In a house with two small kids, clutter was a given. Our house wasn't dirty, but it was full of things we didn't need — clothes that no longer fit, threadbare towels, unused kitchen utensils, toys we'd outgrown. The idea of throwing or giving away things you no longer needed felt wasteful and foolish, so she just kept everything. Even today, getting him to toss broken or unused items takes an act of Congress. My upbringing informed how I see clutter as an adultGrowing up in a house like this colored how I see clutter and cleaning.

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Persons: —, weren't hoarders, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Pacific