I used to think spring cleaning was boring, but after years of trial and error (and a little help from Marie Kondo’s method in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), I found a way to organize my closet that actually feels like fun. As a bit of a type-A personality, I enjoy when every item has its place, and with my husband Matt often joking about my endless purges, I’ve learned how to optimize the whole process. The guide I follow mixes daily practices with weekly routine checks so my bedroom never feels chaotic. These tips help me maintain a wardrobe that’s not only clean but easy to manage, making each closet cleanout feel successful and my home lighter to live in.
How To Do a Marie Kondo Closet Cleanout
Who is Marie Kondo and What is the KonMari Method?
As a professional organizer, I was inspired when I first read the book by Marie Kondo, who created the famous KonMari Method—a concept of tidying by keeping only those items that spark joy. This unique method works by going through each category—from clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous, to sentimental items—in a strict order, handling one at a time, and choosing whether to discard or keep. I found that verbally thanking my old wardrobe pieces before letting them go gave me a fresh perspective, as if I was treating them like old friends rather than random stuff. While some people think it’s nuts, years of practice have helped me buy less, filter each purchase, and bring only the things I truly love into my home, which makes the job of staying tidy so much easier and builds a positive mentality around my surroundings in general.
How to Marie Kondo Your Closet
Step 1: Visualize Your Ideal Space
When I visualize my closet, I think about how I want the space to feel when entering—not heavy with clutter or sadness, but light and organized. Using the KonMari process as a gentle guide, I start by imagining the details: every piece of clothing, shoes off the floor, and only what truly sparks joy in my lifestyle. This project taught me that immediately pulling out a small amount of items each time helps me know what doesn’t fit, what I no longer wear, and what’s encroaching on my ideal space. With a little instinct, the goal becomes clear—less stress, amazingly more freedom, and everything I’ve pulled is now part of a cleaned state where even the previous chaos can’t make me run back.
Gather All Clothing in One Area
When I first tried the KonMari method, I had to gather every piece of clothing into one pile, even the ones hidden in laundry. At first, the assortment looked like a giant messy room, and the immediacy of the situation gave me an urge to start tidying right away. Seeing everything in one place made me realize the fact that my closet cleanout needed a full reset. Although it felt a little overwhelming, this step helped me take account of each item and decide on discarding or keeping it with purpose, just like Kondo’s book suggests.
Discard First – The Spark Joy Method
When I first tried Marie Kondo’s method, I was surprised how quickly discarding items brought a sense of joy. Instead of sorting a big chunk at once, I would pick a single item individually, touching pieces like shoes or a necklace, noticing my body feel an immediate reaction. That step of picking gave a strong indication if it sparked happiness, excitement, or feelings of being no longer right for me. Within half a day or even an hourhold, I could sort through clothing items, create piles to keep or discard, and quickly move what I no longer wear on top, feeling the power of this process as each joystep made space for what truly fit my life.
Figure Out What You Can Donate
When I do a cleanout, I make a pile of unwanted items and check if they’re in good condition to donate instead of letting them discard into garbage bags. I’ve sorted things in my garage, and this system really worked—each piece gets a quick decision: keeping, put away, or move to the donated piles. The moment I feel ready, I drop them at local donation centers, and the sooner it’s done, the more clean space I gain.
