How to spring clean your apartment like Marie Kondo

Now that Spring is upon us, it’s time to spring clean your apartment till it sparks joy, just the way Marie Kondo intended

The Marie Kondo effect took the world by storm long before we were restricted to our home’s due to COVID 19, and it’s easy to see why. There’s something so exhilarating about reacquainting ourselves with the possessions that make us the happiest, and organising them in a way that sparks joy. With COVID-19 lockdowns become our new normal, it’s definitely worth taking the time to spring clean your apartment till it sparks joy, just the way Marie Kondo intended.

In this article, we drawn on lessons learned from Netflix’s “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” to help your spring clean your apartment with a focus on maximising on space and storage to enhance wellbeing and the time we spend at home.Here are 5 tips you can draw from “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” when spring cleaning your apartment:

1. Keep the things that “spark joy”
2. Re-organise your cupboard
3. Work with the space you have
4. Out of sight isn’t always out of mind
5. Change your habits to change your lifestyle

Keep the things that “spark joy”

Easier said than done, right? No one wants to be thought of as a hoarder, but the truth is with time, possessions do tend to pile up. Some may be essential, but often most of our household items may be impulsive buys or sentimental memorabilia that become harder and harder to ditch.

The trick to de-cluttering is keeping only what makes you happy, or as Marie Kondo says, “sparks joy”, and getting rid of what has lost its value or use.

If you’re in a strata property, you may want to check your by-laws and building rules about waste disposal before you spring clean your apartment. If there are usable items in a reasonably good condition, consider others who may benefit such as your local charity.

Re-organise your cupboard

One of the key recommendations of the KonMari method is folding clothes to suit storage space in a way that makes them visible and therefore accessible. By organising your storage spaces, it can save you time trying to find things. You may also consider using smaller boxes to separate the space in large drawers when spring cleaning your apartment.

Work with the space you have

It’s only natural to choose what you like, but it’s more practical to make choices based on the apartment space you have. You may want that spacious king-sized bed, but a queen-sized one may leave you with more space to move around without stubbing your toe. Also, lesser furniture and equipment means less cleaning and maintenance. Don’t forget to keep this in mind when spring cleaning your apartment.

Out of sight isn’t always out of mind

When spring cleaning your apartment, you may consider having alternate storage options outside your apartment for items that you do not use in your everyday life. This includes items such as extra books, children’s toys, sporting equipment, tools, family memorabilia, or items that “may come in handy someday”—they can be stored in the garage or rented storage spaces.

5. Change your habits, change your lifestyle

Being organised is never a one-time thing; it requires ongoing effort to make your life calmer and less cluttered. While spring cleaning your apartment is a great start, it’s important to continue this all year around.

In strata and body corporate living, multiple owners have access to shared common property and amenities and live in close quarters where you can often hear each other. It is important to adopt a lifestyle that is considerate of your neighbours. When it comes to cleaning, there are simple ways to respect the people in your building, including knowing where to dispose of your rubbish correctly and when it’s appropriate to blast the vacuum cleaner and your spring cleaning pump-up music.

To access our full range of strata resources or to stay up to date on regular updates, sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter. For a consultation to review your by-laws, our Kemps Petersons Legal team is at your service to assist. Or, one of our team members can assist you with a free assessment – it’s free and carries no obligation.