Tip for keeping up on housework

I've realized that the housework is going to beat me, but I have yet to give up the battle. One of the things I am trying to do is keep a container handy (plastic bin or bucket or a basket) and whenever I am in a room where there's things out of place I pile them into the bin and pack it around with me putting them where they go until it's empty then set it in a easy to reach place again. It helps to get the smaller creeping clutter pushed back and I even tend to pick up larger things and relocate them while I'm putting things away.