Psychologist Reveals Why Some People Are Annoyed by Clutter While Others Aren't

How we relate to order in the home says a lot about us. Some people do regular cleaning simply because "that's just what you do." However, there is another category of housewives who are ready to clean at any time because they genuinely enjoy it.

Between these two extremes, there are at least five intermediate options. Psychologist Tatiana Isakova told us more about them.

1. 24/7 Cleaning

You've probably met people who are literally obsessed with cleanliness: they vacuum the house every two hours and even thoroughly wash everything at work after a cleaner has done their job.

This is typical of hypercontrollers and caregivers — people with anxious-sensitive personalities. In their world, everything must be stable, without a single flaw.

In reality, this reflects their desire to isolate themselves from the outside world. These "desperate housewives" are often internally constrained, which can manifest as muscle, joint, spine or headache pain.

2. Chaos 24/7

This group is the complete opposite of the previous one. Their reluctance to even occasionally clean up reaches absurdity: more and more items pile up in the room, but only a few are used as intended.

Chaos in an apartment reflects chaos in the mind. This behavior is typical of teenagers who have been cleaned up for by parents. Even when they grow up, they continue to shift the responsibility of maintaining order in the home onto someone else.

3. Scheduled Cleaning

This doesn't involve hypercontrol, but strong engagement in the process is still present, which can be exhausting. These people clean weekly on a specific day and time. They are ready to crawl around their apartment with a broom until complete exhaustion.

This approach indicates a desire to rid oneself of unnecessary stress. After an emotional discharge through thorough tidying, the feeling of extreme energy depletion often follows.

4. Traditional Cleaning

Those who uphold family traditions always clean in the same way: first cleaning, then laundry and finally ironing. This sequence is determined by parental influence and continues to be maintained more out of a sense of duty.

On the other hand, cleaning isn't something they hate. For them, domestic comfort is a feeling rooted in childhood, so washing the apartment is not only necessary but also pleasant.

5. Trendy Cleaning

We're accustomed to following fashion trends and often buy certain items not because we genuinely like them, but because "that's what’s trendy now."

The tendency to adopt others' tastes indicates a lack of self-confidence. Just the thought of social judgment for not following trends can be terrifying.

Factors behind "trendy" cleaning include the unwillingness to rush around the house with supplies or postpone favorite items for disposal. Eventually, this approach will disappear as new trends emerge.

Photo on cover: Carton group