Queen of Clean: Marie Kondo to Help People Get Organized

 

Marie Kondo is an internationally-known expert on cleaning. Her first book, called the “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” was published in Japanese in 2011. It has sold more than 10 million copies in more than 40 countries.

Yet fans want more help and information. So Kondo is launching² a television show, a team of workers who will visit clients’ homes, and a set of special paper boxes to keep things organized. A set of three costs $89.

Kondo says the boxes were not part of her original idea. In her book about tidying up, she gave two main pieces of advice. First, keep only things that give you joy. Second, store those things in places they can be easily reached and put away.

Kondo did not tell readers to get special containers for their things. Instead, she suggested people use containers they already had, such as shoe boxes.

But fans still ask Kondo what kinds of containers they need to achieve her special way of organizing.

So Kondo recently appeared in New York City to launch¹ her new boxes. They are about the shape and size of shoe boxes. They are colored light pink, gray, brown and purple. The insides are painted with designs such as a tree branch dotted with small white flowers.

Kondo says the idea behind the boxes is not to hide things. Instead, it is to make the things inside feel happy. She recommends using them for glasses, bags, papers, socks, and t-shirts.

“I’m probably the only person in the world who makes such an official occasion³ to introduce empty boxes,” Kondo noted⁴ to the reporters who had come for her announcement.

In addition to helping⁵ people tidy up, the boxes will also likely increase Kondo’s earnings⁶ and impact⁷. In 2015, Time magazine called her one of the year’s most influential⁸ people. And, since “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” she has written three other books and is planning a new one about organizing the workplace.

She has also had two children, girls ages 3 and almost 2.

Kondo admits that growing a family can be challenging. But she says organizing has been her passion since she was five years old. Now she is teaching⁹ her children to do it. When Kondo folds clothes, she says, she hopes her daughters watch.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

tidying up - v. making something clean and organized

original - adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning

occasion - n. a special event or time

1 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

2 launching   

n.（火箭等的）发射；（船的）下水（典礼）；发动；发行v.发射( launch的现在分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• They are launching out into a series of scientific experiments. 他们正在着手进行一系列科学试验。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• John is launching his son on a career in banking. 约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 occasion   

n.场合，时机，机会，诱因，理由；vt.惹起，引起

参考例句：

• Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
• Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

7 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。