Nic, my house is never 100% clean (by that I mean there is always some clutter and stuff on the floor) and NEVER what you would call a showpiece LOL, but it's ours and it's well lived in and loved. What I have found really helps is to get rid of anything once it is too small or worn out to the passed on. We have limited storage space so I just can't hang onto stuff now if its really not needed. Another rule of thumb I go by is if I haven't taken it out of storage for more than 12mths then I can't possibly need it so I donate it to charity. I have loads of those cheap roller boxes to store stuff in too - winter bedding and seasonal clothes. And I don't sweat the small stuff anymore. I mop the floor when it's too sticky to walk on barefoot (usually once a month but obviously more often if there is a big spill or anything) and if I can't get everything done in a day I just do it the next day. I make sure that no matter what I wash clothes every two days otherwise it builds up so quickly. My older three are big enough now to help out and each night before bed we do a quick tidy up of the loungeroom and put everything away.