Staying Clutter-Free

• Have a ten minute tidy every night before you go to bed. Throw out newspapers, magazines, unwanted mail. Don't let clutter reaccumulate.
• It's said that 80% of people wear only 20% of their wardrobe. Examine your clothes with a ruthless eye. Part company with items that haven't been worn for over a year, including jewellery. Bag clothes that no longer fit, and label with a date six months away. Still not fitting after six months? Take the bag to a charity shop. After that, keep a 'chuck it out' bag permanently in the wardrobe to fill with things for the charity shop.
• Treat shopping for goods as passe. Spend the money on eating out, going to the theatre, holidays. Every time you do succumb to a new purchase, throw out a similar, old item. One pair of shoes in, one pair out.
• Gather together old packs of photographs. Pick the best from each batch and make them into framed collages, or put into albums. Throw the rest away.
• Avoid accumulating a pile of clothes on the bedroom chair. Put your clothes on your bed as you undress every night, then put them away or into the laundry basket before you get into bed.
• If you feel totally overwhelmed by the amount of junk you need to clear, consider calling in a decluttering expert, who may charge an hourly or daily rate to help you with the clear-out. Try the National Association of Professional Organizers.