Americans are cleaning house, thanks in part to Marie Kondo, author and the world’s newest television tidying expert. Kondo makes the case that traditional methods of cleaning room by room are futile.
Unnecessary belongings are moved first to corners, then to closets, spare rooms, and eventually to garages and storage units. As a result, with traditional housekeeping methods, we are always cleaning.
Her KonMari Method is different, she claims, because it involves gathering all belongings to sort by category: clothing, books, papers, Komodo (kitchen, bath, and garage), and sentimental objects. Possessions that do not spark joy or are no longer useful are thanked and discarded. Items and clothing not discarded are stored neatly, and sentimental belongings are gracefully displayed.
Kondo says if you follow her steps and organize your home and office all at once, you won’t have to do it again.
But many people do not know that this act of disposing of large amounts of clothes, books, and household items all at once also has a hidden tax benefit.