Clutter is an enemy to home cleanliness, free time, sanity, and even the family budget! It makes cleaning house seem like an insurmountable task. It robs you of valuable time as you search for missing keys, papers, jewelry...you name it. Most people find it hard to have organized thoughts when surrounded by clutter. Misplacing bills can lead to late payment charges, thus putting a strain on the family budget. If Mr. Clutter is a resident of your home, it is time to take the first step toward sending him down the road! Start with one room. Set out 3 baskets and label them: "Trash," Thrift Shop," & "Keep." If there are storage areas in the room you are working on, clear them out too. Once all the excess stuff is out, box up the Thrift Shop items and put them in the car. Empty the basket labeled "trash" into the trash can. Next take a good look at the storage areas in the room and label your baskets (you may need to add a few) accordingly. Label one basket "Other Rooms" for all the items that do not belong in this room. Tackle one room per week until you are done. Whether you plan to clean your own house or hire a cleaning company to do it for you, an organized, clutter-free home will be less daunting and/or less expensive to clean. And the results will be so much more rewarding. There is very little satisfaction in having a clean, but still-cluttered, house.