Marie Kondo Admits That Even Her House Gets Cluttered Sometimes

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Published on
January 18, 2019

Marie Kondo is the queen of tidying up. Kondo is a Japanese organization consultant (bet you didn’t know that was a profession) who became a sensation when her KonMari method of cleaning became a global phenomenon. The book that introduced the methodology, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, proving Kondo is the queen of clean. Now the organization expert has her own show on Netflix, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.

What is KonMari?

The idea behind Kondo’s method of clean-up is that you only keep items that spark joy. This results in you being surrounded by objects that instill happiness. That isn’t all that makes KonMari unique. While most tidying methods encourage you to work room-by-room, Konmari has your organize based on category. Now that you understand the basics let’s take a look at the first episode of Kondo’s new show!

What pressures do Rachel and Kevin face when trying to tidy up?

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As Kondo says “When you have young children maintaining a tidy household is a struggle.” The first episode hones in on overwhelmed parents, Rachel and Kevin Friend, whose dirty house woes are taking a toll on their relationship. Throughout the episode, the couple talks about the pressures they face when trying to maintain a tidy household.

One of the overarching issues is a lack of time and energy resulting in a lot of tension and stress. Kevin works 50 to 60 hour work weeks leaving Rachel to balance childcare and tidying up. Unfortunately, the childcare takes priority leaving her with little time to clean. This then stresses out Kevin who is more of a stickler for a neat space. It’s a vicious cycle where neither person feels like they can tackle the chores.

The couple has far too many items which contribute to clutter making it harder to keep things organized. Clothes regularly pile up despite them having a laundry lady — another point of tension in their relationship. Rachel hates laundry, but Kevin hates paying someone to do it. Dishes also pile up because of the sheer amount. Not to mention, it’s tough juggling washing dishes and chasing children.

Kondo’s admits her house gets cluttered sometimes too

Marie Kondo
Marie Kondo | Marie Kondo via Instagram

Kondo sympathizes with the couple and admits that even her home gets messy. Kondo is a young mother of two children, Satsuki and Miko, who are 3 and 2 years old respectively. Despite being possibly the world’s best organization consultant, she too suffers from a cluttered house at times.

It’s refreshing to know that someone renown for their cleaning capabilities also struggles with balancing raising young children and keeping a tidy home. Unfortunately, the details of the mess are kept a secret in the show!

Later on, Kondo also mentions an area in her garage where she keeps things that she has the intention to store but didn’t, showing even Kondo loses track sometimes.

Kondo’s tips for kid-related messes

When teaching Rachel and Kevin how to fold their clothes, Kondo recommends having the kids help during the process. Not only is it a family bonding experience, but it gets the children in good habits from a young age.

Here are some more kid-related cleaning tips from the clean queen:

  • Gamify chores to keep kids focused and instill good habits
  • Keep similar toys together
  • Utilize clear pouches to keep loose items organized and stack the pouches vertically in baskets. This way everyone can easily see and access items.
  • Only keep toys that your kids really love. This follows the spark joy method and will help cut down if your playroom is drowning in toys. The winners are typically the best ones and the ones they use the most. Let them know that unused toys can be donated and encourage them to give to a child in need!

KonMari helped Rachel and Kevin’s relationship

Learning the KonMari method really helped their relationship and it’s easy to see in the episode. Instead of cleaning being a chore it’s a cherished bonding experience that the two enjoy. With time to focus on each other and their relationship, things are finally headed in the right direction. The icing on the cake — despite hating laundry Rachel let the cleaning lady go. Wait, there’s more. Rachel and Kevin’s children are beginning to mimic the folding techniques. Clearly, the KonMari method is the way to go for a tidier house and a happier family.