Clothing
Begin by gathering ALL clothing items into one pile! Make sure you have gathered every piece of clothing and be sure to handle each one.

It is recommended that you divide your clothing into the following subcategories, listed below. As you do, go through the joy-check and discard processes.

Have your trash bags, sticky notes and/or temporary storage boxes on hand.

Divide the items into the following categories:

-Tops (shirts, sweaters, etc.)
-Bottoms (pants, skirts, etc.)
-Clothes that should be hung instead of folded
-Socks
-Underwear
-Sleepwear
-Bags (handbags, clutches, tote bags, etc.)
-Accessories (scarves, belts, hats, etc.)
-Clothes for specific occasions (swimsuits, saris, gowns, sportswear, uniforms, etc.)
-Shoes

Books
Begin by taking all books off the shelves and piling them on the floor. This is the best way to sort through the joy-check process.

Do not skip this step, and do not start reading your books! This will stop the process before it starts.

Divide your books into four categories:

-General (books you read for pleasure)
-Practical (reference, cookbooks, educational, etc.)
-Visual (photograph collections, coffee table books, art books, etc.)
-Magazines

Papers
The KonMari Method® suggests discarding all paper. You, ultimately, need to make the decision about what to keep. However, she recommends you dispose of anything that does not fall into one of the three categories below:

-Currently in use
-Needed for a limited period (invoices/bills, documents/forms, warranties, etc.)
-Must be kept indefinitely or for a specific period (taxes, insurance, legal documents)

Komono
Preparation for Komono:

Have lots of small empty boxes ready, which include boxes in all shapes and sizes for your drawers. This will be temporary storage as you determine what you need.

After joy-checking all the komono subcategories, you can put things back into these small boxes in an organized fashion.

-CDs, DVDs
-Skin care products
-Makeup/cosmetics
-Accessories
-Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc.)
-Electrical equipment and appliances (electric cords, etc.)
-Household equipment (stationery, writing materials, etc.)
-Household supplies (medicine, detergents, etc.)
-Other (spare change, keys, décor, etc.)
-Optional (hobby-related supplies/equipment)

Kitchen Komono Items By Category

Tools for Cooking:

-Cooking tools (pots, frying pans, bowls, colanders, etc.)
-Cooking utensils (knives, ladles, spatulas, cooking spoons, etc.)
-Electric cookware (food storage, jars, bottles, etc.)
-Wraps (plastic wrap, aluminum foil, food storage bags, etc.)
-Small items (rubber bands, toothpicks, etc.)
-Paper goods (paper plates, straws, paper cups, etc.)
-Lunchbox items
-Baking tools (baking sheets, cupcake pans, whisks, measuring cups and spoons)
-Cleaning detergents (dishwashing detergent, cleansers, etc.)
-Cleaning tools (sponges, cleaning brushes, etc.)

Tools for Eating:

-Dishware, ceramics and serving pieces
-Tableware (cutlery and glassware)
-Tablecloths, placemats, napkins, coasters, etc.
-Cups and mugs

Food and Pantry Items:

-Spices
-Dry goods
-Canned or packaged foods
-Drinks
-Vitamin supplements
-Snacks, bread, etc.
-Staples (rice, noodles, pasta, flour, etc.)
-Teas, coffee, etc.
-Condiments, sauces and preserves/jams

Sentimental Items
By the time you reach this final stage of your tidying festival, you have sufficiently honed your sensitivity to what sparks joy for you. Make good use of the things you choose to keep for the next stage of your life. Ask yourself, “Will the future me need this to spark joy?” and confront each item to put your past self in order:

-Awards, certificates, diplomas, yearbooks, trophies, medals, etc.
-Artwork (including children’s)
-Relics and keepsakes
-Letters
-Photos
-Journals and scrapbooks
-Dolls and stuffed animals
-Photos
-Journals and scrapbooks