What's the difference between a hoarder and clutter?

Author: Sebastian Friesen  |  Last update: Sunday, March 23, 2025

You might go through busy periods of life where cleaning isn't a high priority and clutter builds up, but this isn't hoarding. Some of the differences between clutter and hoarding include excessive disorganized piles of objects and extreme difficulty getting rid of items.

Is clutter the same as hoarding?

Hoarding Disorder is a recognized psychological disorder and a painful challenge for everyone involved. Side-effects of Hoarding Disorder can range from feelings of shame and the breakdown of relationships, to health and safety concerns and loss of housing. Then again, not every pile of clutter is hoarding.

Are you a hoarder or just messy?

Messy people have a normal amount of stuff; they just don't have it put away neatly. Hoarders have way too much stuff. It might be neatly organized, or it might be a mess. It's the amount of stuff that makes the difference. Messy people can (at times) be convinced to clean up (especially if company is coming!)

What counts as clutter?

There are four types of clutter that everyone should know: physical, digital, emotional, and spiritual. Some are easier to tackle than others, but the root concept of having difficulty letting go is at the root of all four types.

At what point is someone considered a hoarder?

Getting and keeping too many items that you may not have a need for right now and don't have space for. Ongoing difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of their actual value. Feeling a need to save these items and being upset by the thought of getting rid of them.

Hoarding vs Clutter

What are the 5 stages of clutter?

The five stages of hoarding are minimal clutter, mild clutter, moderate clutter, severe clutter, and extreme clutter.

What does a level 1 hoarder look like?

It is often unrecognized by outside observers and the hoarder. Indicators include difficulty parting with redundant items, excessive shopping for items already in the home or not needed, accessible stairs, doors, and windows, no noticeable odors in the home, little to no visible…

What are the three types of clutter?

There are a few different categories of clutter, according to Hemphill:
  • Physical.
  • Digital.
  • Emotional.
  • Spiritual.

What is clutter a symptom of?

"Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression or obsessive compulsive disorder," Hurtado says. "If this is the case, the behavior needs to change versus the logistics of the home, like space or layout."

What clutter is telling you?

“Kerri Richardson's new book, What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You helps you clear the clutter in your life by figuring out why it's in your life to begin with. It not only helps you eliminate physical clutter, but emotional and mental blockages, too, creating space for your soul to be energized!

What personality is a hoarder?

Personality: Many people with hoarding disorder show indecisiveness or perfectionism. Heredity: If you have a family member with hoarding disorder, you are more likely to develop it yourself. Stressful life events: Triggers such as the death of a loved one, an eviction, or divorce may trigger hoarding behavior.

How do you tell a hoarder to clean?

Offering general support
  1. Use respectful language. Don't refer to their possessions as 'junk' or 'rubbish'. ...
  2. Don't focus on a total clean-up. ...
  3. Listen to what they want. ...
  4. Think carefully about gifts. ...
  5. Don't pressure them to let you into their space. ...
  6. Let them know you are there. ...
  7. Include your loved one in calls to authorities.

When is collecting a problem?

Collecting as a hobby can become hoarding or compulsive hoarding, differing in that covering a large amount of living area with possessions leads to significant distress or impairment.

What are the two types of hoarding?

Each type shares core characteristics like difficulty discarding items, leading to clutter that disrupts living spaces.
  • Object Hoarding. Object hoarding is the most common type of hoarding disorder, where individuals accumulate a wide range of items. ...
  • Animal Hoarding. ...
  • Digital Hoarding.

What does ADHD clutter look like?

Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety

This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.

What is a mental clutter?

Posted: February 2019. Mental clutter refers to times when our mind has too many thoughts which makes it difficult to process and focus. A cluttered mind is disrupting and it hinders our productivity, balance and even our mental health.

What does clutter say about a person?

For example, if your clutter consists of other people's stuff, you might have issues with boundaries; if your clutter is largely memorabilia from your past, you may have trouble letting go of the past and moving forward; and if you constantly find yourself relying on the phrase “better to have it and not need it than ...

What does a level 2 hoarder look like?

Hoarding Level Two: Clutter inhabits 2 or more rooms, light odors, overflowing garbage cans, light mildew in kitchens and bathrooms, one exit is blocked, some pet dander or pet waste puddles, and limited evidence of housekeeping.

What is the root cause of clutter?

Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.

What is the difference between hoarding and clutter in a house?

For that reason, someone with hoarding disorder accumulates a lot of stuff, to the point that it impacts their day to day life. Clutter, on the other hand, refers to things around the home that are disorganized and don't have a place, notes the International OCD Foundation.

What is the one touch rule for clutter?

Ltd., said that the one-touch rule involves handling an item only once. “Rather than picking something up and setting it down temporarily, you place it immediately in its designated spot. This habit minimises clutter, and helps maintain organisation, and prevents items from piling up,” he said.

What is the core 4 method of decluttering?

Coined by pro organizer Kayleen Kelly, the “Core 4 Method” breaks the decluttering process into four simple steps: clear out, categorize, cut out, and contain. In essence, it's designed to take the stress and overwhelm out of the organizing process.

How do you tell if someone is a hoarder or just messy?

Compulsive hoarding is different from having a cluttered home or collecting, because the items are not displayed, used or have any value. Hoarding is a persistent problem that leads to clutter and an excessive accumulation of items that eventually disrupts someone's ability to use their living space.

What is the root cause of hoarding?

In many cases, stressful or traumatic events, such as divorce or the death of a loved one, are associated with the onset of hoarding symptoms.

At what age does hoarding peak?

Hoarding behaviors can begin as early as the teenage years, although the average age of a person seeking treatment for hoarding is about 50 years of age. Without effective treatment, individuals who hoard often endure a lifelong struggle with hoarding.

Previous article
What is the minimum clearance around a chimney?
Next article
What do contractors charge to install cabinets?