What It Means
Sentimental clutterClutterA crowded, untidy collection of things, especially things that aren't useful or needed, spread over the surfaces and spaces of a home. See more is the part of a home's clutter that people keep because of what it reminds them of: a grandparent's heirloom, old cards and letters, photos, children's drawings, souvenirs. The phrase is everyday organizing language, and no official body defines it. It's usually the hardest kind to sort, which is why the KonMari Method leaves sentimental items for last, after clothes, books, papers and miscellaneous things.
Try It: Three Questions for One Keepsake
Hold one keepsake and answer honestly. The questions come from konmari.com; the reading below them is Buhata's own.
The memory may live fine without the object. Consider thanking it and letting it go.
Mixed. Set it aside and come back to it after you've sorted a few more.
This one sounds like a keeper. Give it a place where you'll see it.
How It Sounds at Home
- "I can't throw that out, it was Grandma's."
- "We have three boxes of the kids' artwork."
- "I don't even like it, but it was a gift."
The Breakdown
How to sort it
- Leave keepsakes for last. The KonMari Method puts sentimental items at the end of its order so you've practiced deciding on easier things first.
- Gather them in one place, so you see how many there are.
- Take one item at a time and ask the questions konmari.com suggests: why is this hard to let go, do I feel connected to the item or to the memory it stands for, and would I forget part of the memory without it?
- Remind yourself that the object and the memory are separate things. Marie Kondo's site puts it this way: mementos aren't memories.
- For what goes, thank it and let it go. The site describes a small send-off as a way to make the goodbye easier.
- For what stays, give it a real place. The site suggests collecting special photos, like a wedding or a child's first year, together in one spot.
Try it today. Open one box of keepsakes, pick out the three things you'd save first, and ask the three questions about everything else.
Good to Know
Go slowly with things that belong to other people too. A family heirloom may matter to a sibling or a child, so ask before giving it away. Papers mixed in with keepsakes, such as old statements or letters with account numbers, should be checked for personal information before they leave the house.
FAQ
How do you let go of sentimental items?
Marie Kondo's site suggests leaving them for last, asking whether you're attached to the object or the memory, thanking each item, and giving it a small send-off.
Why are sentimental items so hard to declutter?
They carry memories and feelings, so letting one go can feel like losing part of the past. The KonMari Method saves them for last because they're the hardest category.
What should I do with old photos?
Konmari.com suggests keeping the special ones, like a wedding or a child's first year, together in one place so they get a home instead of sitting in boxes.
Do It in Buhata
Notes, Tasks
Write the story behind each keepsake you let go in Buhata's Notes (Premium), and add a task in Tasks for the one box you'll sort this week.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Decluttering
Clearing out what a home no longer needs by sorting belongings into what to keep and what leaves the house, one small area at a time.
- Swedish death cleaning
Döstädning, the Swedish practice of clearing out unneeded belongings over time so the people you leave behind don't have to sort them.
- Clutter
A crowded, untidy collection of things, especially things that aren't useful or needed, spread over the surfaces and spaces of a home.
- Paper clutter
Piles of mail, bills, statements, receipts and forms that build up at home, with no system for what to keep, where, and for how long.
Sources
KonMari (Marie Kondo's official website), "The KonMari Approach to Sentimental Items"; KonMari, "Rule 5: Follow the Right Order"; KonMari, "About the KonMari Method"
- konmari.com/how-to-konmari-sentimental-objects
- konmari.com/marie-kondo-rules-of-tidying-follow-order
- konmari.com/about-the-konmari-method
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