Pack Rat.
By rakski
@rakski (153008)
Philippines
May 4, 2026 6:55am CST
This is the first time I learn of this term.
I look up for the word hoarder and AI days this is a milder term than hoarder.
Pack rat is someone reluctant to throw things away because the thing or the person who gave the item is sentimental.
I think my mother-in-law is like this. 
I mentioned earlier that I went to their house to help clean. My SIL and I found a lot of old items that are no longer useful in the cabinets around the house.
We help cleaned the house because they are both seniors and my FIL recently underwent surgery.
We found old and worn out branded slippers, slipons, and sandals. Pots and pans no longer usable, old cabinets, tons of old receipts, old magazines, and much needed to dispose mattress. 
I am home now and exhausted. And we haven't clean the whole house yet, just the ground floor.
I'm not sure what awaits us on the second floor.
I mentioned earlier that I went to their house to help clean. My SIL and I found a lot of old items that are no longer useful in the cabinets around the house.
We help cleaned the house because they are both seniors and my FIL recently underwent surgery.
We found old and worn out branded slippers, slipons, and sandals. Pots and pans no longer usable, old cabinets, tons of old receipts, old magazines, and much needed to dispose mattress.
I am home now and exhausted. And we haven't clean the whole house yet, just the ground floor.
I'm not sure what awaits us on the second floor.9 people like this
9 responses
@snowy22315 (206951)
• United States
5h
Hoarder pack rat whatever you call it, sounds like your MIL has a problem. It is good of you to help out. My parents house is neat for the most part on the main level, and the garage isn't bad, but the basement is totally stuffed. Sis thinks it would take a year to get it cleaned out.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (173366)
• United States
1h
Pretty and I can be pack rats. We still have extra stuff stored in the garage from when we moved into this house that we thought we needed but have never used. Once in a while one of us goes out and brings something in from out there but we really need to sort through everything and give more stuff away again.
i know we have several bed frames stored out there that somebody could be using and Pretty needs to carry out another one plus a good mattress and box springs.
@LooeyVille (79)
• United States
6h
My best friend is a packrat. She won't get rid of anything for fear that she might need it later.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (90388)
• United States
2h
that does sound like a lot of work cleaning out the house. Pack Rat is a term I'm familiar with and something I think I have a tendency to keep things longer than I should
