Clutter can be creepy. From stinky surprises to almost losing everything (including thousands of dollars!), these real-life clutter horror stories are your official warning signs.

But don’t worry, these stories are here to motivate, not terrify. So by the end you’ll be reaching for a  trash bag to  declutter a drawer, a corner, a closet – whatever you need to!

Let’s dive into these spooky (but totally true) tales.

1. Tale of the Worst Hoarding House in History

Hoarding often starts with good intentions… but it can spiral fast.  Like this most infamous hoarding case of all time—the Collyer brothers. Rich, educated, and eccentric, Homer and Langley Collyer lived in a New York brownstone that became a fortress of clutter and booby traps,

Langley, trying to care for his blind and paralyzed brother, and protect their home from people breaking in (this was during the depression) filled the home with newspapers, junk, and eventually trash.  In order to get around, they created tunnels through the mountains of stuff.

Tragically, both brothers passed away inside the cluttered house, one of them trapped for days under his own booby trap. 😨

2. Hidden Baby Shower Treasure

While helping a family member tidy up her room (a.k.a. laundry mountain), I found a grocery bag filled with baby shower cards from seven years earlier. Inside? Checks, cash, and gift cards that had. been forgotten about.

The cash was still good… but the gift cards and checks? 💸 Gone forever.

Moral of the story: Clutter hides treasures. Go open that junk drawer or mail pile—you might find dinner money waiting for you!

3. PSA: Don’t Hide Dirty Dishes in the Oven

Confession time: when I was at my messiest, I would hide dirty dishes in the oven when guests came over. Not once… not twice… MULTIPLE times.

One day, I preheated the oven with forgotten plastic containers inside. Let’s just say the smell was next-level. 🔥 Melted Tupperware is not the air freshener you want and it was almost impossible to clean! .

Lesson learned!

4. Trapped by Clutter

As a volunteer firefighter, I went to a call where a garage fire trapped the homeowner inside. Their only escape route—the back door—was completely blocked with clutter.

They got out through a window (thankfully), but it was a close call.

This is serious: Make sure exits and windows aren’t blocked. Your safety matters more than your stuff.

5. The Almost Collapsed Bathroom

While decluttering, one of my virtual clients discovered a tiny leak under her bathroom sink… that had been dripping for possibly 20 years. 😱

Because the space was packed with clutter, she never saw the water damage. By the time we cleared it out, the floor joists were rotted, and the bathroom was at risk of collapsing and she had to spend thousands repairing it!

Don’t wait to declutter under sinks and check for leaks—it could save you lots of money if you catch leaks early

6. Mouse Mayhem

This one still gives me the heebie-jeebies!

During a free makeover for a sweet family, we found signs of mice… and then discovered a nest of baby mice living under the sofa. Pink, squirmy, and so many of them.

The clutter had created the perfect hideout for them. With some decluttering and pest control, we got it sorted—but I still get the shivers.

Remember: Clutter can be a real cozy place for pests.

7. My Moldy Organizer Graveyard

In my own home, I stashed extra organizing products in the cold storage room… without realizing it leaked. And let me tell you—mold doesn’t mess around.

Half the stuff was ruined, and I had to toss bags of it. Luckily, I caught it before it got toxic, but it was a close one.

Pro tip: Mold loves cluttered, damp spaces. Run a dehumidifier, give your basement some airflow, and clear those stacks of boxes.

8. Hot Mess House Secrets

On an early (never-aired) episode of Hot Mess House, we helped a family with a laundry room packed to eye level. When we dug deeper, we found black mold. Why?

A leaking water heater, soaking through clothes, toys, and everything else. All of it had to be thrown away—including nearly every piece of clothing the family owned.

9. Lost Inheritance

After a relative passed, we had to search through their hoarded home for a will. Emotions were high, stuff was everywhere, and distant family members were grabbing anything they thought looked valuable.

Eventually, we found the will—which listed my father-in-law as the beneficiary…and in the attic, a lockbox with diamonds and rare coins worth thousands. 😮

Final thought: Clutter can rob your family of memories, money, and peace. Get those important documents and keepsakes organized now so you’re not leaving a mystery behind or worse…your loved ones unable to find your precious items.

These stories aren’t just cautionary tales. They’re reminders that a little bit of decluttering can go a long way. Mold, leaks, fire hazards, pests, and lost money—those things are scary but decluttering doesn’t have to be.

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