The Netflix series "Tidying Up With Marie Kondo" is inspiring thousands of people to organize and declutter their lives in a big way. 

"It has been phenomenal for the organizing industry because people are now a bit more aware there are methodologies," said Julie Ulmer, a professional organizer who owns Minding Your Manor and MindingYourManor.com.

Ulmer has been helping people in the Capital Region organize their homes for more than 10 years. She says while it is great the show is inspiring people, the "KonMari" method does not work for everyone.

"If you did take all of your clothes, every single stitch of clothing and you laid it out, it can be overwhelming," Ulmer said. 'That's a really big mountain."

Ulmer went to Spectrum News reporter Erika Leigh's apartment to help her organize and declutter. But, the pair did not work on the massive amount of clothing Erika has. Maybe next time?

"What are the pain points or the trouble spots that are in your home?" Ulmer asked Leigh.

"OK, so everything is always a mess," Leigh said. "I just moved in two months ago. My boyfriend just moved in two weeks ago."

Ulmer talked to Leigh about which spots are the most difficult to manage, which Leigh said are her closet, which is overwhelmed with clothing; her linen closet, which is overwhelmed with products; and her crafting supplies.

Ulmer did a walk-through of Leigh's apartment and looked at how things were stored. Some of Leigh's organizational tools, baskets and bins to group items, and a towel tower repurposed on the bathroom counter to hold makeup and hair supplies, were both what Ulmer considered good uses of space.

"Good! Look at you, there you go. That's perfect. You're using upward space because that's almost a dead corner," Ulmer said of the towel tower.

But Leigh still isn't an expert, so Ulmer helped her tackle the linen closet.

"It is OK, it's not too bad, but it could be improved a little bit," Ulmer said.

Ulmer suggested they empty everything in the closet on to a flat space — in this case, an old blanket draped over the bed — and then group like items together. Some items that were in the wrong closet were placed into a separate bag to be re-homed.

Items like first aid, cold medicine, and prescriptions were grouped together, while back-up hair products went into another basket. Makeup and nail care went into one, and skincare and beauty treatments went into another.

Everything is then clearly labeled so it can easily be found. Towels were all grouped to one side of the closet and refolded to save space.

Marie Kondo asks people to keep items that spark joy, but Ulmer has a different approach.

"I actually challenge clients with an item and see if it sparks apathy," Ulmer said.

And for those items that spark apathy? She suggests separating them into different bags to recycle, repurpose, or throw away, and then use clear bags for clothing or accessories so you can make sure you see what you're going to donate, and don't accidentally drop off the trash.

The KonMari method breaks down organization in groups. First clothing, then books, and paper, then "komono" — which is everything else like kitchen gadgets, the garage, the basement, and the attic — and then momentos last.

Kucharski said Captain's Treasures in Clifton Park is also feeling the Marie Kondo effect.

"We've had a few more volunteers that we've added. We have about 65 volunteers," Kucharski said. "We have seen probably about a 20 to 30 percent increase over items coming into our back door."

The thrift shop, part of Captain CHS, is a non-profit supporting all of Saratoga County. Captain CHS runs a food pantry, economic assistance programs, provides help for people facing homelessness, and they run a youth shelter, or a youth home, as they prefer to call it.

Kucharsky said those items you may be apathetic about could make others feel very special. 

"When they're brave enough to make that call, the kids come in with just the clothes on their backs," Kucharski said. "These kids can come in [to the store] and feel like everyone else. They're getting a shower, they're coming in and have a brand new pair of shoes."

Kucharski said anyone at the youth home can pick out whatever they need from Captain's Treasures. Adults can also receive vouchers in some circumstances.

They make sure the kids have something to wear for school and adults have clothes for job interviews or work. Volunteers sort through everything donated to the thrift shop — like new and gently used items either go out on the racks and shelves.

Special items, like a fur coat that was once donated Kucharski said, might be saved for their annual gala. All the proceeds from items purchased at the shop, go right back into the programs Captain CHS has in the community. 

So if you're cleaning out your closets and cabinets do not stress.

"Let's make some more progress, make things better than it was before, and let's not worry about perfection," Ulmer said.

And make sure to give back.

"Please think of us when you're cleaning out and having a hard time handing off that item that you love," Kucharski said. "I promise you, anyone tak[ing] that home with them will love it just as much or even more."

Ulmer said if you decide to choose a professional organizer, there are some key things to consider, such the type of, and how much experience they have, their organizing style, and how well your personalities mesh.

She said in the group of organizers she knows, it's common to offer a complimentary consultation to see if you hit it off with your organizer, and are on the same page.

She also said if you're interested in becoming a professional organizer, the first steps are usually to declutter your own space, then help family and friends. There are classes and professional workshops you can take for memberships and certifications as well. 

If you're interested in donating to or shopping at Captain's Treasures, a list of items they accept and upcoming events are available on their website.