Dear Karen,

I've always been a clutter-clearing person but recently I don't have enough time to do the clearing I'd like to. When I've done the daily work concerning my baby boys (aged two years and 9 months) the house and the garden there's not much time left.

May I wait for some months to do the next sincere clutter-clearing? As we moved to our new house some months ago it's only the clearing of small cupboards and drawers which has to be done but it really makes me grumpy to see the things waiting to be cleared and not being able to do it.

- Steffanie, Germany

Karen's reply:

It would be best to clear a small area whenever you can rather than let the problem build. You say you may have to wait for some months but it is very easy for months to turn into years when caring for young children.

And if you have put on some extra weight since having the children it is even more important that you do what you can whenever you can. Weight gain and clutter build up often go hand in hand and the longer you leave it the more difficult it is to shed both.