Are you headed for a messy breakup?
If you think leaving your socks on the floor is harmless, know that clutter isn’t just an eyesore — it’s quietly nuking romance.
A new nationwide survey found that living with an untidy partner can seriously dim the spark — and Americans are spilling the messy truth.
The survey of 1,000 people in relationships found that over one-third admit a partner’s clutter has made them feel less attracted to them, according to data collected by The Storage Center.
Women are calling out mess more than men: 62% say their partner’s chaos drives them crazy, compared with 50% of men.
And when a mess hits, many don’t wait around — they just fix it themselves, even if it isn’t theirs (59% of women, 47% of men).
More than a third say a messy partner kills the attraction, and 61% say clutter sparks regular blowups.
And get this: almost 70% of partners are hoarding clothes that don’t even fit anymore — just in case. Love may be blind, but clutter? It sees everything.
Coming home doesn’t mean kicking back in peace — it means surviving a fashion and laundry minefield.
Nearly 4 in 10 say their partner immediately trades work clothes for “comfy” outfits, while 30% are living in a sea of dirty laundry.
Over a quarter admit piles overflow like a laundry volcano, and 19% report socks and underwear scattered like confetti.
Add another 19% whose partners traipse around in “outside clothes” on the bed or couch, and 15% who can’t tell clean from dirty — welcome to domestic chaos, courtesy of your significant other.
But mess doesn’t just make you step around socks — it sparks secret wars. Nearly 4 in 10 adults admit they’ve purged a partner’s belongings in secret, with Gen Z cranking that number up to 46%.
Some men have even “accidentally” broken things just to get rid of them — a sneaky 35%, with Gen Z doubling down at 52%.
And for engaged couples? Domestic sabotage is practically a rite of passage: 46% have tossed stuff in secret, and 42% have broken it intentionally.
Some people go even further, turning love into leverage. One in five Gen Zers say they’ve withheld affection, time, or attention to get their partner to clean.
Married couples? Not so much — 63% say they’ve never pulled that stunt.
And mess doesn’t just wreck relationships — it kills potential romance before it even starts.
Nearly one in four Americans have decided not to pursue someone after seeing their place, with 38% of Gen Zers saying a chaotic home gives them the ultimate ick.
At the end of the day, the biggest gripe remains the simplest: 28% of people just wish their partner would clean without being asked.
Sharing the load may seem basic, but apparently, it’s revolutionary.
Clutter may be silent, but its effects are loud. From dirty laundry to secret purges, messy living is turning love into a battlefield — and no one wants to fight over socks.
As previously reported by The Post, more than half of Americans say a partner scrubbing the sink or tackling laundry sparks attraction.
Experts via housecleaning company Homeaglow say doing the dishes tops the list as a major turn-on.
And if you need a trick to get your partner to actually pitch in? Behavioral scientist Zelana Montminy says just tell them to “take the mental lead on this one.”
It’s not just about chores, as she dished to PureWow — it’s about handing them the wheel and letting them steer.
Ultimately, when it comes to romance, clutter clearly isn’t cute — so experts say it’s best to grab a sponge and save your relationship.
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