Tidiers, we are halfway through our 8-Week Tidy Challenge! This week we’re taking on komono, a.k.a. miscellaneous items, a wide-ranging category with a reputation for being tough. But fear not – take stock of how far you’ve come and use joy as your north star. You’ve got this! Keep your smartphone handy to document your progress – and tag #mykonmari on social so we can cheer each other on.
Day 29: Sort Komono Into Sub-Categories
Komono is a large category – it’s best to tidy by sub-category so you know how much you have in each group. Today, gather all of your miscellaneous belongings in one place – everything from office stuff and athletic equipment to scented candles and sewing supplies. Pile like with like.
Day 30: Tidy Equipment, Supplies & Electronics
Today, focus on the functional items you use regularly – from cleaning supplies and office accessories to the cables and cords that keep you connected. And don’t forget the fun stuff that supports your favorite hobbies – like tennis balls, snowshoes, origami paper and ikebana flowers frogs.
Day 31: Tidy the Kitchen – and Cook!
Kitchen komono encompasses everything from spices to the spice rack. Start with storage containers and appliances. Take this opportunity to wipe down cabinet shelves, clean inside drawers and spruce up the fridge. Then move onto foodstuffs and discard any expired items from the pantry and refrigerator. Use any produce that needs to be eaten soon and set aside leftover vegetable scraps to make a nourishing broth – Marie’s go-to recipe is below.
Simple Vegetable Broth
Ingredients
- 1 lb of vegetable peels and scraps, including onion skins and carrot tops. You can store these in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
- 4 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of Japanese cooking sake
Instructions
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- Place ingredients in a pot and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes on low heat.
- Remove from the stove and strain.
- Keep in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to six months.
Day 32: Tidy Bedding, Bath & Beauty Supplies
Today, tidy all of your linens and bedding – including those you don’t use regularly. If you frequently host visitors, it’s worth having extra sets of sheets and blankets on hand; otherwise, these items take up a lot of room. Bedding stored indefinitely often smells of mildew – you wouldn’t want to let guests use it anyway! Take a whiff and tidy accordingly. After bedding, move on to bath and beauty supplies: This sub-category includes all your lotions, potions and soaking salts. Discard any products that are expired or past their prime.
Day 33: Tidy Tools
Depending on how handy you are, today may be easy or daunting. Whether you have a garage full of tools or a drawer with a few loose nails and a hammer in it, follow the usual steps:
1) Pile everything in one spot.
2) Keep items that spark joy.
3) Store like with like.
Day 34: Turn Tidying Into a Game
If you’re tidying with others – especially kids – make it playful. See who can sort through their items the fastest or repurpose an object into something that sparks joy. If you’re tidying on your own, celebrate with a relaxing bath or a foot soak in your tidied bathroom. Tidying is a long process, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun!
Day 35: Tidy Digital Files
In “Joy at Work,” Marie’s book on organizing your professional life, she and her co-author offer advice on how to tidy digital data – from files and emails to apps. Today, tidy digital komono by sub-category; as you determine what to keep and what to delete, use joy and necessity as your criterion – your banking app might not give you a thrill of delight, but you should keep it if it helps you stay on top of your finances.
Way to go – you just completed komono! By now, you’ve really honed your sensitivity to what sparks joy; get ready to flex your tidying skills on next week’s category: sentimental items.
It’s not too late to join the fun – visit our 8-Week Tidy Challenge.
