The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1)

by Marie Kondō

Human judgment can be divided into two broad types: intuitive and rational.

When you come across something that’s hard to discard, consider carefully why you have that specific item in the first place.

When you come across something that you cannot part with, think carefully about its true purpose in your life.

You’ll be surprised at how many of the things you possess have already fulfilled their role. By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order. In the end, all that will remain are the things that you really treasure.

To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that h...

If things had feelings, they would certainly not be happy. Free them from the prison to which you have relegated them. Help them leave that deserted isle to which you have exiled them. Let them go, with gratitude. Not only you, but your things as well, will feel clear and refreshed when you are done tidying.

The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell, is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life.

first category, clothing,

Tops

Bottoms

Clothes that should be hung (jackets, coats, suits, etc.)

Socks

Unde...

Bags

Accessories

Clothes for specific events (swimsuits, kimonos, uniforms,

Shoes

What things will bring you joy if you keep them as part of your life?

one heap,

take them in your hand one by one,

“Does this spa...

Place every item of clothing in the house on the floor

“Are you sure there’s not a single piece of

clothing left in the house?” Then I add, “You can forget about any clothes you find after this. They’ll automatically go in the discard pile.”

only exception is clothes that happen to be in the laundry.

start with off-season clothes.”

off-season clothes are not imminently necessary,

The most important points to remember are these: Make sure you gather every piece of clothing in the house and be sure to handle each one.

break the habit of downgrading clothes that don’t

thrill you to loungewear.

I strongly recommend folding as the main storage method.

By neatly folding your clothes, you can solve almost every problem related to storage.

When we take our clothes in our hands and fold them neatly, we are, I believe, transmitting energy, which has a positive effect on our clothes. Folding properly pulls the cloth taut and erases wrinkles, and makes the material stronger and more vibrant. Clothes that have been neatly folded have a resilience and sheen that can be discerned immediately, clearly distinguishing them from those that have been haphazardly stuffed in a drawer.

act of caring, an expression of love and appreciation

The key is to store things standing up rather than laid flat.

The goal is to fold each piece of clothing into a simple, smooth rectangle.

The number of folds should be adjusted so that the folded clothing when standing on edge fits the height of the drawer. This is the basic principle that will ultimately allow your clothes to be stacked on edge, side by side, so that when you pull open your drawer you can see the edge of every item inside.

fold thin, soft material more tightly, reducing it to a small width and height, and thick, fluffy materials less.

hang clothes in the same category side by side,

Arrange your clothes so that they rise to the right.

Lines that slope up to the right make people feel comfortable.

hang heavy items on the left side of the closet and light items on the right.

Heavy items include those with length, those made from heavier material, and those that are dark in color.

Never, ever tie up your stockings. Never, ever ball up your socks.

Lay the toes one on top of the other and fold the stocking in half lengthwise. Then fold it into thirds, making sure that the toes are inside, not outside, and that the waistband protrudes slightly at the top. Finally, roll the stocking up toward the waistband. If the waistband is on the outside when you finish, you’ve done it right.

arrange them on end so that the swirl is visible.

Place one sock on top of the other and follow the same principles as those for folding clothing. For low-cut socks that just cover the feet, folding twice is enough; for ankle socks, three times; for knee socks and over-knee socks, four to six times.

The trick is not to overcategorize. Divide your clothes roughly into “cotton-like” and “wool-like” materials when you put them in the drawer.

If you are planning to buy storage units in the near future, I recommend that you get a set of drawers

Remove all the books from your bookcases.