Spring Cleaning

Ok, it's not spring, but after cleaning, wallpapering and clearing out the lounge/dining of things that didn't really belong there, we started to end up with small piles of stuff elsewhere (a common problem in my house-guilty as charged). I've slowly been listing some larger 'excess to requirements' items on Trademe and have so far managed to sell my old washing machine, the black display cabinet, old camp stretchers and mum's old sewing machine to name just a few.
I was blown away reading Gypsy's blog where she has said she is removing 7 items a day from the house - Go Girl! I don't think I'm anywhere near that motivated, but certainly I'm certainly trying to lessen the clutter.
It started early last year, when Wendy lent me her book "It's all too much" and then when both Ashley and Wendy were moving in, it became a necessity, as we had to clear out the spare room completely and the stuff had to go somewhere.
As well as the large items above, we have sent three car loads off to the Op shop and a trip with ute and trailer to the dump!. When I think about it now, I can't even image how I ever let that much crap pile up in the house (broken toys, 'too small' clothes, torn books, excessive ornaments, etc), let alone where I would even fit it back into my house now. It's amazing just how much we hang onto unnecessarily.
It has made us think a bit more before buying now too. Christmas presents were carefully chosen and the amount was way down on previous years. Partially because we just didn't have the money and partially because, (for our children) they just really don't need that much stuff.
There is still so far to go, but we'll get there slowly. My best method - I think of it as if we are preparing to move house and working out what I really don't use anymore, really don't need and what I would not really pack and forward onto another house - makes it quite clear it some instances. Plus if I haven't needed it, used it or taken it out in the past 2 years, do I really need to keep it anyway???
It'll be an ongoing process, but hopefully if I keep doing a little bit every week, then it will stay under control.