My husband keeps everything! Stuff all over the place - every cupboard is full to the limit of things he just stuffs in! When he come home or goes shopping he just dumps things down on the worktop or coffee/hall table and it stays there!
The loft & shed is full of junk which we'll never ever use again but he still insists on keeping it! He's getting worse!!
It is driving me round the bend as I like the house clean and tidy! He goes mad when I put things away-says he can never find anything!
But .... its my house and home as well and I am very house proud.....am I being unreasonable nagging him to tidy up?
LOL, ratter - reminding you in a nice way once every week or so, doesn't actually qualify as "giving you a hard time", my love! Nice try though! I am rather good at keeping things I should really get rid of too, hence I don't do the nagging thing, lol! As long as the house looks reasonably tidy, cozy and inviting, I'm happy.
Wait until bin day when he is not looking and throw a few things away. Try not to make it too obvious. We always had rooms full of "might come in handies" but you can keep it to a minimum by getting rid of what you think he might not notice is gone. Some of the things were so obscure I couldn't think what they would be used for. Now he has passed I would give anything to have him back with everything he wanted to save. Also, he always thought he was tidy, and didn't realise it was me tidying up behind him that gave that illusion. If you love him it will not matter.
Maybe try to point out to him that you actually feel better when you de-clutter. I think it makes you feel more in control. An illusion I know, but it works for me. I'm very bad for hoarding books, but have recently given lots away. Initially I felt that I wished I hadn't, but after a week or two, I couldn't really remember which ones I'd parted with.