House a mess? Closet in disarray? Drawers full of unfolded (gasp!) clothes? Kondo and her smash-hit way of organizing, the KonMari Method, can help with any mess.
Here are the answers to the top KonMari Method questions:
What is the KonMari Method?
The KonMari Method is the brainchild of Kondo, a tidying expert, star of the Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The KonMari Method is a method of organization and tidying, which encourages people to tidy up their homes by category, rather than by location. For example, you wouldn’t hyper-focus on cleaning your kitchen with the KonMari Method—that would be by location. Instead, Kondo’s item-by-item approach follows a hierarchy: begin with clothes, then books, papers, komono (or miscellaneous items), and then, lastly, sentimental items. The main idea behind the KonMari Method is to ask yourself, each time you pick up an item: “Does it spark joy?” If the item does not bring you joy, then you are to discard it. If an item does bring you joy, you are allowed to keep it. When discarding items, the KonMari Method also delineates that you thank the item for its service and presence in your life. Then, you let it go.
There are six main rules to the KonMari Method:
The KonMari Method of tidying deviates from most traditional organization methods, which generally have you go room-by-room or little-by-little. While this may work for some people, the KonMari Method believes that a little-by-little approach can often doom people to taking a long time to get through their stuff. And most of that stuff? It ends up not going anywhere.
What is the KonMari Folding Method?
Perhaps one of the reasons people love the KonMari Method so much is that it is very particular, especially when it comes to its Folding Method. Yes, there’s a very specific way Kondo wants you to fold your clothes! The KonMari Folding Method has two main ideas: First of all, that clothes are happy when folded and secondly, the Folding Method is also meant to maximize space. Essentially, while using the KonMari Folding Method, you want to make the garment into a rectangle. Do this by folding the edges of the garment to its center, then folding them in again. That’s the main gist, but it gets even more specific when you go garment by garment.
What’s the KonMari Method Checklist?
The KonMari Method Checklist was designed to help wannabe-organizers get started. Actually, you may have seen a glimpse of it above. The checklist has five main categories—clothing, books, papers, kimono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. The KonMari Method uses this checklist of items, going through them in order rather than going room by room of your house. To make your way through the checklist, start with clothing. Once all of your clothing has been sorted—this is the part when you’re making a “donate” pile and a “this-item-sparks-joy” pile—and then folded, you can move onto the next category on the checklist: books. After books are sorted, then you go through papers. (This one can be a real doozy!) Then, there’s kimono, which just means miscellaneous items that don’t fit into any other category. Lastly, there is the sentimental items category. This is kept until the very end because Marie Kondo knows how difficult it can be to part with objects that have sentimental value. Since it can sometimes be the hardest category, it is saved for last.
How to fold clothes KonMari Method
Essentially, while using the KonMari Folding Method, you want to make the garment into a rectangle and kind of have it stand up. Do this by folding the edges of the garment to its center, then folding them in again. That’s the main gist, but it gets even more specific when you go garment by garment. For T-shirts, start with the garment flat. Fold the right side inward, then the right sleeve back halfway. Repeat on the left side of the garment, so that the garment’s shape is basically a rectangle. Fold the neckline down towards the hem, then fold in half, then in half again. The garment should stand, so that when it’s placed in a drawer or container, all of your folded t-shirts are visible and don’t lay on top of one another. Now, pants can be hung up if you’re working with the KonMari Method, but mostly, the method encourages folding. Lay jeans flat with buttons facing up. Fold the left leg onto the right, then fold in the crotch. Fold the ankles inward once, then fold inward from the bottom, kind of rolling the jeans until they stand upward. For socks, place the socks on top of one another. Fold the toe up under the ankle. Fold in half, then in half again, so that the socks stand up. For underwear, start with laying it flat. Pull the crotch to the waistband lengthwise, then fold the sides in creating a square. Take the crotch to the waistband again, so that the underwear stands up.
What to do with all my stuff after completing KonMari Method?
That’s a great question, especially since the KonMari Method has gotten a bit of flack about promoting a “get rid of it” culture. Sure, a “hold-onto-it” culture isn’t great either—especially if you’ve got a hoarder on your hands—but the problem with purging a lot of belongings like clothes and accessories is that there aren’t many places for it to go. Some people may want to tidy their home, but at the expense of the environment. Most clothes and accessories can end up in the landfill, and that doesn’t spark joy for anyone. So, what can you do with all your stuff after completing KonMari? Well, first things first, you can donate clothes and other accessories. Check out your local Salvation Army, hospital or church to see if they are accepting donations. You can also sign up for a website like thredUp or Poshmark, which are like online consignment stores that allow you to sell your clothes. Some brands like Madewell, Aerie and The North Face even have give-back programs. At Madewell, you can bring back gently-worn jeans (of any brand) and they’ll be recycled into new jeans. At Aerie, you can bring in a gently-used bra (of any brand) and get 15 percent off your next bra, and at North Face, their Clothes the Loop program accepts unwanted clothing and footwear. In return, you’ll get a $10 coupon towards a purchase of $100 or more.
How to fold sheets KonMari Method
Nobody likes folding sheets—especially fitted sheets—but the KonMari Method breaks down folding sheets in a pretty palatable way. To start, fold your sheet (fitted or otherwise) into thirds. Next, fold it in half, then fold it in half again. Now, if you’re storing your sheets in a linen closet, you can stop the folding process here. However, if your sheets are going in a drawer, they’ll likely need to be a little smaller. In that case, you’ll fold it in thirds one more time, stand it up, and store it in the drawer that way.
How to fold clothes KonMari Method
T-Shirts: Start with the garment flat. Fold the right side inward, then the right sleeve back halfway. Repeat on the left side of the garment, so that the garment’s shape is basically a rectangle. Fold the neckline down towards the hem, then fold in half, then in half again. The garment should stand, so that when it’s placed in a drawer or container, all of your folded t-shirts are visible and don’t lay on top of one another. Pants: Lay jeans flat with buttons facing up. Fold the left leg onto the right, then fold in the crotch. Fold the ankles inward once, then fold inward from the bottom, kind of rolling the jeans until they stand upward. Socks: Place the socks on top of one another. Fold the toe up under the ankle. Fold in half, then in half again, so that the socks stand up. Underwear: Start with laying it flat. Pull the crotch to the waistband lengthwise, then fold the sides in creating a square. Take the crotch to the waistband again, so that the underwear stands up.
How to fold leggings KonMari Method
Sometimes folding activewear can be particularly difficult. But don’t worry, Kondo has a folding method for even the trickiest of clothes, too. To fold leggings, start by folding the left leg over the right leg. Now take the ankle and fold it up to the top of the leggings. Fold it thirds, then again, and stand the leggings up vertically inside a drawer or container.
How to fold jackets KonMari Method
To fold a jacket, sweater or hoodie, start with the garment flat and facing up. Fold the jacket in thirds, starting with the left sleeve of the jacket. Fold the sleeve over and down. Fold the right side of the jacket into the middle, next folding the right sleeve over and down. (The garment should now be in a rectangle.) Fold the top of the garment into the middle of the garment, in thirds. Then, fold it again down to the hem. Stand the item up vertically in a drawer or container.
How to fold scarves KonMari Method
Especially during the winter time, scarves can be one of the bulkiest items to fold up and store. To fold a scarf in the style of KonMari, start by laying the scarf flat; the tag should be facing it up. Fold it across lengthwise, long end to long end. Now, fold it into thirds. Then, fold it into thirds again. The scarf should be in a rectangle. This is the easiest part of all: Simply roll the scarf from one end to the next. Store your scarves rolled.
How to fold comforters and bedding KonMari Method
Now, we already tackled folding sheets in the KonMari Method but other forms of bedding can also be tricky to fold as well. Once you’ve got the sheet down, though, folding a comforter or duvet cover should be a breeze. To start, fold your comforter into thirds until it becomes a rectangle shape. Next, fold it in half, then fold it in half again. Depending on how you’re storing your comforter or duvet, you might be done here. However, if you need your comforter or duvet to be folded even smaller, you’ll want to fold it into thirds one more time.
What do you fold vs. hang up on KonMari Method?
In the KonMari Method of tidying, the main concept is folding. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t hang up anything if you’re trying to do the KonMari Method. While following the KonMari Method, most clothes will be folded and then stored vertically. This is to ensure that you can see all of your items of clothing in your drawers. Folding this way will theoretically give you more room in your drawers and also ensure that no items of clothing are hidden underneath other items. Now, when it comes to choosing which items get hung up, you’ll likely want to hang up heavier pieces like coats, jackets, and blazers. Other items that could be hung up in a closet include lighter, airy blouses that would not fold easily. According to the KonMari Method, when organizing a closet of hung-up garments, you should focus on organizing the closet to the right. What this means is your heavier and longer garments (jackets, coats, tunics, dresses, long skirts, blazers, etc.) should be hung on the left side. As your clothes travel gradually to the right side, they should get lighter and shorter.
How long does KonMari Method take?
You can Google how long the KonMari Method takes, but you’ll never find a true-blue answer. Unlike other organizational methods, Kondo doesn’t rush her clients into a specific time frame, especially if they are dealing with a lot of sentimental or emotional items. Executing the KonMari Method takes as long as the amount of time you dedicate to it each day. While it may take a day if you’re a speed organizer who doesn’t have an issue letting go of stuff, it could also take you months to sort through your belongings appropriately. Of course, another factor in the timeframe is just how much stuff you actually own!
How to get certified in KonMari Method
According to KonMari.com, it’s possible to become certified in the KonMari Method. In order to become a certified KonMari consultant, you must attend a Consultant Certification Course, practice tidying with two individual clients, and also take a written exam. But there’s more to it than that. There are seven main steps in becoming a certified consultant. First, Kondo recommends reading her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The next step is you, yourself, tidying up your home. After tidying, you are to submit pictures of your tidied-up home for verification. Next, you’ll have to take the Consultant Certification Course, which includes lectures, group discussions, and question-and-answer sessions. After completing a Consultation Certification Course, the next step is to join the online community. In order to be accepted into the Facebook Groups, you need to have completed the Certification Course. Step Five is submitting tidying reports. You’ll need to conduct at least 10 practice sessions—which roughly translates to about 30 hours of tidying for clients—in at least two clients’ homes. After tidying these two clients’ homes, you’ll submit reports in the KonMari Method order. Next comes an online assessment exam that challenges you with real-life scenarios and concepts that you may endure or have learned throughout the program. Lastly, Step Seven is applying for certification. You will sign the KonMari Consultant contract, then pay an annual membership fee of $500 to activate certification. Congratulations—you’re a KonMari Certified Consultant! For more information on how to become a Certified Consultant, check out the website here. Want more Marie Kondo inspiration? Here are 101 inspiring Marie Kondo quotes about organizing, decluttering and gratitude!
