The most hoarded items in UK homes revealed
Cleaning products, books and memorabilia are among the most hoarded items in UK homes.
Despite our love for decluttering and cleaning, research by Dr. Beckmann has found that 70 per cent of people hoard unnecessary items that could be thrown away or recycled, with more than a quarter of people claiming to be self-confessed hoarders.
The most-hoarded items are clothing (54 per cent), books (47 per cent), souvenirs/memorabilia (42 per cent), CDs, DVDs and records (40 per cent), and paperwork (38 per cent).
The reasons for hoarding vary, but sentimental purposes (54 per cent), potential future use (50 per cent), and fear of regret (41 per cent) are among the most common.
Meanwhile, more than four in 10 (41 per cent) said they would avoid getting rid of gifted items as they would feel guilty.
A lack of space was also highlighted in the research, with 57 per cent of people saying their homes are getting smaller and 48 per cent adding that they don't have enough storage space.
'As homes get smaller and more crowded, we're not surprised to see that the country is struggling for space in their properties. We're a nation of hoarders and we're all guilty of holding on to things that we may no longer need or use for a while,' says Natasha Brook, a spokesperson at Dr. Beckmann.
The research also reveals that the average UK adult keeps 16 different cleaning products under their sink, with many holding onto products that are more than four years old.
'The cupboard under the sink can easily become chaotic with too many cleaning products. These spaces are usually quite deep, so I like to use long narrow storage containers that can slide out easily to hold all my cleaning supplies,' says decluttering expert Iwan Carrington, a.k.a Mr. Carrington.
'Kitchen trolleys are also fantastic for storing multiple items under countertops, you can even find narrow ones that will squeeze into gaps between cupboards or appliances or opt for one with a worktop that can be used as additional surface space.'
7 most hoarded items in the UK revealed
Clothing
Books
Souvenirs/memorabilia
CDs
DVDs
Records
Paperwork
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