My mum was a hoarder, if you went into her house it looked clean neat and tidy .She dusted everyday and cleaned the loo's everyday.
Though if you looked into cupboard, drawer or pantry everything was just jammed in and I once found a turkey 12 years out of date in the freezer.
I asked her why she did it and she said it was a hang over from the war when everything had to be reused .Her sister was not a bit like her.
I asked if she wanted things sorted by myself and a DD she agreed without any bother, but as we were sorting she was hovering and getting agitated and moving things, so we stopped.
I think something traumatic has often had an effect on people like this that does not affect the rest of us.
What brought her up sharp was she did not trust banks and hid her money all over the house. Once when there were really bad gales a house near by had it's roof blown off and all the things in their bedroom exposed to the elements. Mum phoned and asked for help,but it still did not come easy to her.
I am the complete opposite and DH says if he stands still he will be labelled and put away in a cupboard.