Cut the clutter and spring clean your way to cash!

The freezing temperatures, ubiquitous snow and all-round terrible weather that became so much a part of our lives over the last couple of months have now receded, making way instead for a bit of sunshine.

Winter's out and spring's here.

So now could be the perfect time to do a bit of spring cleaning - and earn cash for it at the same time.

Now, I'm not suggesting you don the marigolds, pick up the feather duster and take up a part-time cleaning job.

Flog your clutter for cash!

No, I'm suggesting you flog your unwanted clutter using an online marketplace or classified ads.

Just think for a minute about all of that stuff taking up valuable space in your home that you don't ever use.

Speaking to Channel 4's 4Homes, Sue Kay, founder of professional de-cluttering and organising service No More Clutter, says: "You just can't be organised in a cluttered home. It saps your time and energy. Everyone is so busy but spending just a little time getting organised can free up more time for what you really want to do - no-one wants to spend an hour looking for their keys when they could be putting their feet up."

Unused TVs, sports equipment, clothes - all of it could end up in a household that would put it to use, sticking some money in your pocket at the same time.

And a fair bit too.

Research conducted by insurance comparison service comparethemarket.com shows householders in Britain value the items in their garages at between £501 and £1,000.

So where can we sell all of this clutter and earn ourselves a few pretty pennies?

You can sell your unwanted stuff with Loot

Well, Loot.

Loot has a multitude of listings both online and in its printed publication - covering categories like home entertainment, home and garden, computing, collectables and books.

And spring cleaners should be ruthless, according to property expert and former Changing Rooms co-presenter Linda Barker.

In a feature for the GMTV website, she says: "Sort through all your possessions and think have I used this in the past two years? If the answer is no then it's got to go!"

Ms Kay goes on to add: "People have stuff sitting around for years because they just never get round to doing a car boot sale."

But who needs the hassle of a car boot sale when you can stick an advert online in the comfort of your own home - or in the paper?

And all for free?

Additionally, you could find yourself advertising your item to thousands of people.

Loot has a distribution of more than 47,000 copies in London, 35,000 in Manchester and 17,000 in Liverpool.

I doubt you'd get that from a car boot sale.

So, although we currently live in times of economic instability and financial hardship, with households all over the country struggling to get by from day to day, people still have a great opportunity to get rid of their waste and fill their coffers at the same time.

And all from a little spring clean...