A Clean & Organized Kitchen: KonMari Komono Category
As you make your way through your tidying journey, let’s take a moment to reflect. We started with clothing, books, and papers, and in each category you learned how to choose the items that truly sparked joy in your life. The next step is the Komono Category, which refers to the miscellaneous items in your home, including your kitchen.
Komono can be perceived as a large category that covers many other aspects of your home, some of our favorite happen to be in the kitchen. So how does one tackle the KonMari Method™ in their kitchen? Just like the other categories, we start with gathering. One-by-one, take everything from your kitchen and gather together to begin the selection process.
Here's a great checklist on how to organize the items in your kitchen by group:
Once your piles are gathered, create smaller groups within a large group to really narrow down what items truly bring joy in your home. Keeping similar items together, create smaller categories to find the objects that feel right in your home. For example, within your pile of "tools to cook with," create a smaller group for cooking utensils. Group all your spatulas together. and pick each one up and feel the energy from the object. Does it remind you of your love for cooking, or a special meal? This is what KonMari calls joy. Keep only the items in your home that bring you this sense of joy. If it is too heavy and you don't like how it feels you can thank it for its service and discard.
Often, we will find that very few items give us this sensational feeling. There are items in this category that may not #sparkjoy but are utilitarian in nature and are needed. In the KonMari Method™, we recommend that you take this moment to infuse good intentions into these items, recognize what they enable you to do for yourself and for your family and choose them for their usefulness. So while you may not feed four spatulas, you may still need one for its function.
Other great ways to organize?
- Check expiration dates to see what can be discarded.
- Store things that take up the greater volume first.
- Always leave counters unencumbered.
As you put the items that you have chosen back in place, your goal should be to leave your counters unencumbered so that they are free to be used in your cooking and available for your cleaning efforts. Something as simple as placing your sponge/dish soap under the sunk or your toaster in the cupboard can help make your kitchen feel clean and light. With the extra space, you might be surprised what other items you can feature that will #sparkjoy for you!
