Three in ten adults in relationships get the 'ick' - from partner's messiness

05 April 2023 , 14:27

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One in six have considered ending a relationship - over their partner's messiness (Image: SWNS)

Three in ten adults who are in a relationship admit they get the “ick” –from how messy their partner is, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 adults found that almost a quarter (23%) admit their partner's lack of tidiness has put a strain on the relationship – with 47% having weekly arguments about the clutter in their home.

And one in six have even considered ending a relationship due to their other half's messiness – with dirty plates stacked up, and piles of random items lying around, among the most common types of clutter to cause an argument.

Other messes that cause the most annoyance include wet towels left lying around, used tissues not thrown away, and worn clothes left in the bathroom.

And now, a quiz has been created to help you discover your “Clutter Character” – along with what could be causing your clutter, and some tips on how to tackle it.

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The quiz, and the research, were commissioned by local-sharing app Olio, to encourage people to pass on their unwanted possessions to those who live nearby, to help declutter their space this Bank Holiday weekend.

Three in ten adults in relationships get the 'ick' - from partner's messiness

Leaving dirty plates or glasses to stack up are among the most annoying types of household mess (SWNS)

Master KonMari, consultant, and professional home organiser, Sue Spencer, who is working with the brand, said: “We all have different levels of “clutter tolerance”, and this can inevitably cause some frictions in relationships if your partner’s view of a tidy home isn’t in line with how you’d like your home to look and feel.

“The environment we live in impacts our emotions and moods, and therefore when things at home aren’t aligned it can cause arguments and resentment – neither of which are good for a joyful life.

“When you aren’t comfortable in the way your home feels you are less likely to relax, connect, and spend quality time with each other – especially if one of you feels they are constantly tidying up the space.

“Clutter has been shown to impact on cortisol levels, so if you are sensitive to the level of clutter in your space you are more likely to feel stressed.”

The study also found toys never tidied away, bagged-up items for the charity shop that never leave the house, and used breakfast bowls and old drinking glasses, are among other major irritations.

Messy living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms were the rooms proven to wind people up the most.

But despite the bust-ups, 15% reckon their home is tidied to a satisfactory level.

Almost half (47%) feel there is a lot of clutter in their home, with 40% blaming their partner, and 22% putting it down to children’s belongings.

However, 18% admitted the issue lies with them – and 36% would be embarrassed for other people to see the state of their home on an average day.

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It also emerged a quarter of adults rate themselves as the indecisive type, while 24% consider themselves a sentimentalist, and 19% reckon they struggle to prioritise having a tidy.

A fifth (19%) of those polled, via OnePoll, declutter their home once a year or less – but 34% do so every three to six months.

Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, which has given away eight million household items and 95 million portions of food since it launched globally in 2015, added: “As the research has shown, clearly different people have different levels of clutter tolerance.

“By giving away items you no longer need, not only are you doing a good thing for your community and the planet, you could also be saving your relationship, too – unless you’re giving away your partner’s possessions without checking, of course.”

TOP 20 MOST ANNOYING TYPES OF HOUSEHOLD MESSINESS: