Room Tidy organized life can bring peace of mind

As a mother of a toddler and a baby stay home Tayloe McKenna is his daily routine not leave much time for cleaning.

"My house is just one example of Zen, the simplified life, especially with small children," the 33-year-old resident of South Baltimore said said. "We have to be a messy house with three bedrooms and between toys and clothing, our rooms."

Eager solutions McKenna extracts a copy of the library of a new popular book, "The Magic altered Storage Lifetime: The Japanese art of decluttering and organization" by Marie Kondo.

Kondo, cleaning consultant based in Tokyo, was designed to help customers transform their dirty places, spaces "serenity" and "inspiration" what he did.

The book, which is compact in size and spans 224 pages, has become an international sensation, selling over 2 million copies worldwide. Has compiled and published in October last year sold in the United States, the 350,000 hardcover books and e-books in the country so far.

"He was on the bestseller list of the New York Times for 21 weeks and counting," Daniel said WIKEY, Director of Marketing connected at Ten Speed ​​Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group Random House Penguin. "I was at No. 1 last month."

While Feng Shui was once modern, Kondo book has generated buzz memory.

Chapters provide closed captions like: and: "If you are angry with your family, you can be the cause of your room" "Sock storage :. The treatment of the socks and stockings with respect" (He suggests, thanks socks for work, they are, and never roll it into balls, but allows them, in the drawer, as if relaxing in a spa).

In fact, what is called "the Queen of Clean" Japan promises that if your home declutter properly once, you will never do it again.

The book combines practical advice with the philosophy of the new age of readers through its patented "KonMari Method" technology, category by category approach for the organization and efficient recovery.

Kondo suggests that an armed attack suddenly room, instead of piecemeal. The process must be like a "special event" feeling, she explains, rather than a monotonous and repetitive "daily task."

His method is based on a unique location have: Posts, one after the other and simply ask, "What a joy to wake you up if so, Kondo reported, and is an archer And if you miss this notice, get rid of it ..

"Keeping only the things that your heart speak," he wrote. "Then go ahead and throw everything else. When you do this, you can make your life again and embark on a new way of life."

Trend organization

Kondo theories come from, how to acquire television programs extreme hoarding, to help celebrity gurus refuge in the lives of ordinary people, organize and beautify your room and throw some architects CALLED McMansions for small apartments.

"In the last ten years, we find that people want to live smaller - the [new] average household increased from 2,800 square feet to 2,500 square feet," says Rob Brennan, Chairman of the Board of Directors AIA Baltimore, and a principal with Brennan + Company Architects in Ellicott City.

"Instead of adding more space, we explore the walls and moving redistribution function. See also below stairs cupboards, drawers and cabinets and other niches in the houses to promote less clutter."

An expert of national life believes that the book is essentially a primer Kondo Century 21 in what was once called "the economy."

"Cooking, cleaning, sewing, and maintaining a house used in the schools taught, but what has gone lost over time, in part because of the stigma," says Beverly Card, president of the American Family Association and the Consumer Sciences (AAFC), founded in 1909 as the American Home Economics Association. "Somehow, our homes have become dysfunctional because many people do not have the skills base. However, they do not have time management for the completed tasks".

The Virginia-based AAC has around 4,500 members and affiliates of the country, including the Maryland Chapter. Professionals can for certification in family studies and consumer to use a wide range of skills, research and knowledge to help people make decisions about their well being informed to make.

This field is for the personal and family finances, housing and interior design, food sciences, consumption, and more.

"If we are of optimum quality of life - to educate and their children, finance and interior design - not simple," says Jacqueline M. Holland, EDD, Assistant Professor Morgan State University, one of dozens of colleges and universities across the country, a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences offer. "It's not useless at home is the durability and environmental issue. So in this sense that relates to public policy, and is very important."

Delete the house and mind

Kondo concepts are attractive to McKenna, certified massage therapist who meditates and enjoys reading self-help titles.

"Hoarding is a disease that has plagued my family for generations," jokes in between. "I think grabbed runs in families and in my observation, it is with those who are especially nostalgic and / or indecisive often."

Held the book provides a detailed guide to combat different types of household, whether paper stacks, pictures and books store (card statements to credit, guarantees and brochures, etc. say).

"Mary Kondo cautions readers arranged by categories, starting with the clothes," McKenna. "Then the process is repeated with the other classes at home."

A central theme of the book: Clear the clutter in your home - and by extension, of his opinion.

"If your house in order, put your company and your past so well," Kondo wrote. "So you can clearly see what you need in life and something that is not to do and what not."

The author explains that customers regularly "transform lives" Testimonies: weight, better performance, improved marital relations to lose - and at least one case of a divorce.

Then a house spic and span not stimulate dramatic emotional changes, there are indications that made people happier.

According to the American Institute cleaning (ACI), a group based in Washington, the US represents detergent industry, previous studies have found that light floors, a neat, clean and counter against the happiest consumers toilet.

In another survey of the ICA commissioned two thirds of the respondents said that "spring cleaning. Year

"As a rule, after the value of a cold winter and ice are willing to open windows and empty the dust," said Brian Sansoni, a spokesman.

He boasted that the cleaning of the first infringement in the control of common allergens that can trigger asthma and other problems.

Jane Vincent knows exactly mites and mold. She is co-owner (with founder Courtney Kellogg) Ecolistic cleaning, gardening company with offices in Bolton Hill Baltimore, Annapolis and Delaware community.

During the last decade, MICA graduate cleaning of all types of houses - the historic homes of modest homes. Today, she manages two or three teams who spend an average of a few hours to get a house in shape; , Mop, vacuum, dust, and if the customer wishes to organize shelves, desks and other rub.

"People are very grateful when we're done," Vincent said, his team uses non-toxic cleaning products and natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar and lavender oil.

In addition to payment for their services, employees often receive gifts and hugs even.

"One thing I have seen on several occasions with customers that it is very difficult to concentrate when the house is out of control," he adds. "It most people is a distraction. Upon acceptance seem happier."

While McKenna "I loved the book and its philosophies," they do not follow any tip, as I suggested stripping your shelf. "I wish I had a house full of books that do not work for me."

However, she was motivated to serve art supplies, an inventory of the not used "body," his son, 4 months old, old magazines and batteries.

"I had my closet, half its size." His subjects have a makeover, too.

And it includes advising Kondo products in your home, have fun cause.

"You have the things you have to appreciate and be grateful for what you contribute to your life," says McKenna. "If they do not help, so why are you home?"

Copyright © 2015 The Baltimore Sun

The wisdom of the Kondo

Here are some tips from the author in Komono, a Japanese term for 'Other'.

"Never be used spare buttons" parts of buttons. Kondo wrote. Suggests spare buttons and sew the lining of a shirt, blouse or jacket when you buy it. "If you do not use spare keys anyway, no matter they get rid of."

, Opportunity checkbook "checkbooks occasion are just that - used," he wrote. "You're not going to see her again, and even if this is the case, the amount of money will not increase in the bank, so, really, to get rid of them."

Strings identified. "If you see a rope and I wonder what that is, chances are that you will never use again," Kondo note. "... Are you worried that you might have when something must break? Do not be. ... In the end it is faster than buying a new one."

Bed linen for the customer ", duvets, pillows, blankets, sheets never comes. - Play Extra bed is very large ... Sheets stored indefinitely in the closet musty as often as he does not want your guests to use anyway .. Take a deep breath and see for yourself. "

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and to read on the Web site of another person, please read the FAQ on fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php #publishers.