My KonMari Journey: KOMONO: Kitchen - Food (Part 1)

Welcome to 'My KonMari Journey' series. Over the next few months I will be sharing my progress, as I make my way through the KonMari Method, based on the best-seller book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Japanese organising enthusiast, Marie Kondo.

Today I am sharing - KOMONO: Kitchen - Food (Part 1 - Pantry, Fridge & Freezer) 
If you are new to my blog, Welcome! In case you missed it, be sure to read my Introduction and Getting Started post, so you know what the KonMari Method is all about and the reasons why I am doing it.

In a nutshell, Marie Kondo has four rules she recommends people follow when doing the KonMari Method:

1. Tidy in one shot, as quickly and completely as possible.

2. Sort by category, not by location

3. Selection Criterion: Does it 'spark joy?'

4. Order of tidying: Clothes, Books, Documents (Paper), Miscellaneous items (Komono), and Momentos (Sentimental)

As suggested in the book, I will start doing the KonMari Method with my own 'stuff' first, then I will work though the kids items, because I am too sentimental and would find it hard to part with their things right off the bat. I also need to get my head around this new process of de-cluttering, tidying and organising, so hopefully when it comes to purging my kids stuff, it will be a lot easier (well, let's hope so).

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The fourth category of the KonMari Method is KOMONO (Miscellaneous). Now for me, this category is probably bigger than the Paper category. Do you remember in my Introduction post, I mentioned I felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I had stored in containers sitting in my office, well majority of them fit into this category. I have containers of miscellaneous items - that I haven't really touched for the past 3 years and includes stuff I have kept for over 10! This category may take some time, however I will be following Marie Kondo's recommended order (see below) and will hopefully (fingers crossed) find a new home for everything and only "keep things because I love them, not 'just because'" (Marie Kondo) - which is totally why I always rebound, and why I NEED the KonMari Method in my life.

Over the next couple of weeks or however long it takes me, I will be tackling Komono (miscellaneous items 1) which includes:

• CDs, DVDs 
• Skincare products
• Make-Up
• Accessories
• Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc)
• Electrical equipment and appliances (digital cameras, electric cords, anything that seems vaguely 'electric')
• Household Equipment: Stationery & Crafts  
• Household supplies (expendables like medicine, detergents, tissues, etc) 
• Kitchen goods/food supplies <------YOU ARE HERE
• Other 

As always I will be keeping these three rules in mind when doing my purge:

1. Tidy in one shot, as quickly and completely as possible.
2. Sort by category, not by location
3. Selection Criterion: Does it 'spark joy?'

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In the book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying', Marie Kondo doesn't really go into much detail when talking about the Komono (miscellaneous) in the kitchen. It is an area of the home, I believe, that needs to be broken down into sections, otherwise it could be very overwhelming to do it all at once. I am glad I purchased Marie's second book 'SPARK JOY' because she does split this sub-category into three sections and really breaks it down.

The three sub-categories for the Kitchen Komono are:

1. EATING - e.g. Cups, Glassware, Crockery (Plates & Bowls), & Cutlery - things you use for eating
2. COOKING TOOLS - e.g. Utensils, Vessels, Appliances, and Baking Supplies
3. FOOD - e.g. Food supplies, Storage containers (including plastics) 

Today I am sharing KOMONO: Kitchen - Food (PART 1) 
(Pantry, Fridge & Freezer).

I have decided to divide the third sub-category of Kitchen - Food into two parts. This week I will be sharing how I KonMari'd our Pantry and Fridge/Freezer, then next week I will share our Food Storage (including containers, drink bottles, kids plates etc), so watch this space. 

I'm not going to lie...this KOMONO category is hard...there are so many tasks and areas of the home that gets covered, it becomes quite overwhelming. There have been times when I just wanted to stop...I didn't want to continue the method...but then I remembered why I am doing this... to have my office functioning as an office, not a storage unit; to not be surrounded by clutter and to be in control of my home, therefore helping me be in control of my mind (depression). It's a massive task, and I am definitely saving the best (and biggest) until last...Teacher Resources and Sentimental. 

After a two/three week break, I am feeling refreshed and determined to finish this KonMari method. Hope you will join me through to the end. 

Here is my Kitchen: Food (Part 1) 

Note: We mostly buy our food week to week. I don't really like to stockpile a lot of food because 1. we don't have a lot of space, 2. the food doesn't get eaten and ends up in the bin - So we meal plan and buy the essentials and what we need each week. It works for our family. I would be interested in hearing if you do the same or if you stockpile a lot of your groceries. 

Fridge & Freezer
Before...
I usually have a system to my fridge, however after a couple of days, it's a shambles again. This is what our fridge and freezer looked like before the purge. 

During...
One of my favourite things to do and I have said this before in previous posts, is to put everything out so I can see the full magnitude to what we have.

After...
I didn't actually have much stuff to purge, so I focussed more on the organisation of our fridge, so that it doesn't become cluttered and disorganised again. I bought a couple of baskets to corral like items together - the basket on the top shelf has the kids yoghurts, and the basket in the bottom drawer has carrots and lettuce. It makes it appear tidier, and hopefully it will help to keep the fridge organised. The basket with the handle has a couple of spreads in and the kids medicines (Pamol & Ibuprofen). Originally I had them lying down in the top shelf on the door - it bugged me that they were lying down, so I have moved them, making room (and the perfect spot) for our Herb/Garlic bread.

The Freezer was in desperate need of being purged and organised. I have taken out the container I used for our mixed vegetables and it has freed up quite a bit of room. The top drawer is home to frozen chips, nuggets and mixed vegetables, and the second shelf has our meat (we have 3 mince!). It looks much better now.

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We have two pantries - one for Breakfast and Lunch items, and the other Baking and Cooking essentials. 

Pantry - Breakfast/Lunches
Before...
I have organised this pantry before, with baskets - however there are times when things look a bit chaotic...like now...

During...

Pulling EVERYTHING out and putting it all on the kitchen bench. One thing I like to do is have less packaging in the cupboards. If I can use containers or baskets to store our food, I will. It makes things look tidier and easier for other family members to find items and return them. 

After...

Looking pretty bare after the purge, however it is feeling and looking more organised. I love it. 

(Please note: this task was done a day before we went grocery shopping). 

I wanted to share our I have organised this pantry. 

Shelf 1 (top): Our snacks 

Shelf 2. Crackers/Bars and Potato Chips (snack size) - we get half in 'Our Snacks' container.

Shelf 3. Biscuits, Raisins and Baking goods (either home made or store bought, depending how I am feeling).

Shelf 4. Spreads (in the container) and my cereal on the left. A few miscellaneous items that need to used. 

Bottom shelf: Kids breakfast cereal and toaster.

RUBBISH...

Pantry - Baking/Cooking 
When this cupboard is clean and organised, it is my happy place. It 'sparks joy'!
Before...
It definitely was time to give this cupboard a clean...a packet of cornflour was popped at the back of the bottom shelf...and it went everywhere!

During...

Sticking to KonMari's method, 'tidy in one shot...' - I bought the Pantry Organiser containers from KMart, not long after we moved into our new home and they have been amazing! 

Almost everything has it's own container - yes even the rice! (my partner was shocked when he first saw this).

After...
Ta-da! Does this spark joy? YES, Yes it does. 

Top Shelf: Baking products/Supplies 

Second shelf: Canned fruit/food (on a 3-tier shelf), Spices and Sauces (on the lazy susan)

Bottom shelf: Seasoning & Recipe bases on the left; Rice, Pasta and Breadcrumbs in the Pantry organisers and Cooking oil in the back.

RUBBISH...

So many empty packets/packaging...makes our pantry x 2 look so much cleaner when we get rid of it.

Wow! I am loving how clutter-free and organised our pantry and fridge/freezer are. They definitely 'spark joy'. Now to keep it this way!

Next week: My KonMari Journey: Komono: Kitchen - Food Storage (plastics)

Join me next week when I share my KonMari purge of our food storage containers, drink bottles, kids plates etc. 

Please note: The Komono (Miscellaneous) category has several sub-categories, and I will be sharing a post for all of them (some will be combined, some will be split into two parts). Watch this space or  Subscribe to my Blog, so you don't miss a post.

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I am super excited about this journey and I would love for you to follow along in this process, better yet, join me - Subscribe to my Blog, so you don't miss a post and together we can tidy our homes and change our lives, once and for all. I will also be sharing my journey on my Facebook page, and Instagram, so be sure to follow me there too.

Charlene

If you would like to give the KonMari Method a go, and you don't have the book - Here is a checklist of the fourth category - KOMONO (Miscellaneous items 1) . Click the image below and Save/Print. You can also view my previous checklists HERE.

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