Junk mail. Piles of it. In your mailbox, every day. You don't want it. Most of the time, you didn't ask for it. But when it arrives, you have to "do" something with it: Shred it. Trash it. Recycle it.

You'll probably never eliminate "all" the mail you don't want. But with a little effort, you can remove your name from enough mailing lists and databases to cut down some of the clutter.

We've rounded up some of the best tips for opting out of the direct-mail deluge. Follow these steps and you're bound to lessen your mail carrier's load.

Remember: You won't see results right away, because a lot of direct mail is prepared and addressed in advance. So wait at least two or three months before you throw up your hands in disgust.

It's a painstaking process -- but so is handling all that junk mail, right?

Credit card offers

If you're not shopping for a new credit card, opt out of those pre-approved offers. If you don't want them, they're useless -- and they can be a great tool for identity thieves.

Remove yourself from the lists of the major credit card bureaus, which supply your credit score and information to companies that want to send you those offers. The Consumer Reporting Credit Industry will let you opt out of all those lists at once. You can opt out for five years, opt out permanently, or opt in again if you change your mind.

Get off the list: Go to www.optoutprescreen.com or call (888) 567-8688

Direct marketing mail

The Direct Marketing Association maintains lists of addresses for advertising mail. Companies that are DMA members are required to use the "do not mail" lists that purge your name from the system at your request. (Note: this will cost you $1online or by mail.)

Get off the list: www.dmaconsumers.org/ consumerassistance.html

Or send your address and request (include a $1 check or money order payable to the Direct Marketing Association) to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512.

As backup, contact these other big direct-marketing mailers (there is no charge for these):

Donnelley Marketing is a major compiler of consumer information.

Get off the list: Send a removal request to Opt Out, Donnelly Marketing, Database Operations, 416 S. Bell Ave., Ames, IA 50010. Remember to enclose your full name (including middle initial) and address.

Equifax (yes, the credit bureau) also does some direct marketing.

Get off the list: (800) 873-7655

Experian Marketing Solutions is another credit bureau that dips into direct marketing.

Get off the list: (888) 246-2804

Acxiom is a major provider of consumer information and statistics to direct marketers.

Get off the list: Go to www.acxiom.com, click on "Contact Us" and select the "U.S. Consumer Opt Out" form.

Catalogs

Here's the thing about catalogs. Most of the time, you receive them because you have a relationship with that company, so they didn't buy your name on a list. Maybe you bought something and gave your phone number to the cashier when you checked out. Or you ordered something online or through a catalog. This means you'll have to contact the company directly and ask to be removed.

Get off the list: Start by calling the customer service number when you receive a catalog. Have the catalog handy, because you'll probably need information that's on the mailing label. (If you don't see a phone number, send a letter asking to be removed -- and enclose the mailing label.)

Other catalogs are sent because you bought something from a similar retailer, or you're labeled on some marketing list as a sports nut or a do-it-yourselfer. Companies buy that sort of information from one another, and that means the catalogs in your mailbox multiply.

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