It can be difficult to keep a clean house when you have children running round playing with anything they can reach and leaving a trail of mess behind them.
Luckily, with these tips you can say goodbye to clutter!
 If there are certain places in your house which cause you stress (the corner of a room/ a particularly cluttered cupboard) write down how you would like that space to look. Then you can visualise the space organised and mess free.
If an entire room needs your attention, start from the corner and work your way in. If you start at random points you will get confused. Sort things into piles - rubbish, clothes you want to keep etc, and organise papers before deciding what to shred.
Have a "charity" pile instead of throwing everything in the bin. This can help you to feel more calm.
A 'maybe' pile is a good idea if you think 'I may need it one day'. Items in this pile can be lent to friends or family. If you have forgotten about it after a few months, it's pretty likely you don't need it!
Don't rush - make sure you take regular breaks. This will allow you to have second thoughts about items you have thrown out, and you may have some fresh ideas about what to do with the space.
Follow the fortnight rule - if something has been out for a fortnight and not used, put it away or throw it out!
Don't be too ruthless and throw away items that you may regret. The 'maybe' pile will come in handy as you can salvage any items you decide you want to keep for yourself.
Organise your clothes by season. If it's Summer, pack away your Winter clothes and vice versa. Store the clothes you don't need in clear plastic boxes under a bed or sofa if you have space. If you don't have enough space for all your favourite clothes, self storage can mean your very own walk in wardrobe!
Think about investing in dual-purpose furniture which can act as storage space as well. For example, a bed with draws underneath to store linen, or a coffee table which doubles as a trunk for bits and bobs.
To make the de-cluttering experience more fun invite friends over so you can chat at the same time. It's also a good idea to have someone with you for a second opinion and to stop you making any wrong decisions.
September 2011
Tips by Kevin Pratt, Access Self Storage 'de-clutter expert' (We love this! Do you think people ever say 'When I grow up, I want to be a De-Clutter Expert!'?) | 
Declutter and De-stress
