I have recently published an article on five easy ways to get clutter control. It has, what I consider to be, great tips on how to prevent clutter from happening. I have since realized that there are many of us out there, and I have been there too, that feel like their house is such a huge mess that it is impossible to clean.

If you feel like your house has past the point of no return and you cant even imagine getting clutter control, read on. I will reveal to you five tried and true ways to tackle the house that has been over taken by clutter and transform it into a tidy, streamlined home that will make you proud!

Once you have cleared your clutter, read my other article for how to have clutter control once and for all!

1. Tip number one: Use what I like to call, The 5 Box Method.

I actually read about this tip in a magazine and I think that it is ingenious! Decide the first room that you want to tackle. If a room is too big of a project, then pick the first area you are going to tackle.

Next, label five boxes: Junk, Give Away/Sell, Keep, Sentimental, and Not Sure. Go through each item in the area and put it in the appropriate box. When you have cleared the area, throw away the stuff in the junk box and give away/sell the stuff in the give away/sell box. By doing this you should now have enough room to find a proper place for the stuff in the keep box. Label what is in the sentimental box, i.e. school paper, pictures, collectibles and store them in an attic, garage, or storage shed. Tape up the Not Sure box and store it somewhere out of the way. Chances are that if you dont use that stuff in 3-6 months you wont, so get rid of it. Dont open it, just take it to the good will!

This can be a daunting task, so make sure that you set aside enough time to do it properly and then reward yourself with a special treat when you are finished. Use this tactic in every room until your entire house is organized.

2. Tip number two: Clean and put away fifty percent of your ornaments and decorations.

This will cut down on the amount of dusting that you have to do, and will give your house a less cluttered look. This is also a nice idea because you can now rotate things for an instant updated look without any out of pocket expense.

3. Tip number three: If you are feeling completely overwhelmed, bribe someone to help you.

This could be a friend, your mom, your kids, or even yes, your husband. Find something that will be a worthwhile trade and ask for help! Having someone to help tackle any task with makes it much more enjoyable and a less intimidating experience. Also, have an objectionable opinion can make justifying why you need 57 Tupperware lids, which have no mates, seem kind of silly. 4. Tip number four: Stop buying things!

I know can you actually believe a woman is saying this? Think about it though, the less stuff you have, the less things there will be to cause clutter. If you absolutely love to shop, like me, work out a system. In the store, stop and think, do I really need this? My husband and I have started a new system where we go through the store and pick out what we want, and when we get to the register we check and see if we really need everything in the cart. If we dont we put it back. It cuts out the impulse buys. This is good for your house, and your checkbook!

Another system you could use is a one in one out system. Before you buy something new, decide one thing that you are going to get rid of. If you buy a new sweater, toy for the kids or trinket for your husband, than sell or give something away of a similar nature.

5. Tip number five: Never give up!

Getting rid of clutter can seem like a never ending chore. It doesnt have to be however! Keep working and using the strategies that I have listed here and in my other article, Get Clutter Control 5 Easy Tips, and you will prevail! You will have a clutter free home that you can be proud of, and better yet one that you can maintain.