
From Gnomes to Fingernails: The Wildest Collections People Actually Keep
What's Hiding In Americans' Closets?
Spring cleaning season is upon us, and for many, that means facing down the ever-growing mountains of clutter that have somehow taken over our homes. But before you start tossing things out, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fascinating, bizarre, and downright wacky collections people hold onto.
A recent survey of 2,000 Americans uncovered some of the strangest collections out there. From sports cards to… fingernail clippings (yes, really), people have a knack for holding onto the unexpected.

Some of the Weirdest Collections We Found
Everyone loves a good collection—but some are a little more unique than others. Here are some of the most interesting ones from the survey:
- Nearly 100,000 sports cards – Impressive! But where do you even put them all?
- A lifetime’s worth of fingernail clippings – We have… questions.
- Over 300 brewery coasters – A great way to remember all those happy hours.
- More than 200 oil-burning lamps – There must never be a power outage in that house!
- Gnomes, uranium glass, clowns, vintage handkerchiefs, and porcelain pigs – Quite the conversation starters.
- An entire collection dedicated to Elvis Presley – The King lives on!
- A Princess Diana memorabilia collection – A tribute fit for royalty.
Some people also reported owning some rather unusual taxidermy, including tigers, cobras, piranhas, pufferfish, parrots, and even penguins. (We’re just going to assume they’re all legally obtained.)

How Much Junk Do We Actually Have?
Beyond the oddball collections, the survey revealed just how much extra stuff people own—and how they feel about it. Americans admitted that about 34% of their belongings are non-functional—things they don’t use or need.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s lurking in our homes:
- 13% – Pure junk
- 21% – Things we don’t need but haven’t let go of
- 27% – Sentimental memorabilia (we get it, some things are hard to part with!)
- 10% – Other people’s stuff that somehow ended up with us
- 29% – Collections or joy-sparking items (we see you, collectors!)
Despite all this, nearly half (47%) of people have no idea how they accumulated so much, and over a quarter (27%) feel embarrassed by it.

Where Does All This Stuff Go?
When you run out of closet space, the natural next step is… to get creative. Survey respondents revealed some very unconventional storage solutions, including:
- Chimneys (Hopefully not active ones!)
- Air vents (Because nothing says “great storage spot” like your HVAC system.)
- Freezers (That’s one way to keep things preserved.)
- Hollowed-out trees (For the true nature lover.)
- Buried underground (Is it storage or a treasure hunt?)
And if that’s not enough, 20% of people are using storage units, while 10% still have belongings at their parents' house. (Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, we promise we’ll come pick up that old stuff… eventually.)
The Great Declutter: Americans Plan to Tidy Up This Spring
The good news? Most people want to declutter. Over 56% plan to do some serious cleaning this spring, with the average person aiming to toss out a whopping 34% of their belongings.

But here’s the catch: It’s not a quick job. The survey found that:
- The average person estimates it would take 14 hours to clear out their unwanted items.
- 17% say it would take them a full 40-hour work week to get it all done.
- Some would even be willing to pay $1,300 just to have it all disappear magically.

The Struggle of Letting Go
Of course, decluttering isn’t always easy. Nearly 64% of people aren’t sure what’s donatable and 80% want their unwanted items to go somewhere environmentally friendly. That’s why many turn to donation centers, resale shops, or junk removal services to ensure their stuff finds a second life.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your clutter, you’re not alone. The key is to start small, set aside dedicated time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help—whether it’s from friends, family, or professionals.
That’s where College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving® comes in. Whether you’re tackling spring cleaning, clearing out a storage unit, or finally saying goodbye to that “maybe I’ll use it someday” pile, we can help. We’ll sort, remove, and even donate or recycle as much as possible—so your unwanted items don’t just end up in a landfill.
After all, no one really wants to be the person storing old trinkets in their chimney.