1. GET IN THE RIGHT MINDSET
Often the inspiration to tidy up comes in a flash, followed by a mad dash around a few rooms where objects close to hand are rounded up and stuffed into bin liners and then carted off to the local tip.
But a proper declutter is an exercise that should be done with an objective eye, often with help from a close friend or family member so that all the junk you do not actually need is cleared out.
It is also important to take a few days to tackle the task rather than just a couple of hours. Delving deep into the back of wardrobes and garage spaces to get rid of rubbish often requires practical help from others.
A whirlwind approach is not a long-term solution to clutter. Cherry Rudge, a professional decluttering and organising consultant who runs Rainbow Red in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, says: "Simply cleaning out a home looking for things to sell or just throw into a skip is the wrong approach.
"Instead, you should try to understand the nature of hoarding and the reasons why you have sentimental attachments.
"If decluttering is done properly you will bring more order to your life and improve your self-confidence. It is all about having a strong sense of wellbeing and to achieve this you should reflect on the task."
She adds: "Seek guidance if you struggle to let go of things even if you know there is too much clutter in your house. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured but accept it is a task that must be tackled.
"Having someone there to support you can make all the difference. As long as they adopt a non-judgmental listening approach it should help."
Rudge, a member of the 180-member Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers, charges £35 an hour for home visits. Nothing is cleared out until a customer is mentally prepared to embark on such a project.
2. FIND A PLACE TO START
Once the decision has been made to declutter, the next move is to work out where to begin.
Kate Ibbotson runs a decluttering consultation business, A Tidy Mind, from Menston in West Yorkshire.
Although she believes it is important to keep on top of mess in the house, she says a clean-up does not mean you must live in "a Zen garden".
Kate says: "It is not necessarily that items on show must go. Often it is the hidden ones behind the scenes that never seem to get used that need to be sold off, given away or thrown out.
"You have to mean business which requires looking into the back of wardrobes, under beds and storage spaces."
She says it is a good idea to tackle one room at a time. A spare bedroom can often be a natural place to start.
She adds: "Go through boxes looking at items one by one and ask yourself whether they add value to your life. Not just practically but emotionally.
"For example, if you have a collection of plates or crockery that is stored and not used - perhaps given by family or friends years ago as a gift - ask yourself: 'Is this something I could easily live without?'"
Kate believes clothes are ideal for a clearout, with changing sizes, fashions and tastes an excuse for tackling an over-full wardrobe.
She says: "Often it is high achievers and those who do not have much spare time that need to declutter. If suffering from anxiety or depression you might also be prone to hoarding. With guidance you can sort out a cluttered home within two or three days. People rarely need to tackle every single room."
3. SELL OVER THE INTERNET
The saying goes that "one man's trash is another man's treasure". As the internet is the world's biggest marketplace it makes sense to go online to find someone who is prepared to buy your unwanted junk.
But before getting too excited about the prospect it is also worth reminding yourself the reasons why you are offloading some of it.
Hidden among the mountains of clutter will be gems that can be turned into a tidy profit, but there will also be items that are no more than rubbish.
5. GIVE TO A GOOD CAUSE
Giving to charity will not make you wealthier but your generosity will help others.
There are more than 10,000 charity shops across Britain which rely on the goodwill of customers to donate unwanted items. These sales generate £290 million of annual income for charities. Clothes are particularly sought after, especially good quality dresses, trousers and shirts.
Even clothing that does not get sold often gets exported to developing countries where others will appreciate wearing them.
Well-used clothes are worth giving away to recycling schemes such as Rag Bag where they can be turned into industrial cloths, carpets, underlay and mattress linings.
Donating clothes also saves on the 1.2 million tons of clothing that needlessly goes into landfill each year.
Other sought-after items include books, CDS, DVDs, kitchenware, toys and games, mobile phones and furniture. Charities rarely want large electrical items as it is hard to check them for safety.
Anything that is broken, dirty, incomplete or unsafe is usually best carted off to the rubbish tip.
Call a charity shop before taking goods to check they want your clutter. Shops do not like you dumping goods on their doorstep but sometimes are willing to drive out and pick up large items of furniture.
Trading websites such as The Freecycle Network allow you to list items you are prepared to give away to others.
Other recycling websites include Freegle and Government-backed Recycle Now.
... AND PROFIT FROM THAT EXTRA SPACE
Once you have cleared out the garage and found space in the attic or spare room you might consider renting it out for storage.
That way, you can make money from other people who have not been quite so effective with their decluttering.
Websites such as Storenextdoor and Storemates can help you rent out your space - on average £75 a month for a spare room and as much as £90 a month for a garage space.
