Post 13 / It’s Electric
Photo of the Electrical Category Tidied, taken by Tori Klotz
2024, Example of what tidying the electrical can look like.
“When we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.”
— Marie Kondo
The calculation
Days tidying: 14
items tossing: 15 + 4 boxes of trash
items donating: 207 + 8 boxes of donations
items selling: 73
items kept: 950
Total items tidied: 1245 + 12 Boxes
Total $ from sold tidied goods:
$485.12 [sold a board game on poshmark this week]
My tidying cost equation:
(sold tidied items) - (tidying supplies cost) = net cost:
$485.12 - $653.74 = (-$168.62) [small earnings from selling a board game puts me under $200 in the negative. Hoping to sell some electronics and collectible books soon]
The confidence I can complete this project:
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Electrical can be a shocking category - pun intended.
Every home approaches this category differently—some with stacks of gadgets, others with just the basics. For me, it was a lighter week, but I still found ways to make this category both functional and joyful.
I started by organizing the essentials. Using bamboo-lidded containers from The Container Store, I created a dedicated home for plugs, chargers, and cords. For tidiness, Gear Ties became my go-to for wrangling cords. Next, I wanted certain electronics to be easily accessible. A guest charging station became the perfect solution—central, visible, and equipped with extra cords and our house speaker. It’s small changes like this that make hosting a little smoother.
On to selling! My decluttering goals included an old laptop (still a great starter model) and our TV. Preparing to sell meant wiping data, researching model details, and listing on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark. Hot Tip: While TVs can’t be sold on Poshmark, smaller items like smartwatches, headphones, and laptops are fair game.
Lastly, I gathered e-waste for proper disposal. Finding a local recycling center was key. As a millennial, CDs and DVDs held sentimental value but felt out of place in the modern world. Rather than treat them as standard electronics, I moved them to the Sentimental category for later.
This week reminded me that tidying isn’t just about reducing—it’s about finding joy in the everyday tools that power our lives.
Electronics can vary wildly from home to home. While my household leans minimal, I know there are readers out there with setups far more complex than mine. For those tech-savvy folks, I’d love to hear your advice—please share your tips in the comments for managing a more gadget-heavy space.
Going Rogue with Valuables
If you’re wondering why I skipped over Valuables, it’s because I took a non-traditional approach. Wearable valuables, like my engagement ring and family jewels, were tidied alongside clothing and accessories. Meanwhile, our art collection—a shared passion of ours—fits naturally into our custom category. This made the most sense for how we interact with these items daily. So, for me, Valuables will be addressed during Custom, rather than as its own subcategory of Komono.
Wrapping Up Komono
With that, Komono is officially complete! I’m a mix of relieved and apprehensive, knowing I’ve deferred plenty to the Sentimental and Custom categories. For example, camping gear like Hydroflasks and sporks were unceremoniously tossed downstairs into the “I’ll deal with it later” pile. Sentimental items, like Jared’s high school letterman jacket medals, are currently layered haphazardly on the basement heap. Avoidance at its finest.
The Final Stretch
It’s December 7th, and the clock is ticking. With December 30th as my target to finish de-cluttering and tidying, we’ve got just three full weeks to go. This means pivoting from tidying into Cait Flanders’ Year of Less approach to mindful consumption. While this blog series is built around 13 weeks of tidying, keep in mind the first four blogs were all about setting intentions. That leaves us with four final weeks—three when you account for the holidays. The finish line is in sight!
This Week’s Plan
Research Storage Solutions for Family Photos:
As the unofficial family historian, I’ve kept these treasures since middle school. Now it’s time to digitize and tidy them. My goal is to find storage options that make sharing memories with my family easier and more modern. I’ll report back next week on what I order in the cost calculation.Start Thinking About Custom Categories:
Custom is where we wrap up this journey, and it’s coming fast. Take some time this week to define your own custom categories. What in your home feels unique to you that doesn’t fit anywhere else? Let’s prepare to end this adventure on a high note.
As always, thank you for being here. Let’s push through this final stretch together and welcome a lighter, more intentional season ahead.
The "Preparation"
Tasks To Do
Research Storage Solutions for Family Photos:
As the unofficial family historian, I’ve kept these treasures since middle school. Now it’s time to digitize and tidy them. My goal is to find storage options that make sharing memories with my family easier and more modern. I’ll report back next week on what I order in the cost calculation.Start Thinking About Custom Categories:
Custom is where we wrap up this journey, and it’s coming fast. Take some time this week to define your own custom categories. What in your home feels unique to you that doesn’t fit anywhere else? Let’s prepare to end this adventure on a high note.
