Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home and your mindset. And who better to guide you than everyone’s favourite organisation guru, Marie Kondo! At Hauss, we absolutely adore Marie Kondo – her tidying and cleaning methods have transformed countless homes and lives. If you’re contemplating a major spring clean, here’s how you can apply the KonMari method to make your space feel like new. Also perfect to use when it comes time to sell a property.
Tidying verse Cleaning – What’s The Difference
Tidying in the KonMari method is all about clearing your space, moving away from hoarding items that don’t serve you, working category by category ie Books, Vases, Sentimental items etc. While cleaning is about physically cleaning each room, tackling the tasks needed room by room. Here’s a guide to help you tackle what might seem like an overwhelming task, but will be incredibly rewarding once completed.
Tidying – The Six Step Marie Kondo Method
Commit to Tidying Up
Imagine how you’ll feel once your home is organised. This mental commitment is key to staying motivated.
Discard Before Organising
Be ruthless in getting rid of items that no longer serve you. This ensures you keep only what adds value.
Sort by Category, Not Location
Gather and sort items by category (like books or clothes) instead of by room to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Follow a Specific Order
Sort items starting with clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous, and finally sentimental pieces. This helps build decision-making skills.
Keep What Sparks Joy
Use the “joy check” method. If an item brings you joy, keep it. If not, thank it and let it go.
Designate a Space for Everything
Ensure every item has a designated spot in your home to stay organised and find things easily.
Transitioning to Cleaning the Marie Kondo Way
After tidying, focus on cleaning each room individually. Break the process into smaller projects and create a schedule to manage each area in your home effectively.
Here’s A Checklist To Help:
Bedrooms
- Wash linens and flip your mattress if needed.
- Vacuum or mop bedroom floors.
- Swap out seasonal apparel and linens.
- Clean window sills, blinds, and windows—both inside and out.
Bathrooms
- Clean shower, tub, and drain.
- Wipe down bathroom counters, mirror, and sink.
- Clean the toilet—both inside and out.
- Clean windows and air vents
Living Areas
- Launder curtains and wash or dry clean rugs.
- Dust electronics, light fixtures, fans, furniture, and decor.
- Clean window sills, blinds, and windows—both inside and out.
Kitchen
- Clean the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, stove, and any other appliances.
- Wipe down kitchen counters, cabinet doors, and handles.
- Wash any dishes, then clean the kitchen sink and its drain.
