So Much Clutter, So Little Room: Examining the Roots of Hoarding

The New York Times ^ | Sunday, January 4, 2004 | NINA BERNSTEIN

[rabidralph]

I collect things, but I have clear paths to travel in my house. This seems like another waste of tax money. I doubt that the problem is that widespread that they need to spend our money on it. Soon, the police will be inspecting people's homes and ticketing them for keeping "too much" junk. Worse yet, home owners associations will probably write into their covenants that no more than X amount of house space can contain clutter.

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[csvset]

Hmmm... The Collect-o-maniacs won't want to pass this up.

Police-Seized Loot Is Online, and Yes, It's a Steal

[FormerACLUmember]

Great Article. I just printed it up and filed five cpoies ofd it in section 4, subsection AAZ. That would be located in the living room, about 3 feet down in in the pile of new filings.

Oh well, time to work on my giant collection of twine!

[tiamat]

My in-laws save EVERYTHING.... towering stacks in their basment and garage.. It's going to be awful to clear out their stuff once they pass on.

Tia

[YepYep]

Interesting article. Wonder if any FReeper might have a hoarding problem...uhhh...

[Tax Government]

"It's only a pathology when it interferes with their functioning."

That occurs long before they are stumbling over things. Ask the family of a person who resolutely refuses to throw away junk.

[jocon307]

I know some people like that. There's a lot that is inarguably garbage, like dead batteries, that they still will not discard. I have a pretty high trash tolerance, but when it starts to become pure filth, I can't take it anymore.

I myself have a problem throwing things away just because I don't want them, if they are broken or spoiled I can part with them easily. Two solutions to my hesitation I have found, garage sales and/or donation to the Salvation Army.

I have also heard the advice "clean when you are angry", you're better able to throw stuff out then.

[TroutStalker]

After my father-in-law died five years ago, my wife and I bought a larger house so her mom could live with us. They lived in their house for fifty years and both saved all kinds of things.

We spent a lot of time going through everything before having an estate sale. It was exhausting. Junk from garage sales, records from old businesses, stacks of magazines, seven bowling balls, drawers of old hardware filled the basement, attic and shed.

We are just now going through a dozen boxes of old photos, cards and memorabilia, pitching out pictures and obituaries of people we don't know.

My own solution to the problem is to move and/or get divorced periodically.

[Megben]

The Discovery Channel and Style Network both have shows that address this. They come into the house, clean them out, have a yard sale, organize and redecorate. It's fascinating to watch the hosts try to hide their horror when they see how some of these people live.

[dighton]

And a third, trying to explain why she had bought several puppets that she did not want or need from a television shopping channel, spoke of feeling sorry for the toys when no one else bid on them.

[TroutStalker]

An elderly woman who lived behind my brother had saved so much junk that her house was literally filled with magazines, newspapers and trash. There was only enough space for narrow passageways throughout, including the stairs. When she died, my brother said they filled over a dozen trash trucks cleaning it out.

[Catspaw]

I only hoard yarn. Well, and the pattern books. And a few knitting needles. And crochet hooks. And stuff.

But that's about all.

[tiamat]

That is awfully kind to give your MIL a home! You and your wife are good people.

Of course, I really cannot talk... I hoard things and so does my husband. Our daughter is showing signs of being a pat-rack as well. We are moving to a smaller home next year and I REALLY do not see what I will do with all of the accumulated crap of a 20 + year marriage.

Tia

[tgslTakoma]

Oh well, time to work on my giant collection of twine!

In a box labeled "bits of twine too short to use."

I used to tease my dad about all the "goodies" he collected. But whenever somebody needed something (squirrel cage blower or a motor or a fan belt for a '56 Chevy or a heating element for a Norge dryer...), they'd give dad a call and he'd locate it in his collection.

I've inherited his collector skills, but to a lesser degree; only because I've moved so many times over the years. He lived in the same house for 40 years.

[philo]

Ask the family of a person who resolutely refuses to throw away junk.

I see you've met my wife

[WorkingClassFilth]

"One woman, for example, found throwing out a newspaper so unbearable that her therapist instructed her never to buy one again."

I'd suggest a subscription to the 'Minneapolis Star Tribune.'

That would cure her in no time - she'd not only throw it out as soon as it arrived, after she'd thrown-up she'd likely tear her hair out by the roots and throw that away too.

[Catspaw]

Tia, we're in the same boat--literally. We're moving aboard our catamaran in a year or so and we'll be tossing about 75-85% of our stuff (my hubby says, "it's not a barge"). We'll sell what we can and toss the rest. The junk pickers will have a field day.

[tgslTakoma]

Ask the family of a person who resolutely refuses to throw away junk.

Junk? It's perfectly good stuff.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.