Welcome back! Hope you all had a great weekend. I actually decided to re-Kondo my closet. It's been a good year since I tackled my closet. I've been overwhelmed with clothing, so I accepted the fact that it was time to redo the process. Look for a new post on my re-Kondoing in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, here’s to Day 2 of the Komono Breakdown!

Accessories

I’m not entirely clear why accessories is under komono when technically we did accessories under clothes. But here we are! Under clothes, Marie Kondo made a list that included “belts, scarves, hats, etc.” So, I’d say if you missed any of those things while tidying clothes, count them here, as well as:

• Jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings)
• Watches
• Cuff links
• Ties
• Sunglasses
• Hair accessories (headbands, ponytail holders, barrettes, clips, ribbons, etc)

Basically anything else you wear that didn’t get tidied with clothes.

Jewelry

Jewelry in particular can be hard because it's so personal. We wear it because it says something about us. It’s a personal expression. It’s art! And many times, jewelry we own came to us in the form of gifts. So, it bleeds into the sentimental.

My advice is:

• Weed out those things you simply don’t wear, that no longer speaks to you, and

If you come across something you feel torn about because it was gifted, either:

1. Take the hard line and choose to pass it along because you know in your heart of hearts it’s just not you anymore (and maybe never was); or
2. Put it in a special box and keep it somewhere you can see it, like your sock drawer, or near the other jewelry.

At the very least, make sure it’s not hidden in a black hole somewhere. If it is special to you, but maybe you just won’t wear it, then it belongs as a sentimental keepsake. So, treat it as such.

If You Keep It:

Make a space for it.

Once you’ve honed your accessories, then the fun of organizing them into a nice display happens. You don’t need anything really expensive--a friend of mine uses a wood frame with a wire mesh in the center; I use a piece of craft wood with nails hammered in that I hang on the wall - whatever you do, I advise hanging your necklaces and earrings where you can see them. Have rings right nearby, maybe in a little bowl. Or, maybe use a nice dish you like for your rings and bracelets.

How to Recycle Accessories

1. Take it to a thrift store.
2. Sell it online or at a local pawn shop.

But if it’s something special:

1. Pick out a couple friends you think might enjoy it, then ask them if they are interested, either by email, phone, or even social media, or
2. Give it to the friend of yours you are certain has always admired it.

Valuables

This includes:

• Passports
• Credit cards
• Any “thing” that, if lost, would disrupt your life

The only tidying you need to do here is logistical

1. If you have several credit cards, consider consolidating to one or two
2. Close out any accounts you no longer use
3. Cut up any cards that are expired
4. If your passport is expired, consider renewing

If You Keep It

Definitely make space for it where you know it is!

Since valuables like this are so essential, it’s essential you make a special place for them, like:

• A safe; or
• Filing folders, clearly labeled, near all of your other important papers

How to Recycle Valuables (Namely, Credit Cards)

The good news is that credit cards are actually recyclable.

1. Most curbside programs take them.
2. The key is to search for #3 plastic (or PVC).
3. Yes, cut them up. Yes, recycle.

Electrical Schtuff

That’s anything electric. If it has a cord, uses batteries, plugs in:

• Appliances - big and small (blenders, hair dryers, juicers, crock pots, refrigerators, washing machines)
• Musical instruments (electric guitars, keyboards, amps)
• Digital cameras
• DVD players
• CD players
• TVs
• Random cords (extension cords, unidentified cords)
• Phones
• Lamps
• Computers, laptops

This is one of those sneaky categories because there is more electrical stuff around us than we realize.

My advice is:

1. Pick a corner of the house
2. Go through room by room
3. Identify all the electrical items either in plain sight or in cupboards
4. Gather all of the things that are movable into one giant pile
5. Pick out the things you actually USE or LOVE

This is no different than the accessories section. You know the items you use. You know the items you can bet you will never use.

So, do yourself a favor, and free up that space

If You Keep It

Make space for it.

Even better, make it easy to get to. I like keeping counter space free, but I have one exception for my blender. I like having it out because it encourages me to use it more, and reminds me to make smoothies rather than thinking about ice cream. I have a small tray it sits on, and that’s its spot.

I also have a coffee station. It too sits on a tray with my water pitcher, coffee grinder, and my coffee maker.

In the bathroom, the hair dryer lives under the sink inside its own basket where I can grab it when I need it and put it back when I’m done.

Large Appliances

Odds are you are keeping those larger appliances, like your refrigerator or washing machine unless you somehow have an overabundance of large appliances. If that happens to be the case, then you don’t need to haul it into the middle of the room, but you do need to make arrangements to have it taken away.

How to Recycle Electric Stuff

Computers and Laptops

• Best Buy takes most computers and laptops
• Google search “Recycle computers” in your area for more local resources
• Check Earth911 for a list of options too

CFL Bulbs in Lamps are Hazardous Waste

Those are those squiggly style bulbs that look like swirly tubes. Those bulbs need to go to:

• A hazardous waste facility, or
• Hardware store, like Lowe’s or Home Depot often take them
• Check Earth911 for a list of places in your area.

Lamps

The rest of the lamp can go to:

• Thrift stores
• Craigslist
• Facebook Marketplace

Other Appliances

• Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace
• Thrift stores
• Best Buy
• Check Earth911 for a list of places in your area

How is everyone doing so far with komono?

Until tomorrow! xoxo

Photo credit: Carlos Alberto Gómez Iñiguez on Unsplash