards, once you’re done with “tidying festival,” as what Marie Kondo likes to call it.
2. The 5 Categories
Next, you’d want to separate your items into 5 categories: clothing, books, paper, komono (Japanese for miscellaneous items), and sentimental items.
Unlike other traditional cleaning approaches, KonMari looks at cleaning based on categories, not locations. The reasoning behind this approach is rather simple: each location houses items from each of the 5 categories. For instance, you may be done cleaning your bedroom, but there’s still a heap of clothing to sort out in the other rooms as well – and you’ll quickly find yourself back to where you started. As such, delegating your cleaning tasks based on categories will ensure a seamless and more effective cleanup.
3. Discarding All That Don’t Spark Joy
So, start by discarding all that you no longer have use for. Do this whilst cultivating a sense of gratitude for the item and all that it has done for you. Ruminating about each item allows you to reflect on how you’ve lived so far and how it’ll change moving forward.
4. Following The Right Order
Once you’re done with discarding all that don’t spark joy, it’s time to clean up. It’s important that you note the order in which the tidying process must be done. You’ll want to start with your clothes first as not only is it relatively easy compared to the other items, it also provides tangible proof of your efforts. Being greeted by a tidy closet is sure to give you a perk me up early in the morning!
Once you’re done, do the same to the other categories on the list.
5. Delegating Permanent Spots
Once you’re done discarding and sorting all items, the last step requires you to dedicate specific areas for each item you plan to keep. Instead of merely dumping all your stationaries in a single drawer, you’ll want to compartmentalise the area so that you can find and keep a particular item with ease.
Can You Declutter Everything Within A Day?
In most cases, conducting a thorough spring clean to wrap up all your household chores can take longer than a day. Unless you own little items from the get-go, the entire decluttering and tidying process will take a few days. Don’t be too disheartened when you can’t wrap it up in a single day – just keep the vision of your future home in your mind’s eye and diligently work through the mess!
Note that decluttering and tidying your home is only one of the few elements that make up a tidy home. You’ll also need to thoroughly clean and disinfect your home with the proper cleaning tools and techniques to truly enjoy a home that sparkles and shine.
Now, paired that with decluttering and tidying, maintaining a clean home can be rather challenging and cumbersome. If you don’t have the time to clean your home, or simply don’t wish to, we can do the job for you! As a professional cleaning company in Singapore, we are equipped with the practical know-how and experience to ensure that your home is spick and span, all whilst you take your well-deserving break! So don’t hesitate and call us now!