A Beginner’s Guide to Hoarding Clean-Up

Hoarding disorder can be difficult for the person who is hoarding as well as their loved ones. This recognized mental health condition can make it very tough and, in some cases, painful for a person to even think about parting with certain items. The situation can be debilitating and filled with distress. Over time, it gets worse as more and more items accumulate in the home. This can make their house uncomfortable and potentially even unsafe.

Here are a few things you can do to help a hoarder clean up.

The Reason for Hoarding is Not Always Clear

Why do people hoard? The answer isn’t the same for every person and the reasons are not always clear. Some people start to hoard after a significant negative life event, such as a divorce or death. Others will be affected by childhood stress such as having items taken away or thrown out. This can manifest as hoarding as an adult.

However, hoarding often runs in families. It is usually more common in those who are older, though people of all ages and genders can be hoarders.

How to Help a Hoarder Declutter

If a friend or family member is hoarding, it’s natural to want to help. Cluttering a home with so many objects makes day-to-day life difficult. It can also be unsafe. When a house is filled with items, it’s difficult to clean. This means dust, mold, and other health risks. Hoarded items can also be a fire hazard and they can also make it tough to escape a home in an emergency.

Connect with Them

If you want to help your loved one clean and declutter your home, it’s important to realize that getting rid of hoarded items can be very painful to a hoarder. In many cases, they have an emotional connection with the items they have accumulated and that means getting rid of them can feel like getting rid of a part of themselves.

It’s important to understand this and let the person know that you are helping them because you care about them. Make sure they feel supported and know that you are on their side.

Be Patient

Some hoarders are aware of their problem and don’t know how to stop. Others will deny that there is an issue at all. To help them, gently ease into the conversation and understand that this will be a difficult and potentially lengthy process.

Use neutral and non-threatening language and be sure that the person understands that you know you are talking about their stuff. They own it and they are going to lead the process. This will help avoid feelings of resentment and anger.

Talk About Safety

One of the best ways to help a hoarder is to tell them that you’re helping them because you care about their safety. Point out how all of the cardboard boxes in their house is a fire hazard, for instance, or how it’s not safe to walk down the stairs when there are items all over. This will show them that you care about them and that you’re trying to help them, not control them.

Promote Donation

One reason that a person may hoard is that they don’t want to throw good things in the garbage. They place value on the items they have and don’t want to see them thrown away. If there are items that are still in good condition, suggest donation whenever possible. They may be more likely to accept giving items away to someone else who will use them rather than throwing them out.

Hire Professionals to Help

At Haven Cleaning and Restoration, we understand how difficult hoarding can be and offer professional  hoarding clean-up services that are safe, effective, non-judgmental, and supportive. When you work with our team, we aim to respectfully create a safe and healthy living environment.

For more information, please give us a call at 1-844-944-0369 or  contact us online.