Clutter Is More Than Embarrassing, It's Dangerous

[jsdmyndrdejl]

Having clutter in your house is perfectly normal. If you are a human being, you're going to accumulate "stuff". But when it begins to pile up it becomes a problem. For instance, if you can't quickly access an exit door or window during a fire, it could cost your life (or the life of a loved one). When seconds count and you need to find medication (for asthma or heart problems), clutter could delay you just long enough to lead to deadly consequences. If the babysitter needs to find emergency phone numbers right away, but is met with a mound of disorganized papers... It's Easier To Protect Your Family - And Overcome Your "Messy Habit"

[AE Todd]

OP may have posted this as spam, but there is a type of disease where a person hoards stuff and fills up their living space to the point where there is no room beside a little path between rooms. Here is more about it:

I think there was a case in New York City in the 40s or so where two brothers were discovered entombed in the apartment, after their hoard of stuff collaped onto them.

[Steve B]

Darn right, clutter IS dangerous. Here in Las Vegas, an old Navy retiree let his son and grandson live in his house when he went off to live in a retirement area. Unknown to Grandpa, son and grandson were packrats and scrounged the neighborhood, bringing in tons of worthless things that people would throw away. Soon the neighbors went to the county and complained. Grandpa was notified, and went to investigate. He saw what was happening, called a hauler to come in and haul away the mess for $4k, and legally evicted son and grandson. They caught up with the old man and shot him. They were worse shots than antique collectors, merely giving the old guy a flesh wound. The old man said, "Hell, I was shot worse than that in the Navy, and pulled up his shirt to show a huge scar." Last I heard, son and grandson were still in jail.

Steve Steve

[Steve B]

Actually, one died of natural causes, and when they were cleaning out the big building, they found the semi-mummified corpse of the other who had been caught under one of his own booby traps of tons of newspapers.

Steve

[Dan Espen]

Collyer brothers.

[AE Todd]

is the link to their story.

[cas]

That looks like my neighbor's basement....they spend their w/e at garage sales buying items "they're going to fix up and sell". Over the winter their water bills went way up, they couldn't find a leak. Eventually the owner's father went over and discovered the leak after cleaning out a 10x13 room full of books. Pretty nasty, one stack was covered in black mold.

[Larry Caldwell]

No, it's not. Most people throw stuff out when it gets in the way. Where do you think all that stuff at Goodwill and Salvation Army comes from?