The short answer
One in, one out, applied at the moment of purchase rather than afterwards. If you cannot name what is leaving, you are not buying it.
- Decide what goes before the new thing arrives. A new coat means an old coat leaves.
- Keep a permanent outbound box somewhere accessible, and take it when it is full.
- Apply a waiting period to anything non-essential over a set amount. A week is enough to kill most of it.
- Watch the categories that breed: mugs, cables, carrier bags, cleaning products, socks, novelty kitchen gadgets.
What will ruin it
This does not work as a rule applied to somebody else in the house. It works on your own belongings and it causes arguments when applied to anyone else's.
Why it works
Clutter is a flow problem rather than a storage problem. If the rate in exceeds the rate out, any amount of storage fills up eventually, and the only variable you fully control is the rate in.
Tipking is general household information, not professional advice. Test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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