When the house gets messy, do a 10 minute tidy. Everyone in the family drops what they are doing and picks up mess, brushes and hoovers the floors.

With sentimental items, be selective. Choose a beautiful box in which to keep them. Give the rest away to someone who will use them or package them up and keep them in a storage facility where you know they’ll be safe.

Nest luggage. Keep small suitcases and travel bags inside bigger suitcases (like Russian dolls) when they are not being used.

Keep bills, receipts and warranties in their own files. Trendy office files are cheap and easy to get hold of from any stationery stores.

Bin junk mail straight away in the paper recycling bin.

Have a designated place for the kids to put their school backpacks and shoes.

Take out a couple of hours and sort through your wardrobe and drawers ­ be ruthless. Any clothes that are at least two sizes too small can go in a bag to charity. Those looking a bit grotty or old, RECYCLE.

Group your clothes together i.e. shirts with shirts, dresses with dresses, trousers with trousers etc.

Limit your laundry duties to once or twice a week. Designate a day for ironing and put away, straight away.

Something useful to remember is one in one out. For example if you buy a new hoover, throw the old one away or if it still works give it to someone who could use it.