We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Connection Between Clutter and Hoarding?

By Mandi Rogier
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,342
Share

Clutter and hoarding go hand in hand for individuals with the condition sometimes referred to as compulsive hoarding or "hoard and clutter syndrome." This condition is loosely defined as the excessive gathering of needless items. The home of a hoarder is typically filled with clutter to the point where rooms are no longer usable.

Hoarders deal with many complex issues that prevent them from getting rid of their clutter. Despite any efforts they may make to organize their belongings, the root of the problem lies in the fact that they will not get rid of their clutter or stop hoarding because for them this is a compulsive need. The level of clutter in serious hoarders’ homes can be so severe that it results in unsanitary and unsafe living conditions. Mold, mildew, and rodent and insect infestations thrive in this type of environment.

The piles of paper that many hoarders collect in the form of newspapers, magazines, books, mail, and other documents can make the home a severe fire hazard. Untidy piles of belongings often make it difficult to move from one room to the next. This situation is especially dangerous for elderly family members who are more prone to falling and seriously injuring themselves in an environment of clutter and hoarding.

Helping someone who struggles with clutter and hoarding to reclaim her home can be difficult. Before any physical work can be done, the individual must seek psychiatric help. Many hoarders suffer from a form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which causes them to continuously bring new items into the home. Behavioral therapy from a trained professional is necessary to relieve the anxiety associated with cleaning out the clutter and to prevent the hoarder from simply returning her home to the previous state in a few months’ time.

Once the individual is prepared to tackle the clutter and hoarding that has overtaken the home, the monumental task of clearing out what is likely years’ or decades’ worth of possessions takes place. Cleaning out the clutter can take months and thousands of dollars’ worth of work, not to mention the cost of repairing a home with water damage, mold, or infestations.

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization has created a Clutter-Hoarding Scale that can help concerned friends and family members as well as the hoarders themselves to determine how severe the problem is. Warning signs of a hoarder with a serious problem include passageways narrowed due to clutter, entire rooms that are unusable because of the accumulation of items, obvious household odors, and hazardous messes such as broken glass.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By honeybees — On Jun 16, 2011

I was surprised to read about how many people really suffer from a hoarding disorder. This goes beyond normal clutter and has implications that most people do not understand. I also read that there are more people who live this way than what many realize. Often times you would never guess from what you see on the outside.

I know some people that are not very good housekeepers and pretty much have a trail through their house. I see this as being more lazy than being a hoarder, but everyone has their reasons for what they keep and what they get rid of.

Some people see keeping broken appliances as being thrifty - because they are going to fix it someday. Others see this as clutter and would not even think about keeping it around.

By bagley79 — On Jun 14, 2011

There have been several television shows and articles written recently on hoarding, which have helped people become more aware of this problem. I think one of the hardest things is to determine what is normal clutter and what is hoarding.

Some people have a very hard time letting go of clutter, whether it be because of sentimental reasons or just throwing anything away is hard for them. It doesn't work for someone to come in and just get rid of their stuff for them because given some time, they will just begin the process all over again.

There are usually emotional issues that are connected with this type of hoarding that need to be addressed. Just getting ridding of the clutter does not solve the problem for them.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-connection-between-clutter-and-hoarding.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.