How to Help a Hoarder Clean Out
You might think of hoarding simply as an inability to throw things away, but it is currently recognized as a mental disorder that makes it extremely difficult for sufferers to part with possessions. These people often experience distress when faced with the prospect of getting rid of things, but cleaning out a hoarder’s home is a big step on their road to recovery. If someone you love suffers from hoarding disorder, here are a few tips for helping them clean out their home and help them become healthy.
Make a Plan
When your loved one is ready to address their hoarding issues, the first thing you should do is decide how you will both tackle the junk at hand. This plan should address the desired timeline: when you want to be finished with the cleaning, and how much cleaning you will do each day or week for that to be achieved. Don’t forget that sometimes these things could take longer than expected, especially if the hoarder is experiencing emotional resistance while cleaning and organizing.
Pile it Up
As you work through the house, it can often help to organize items into piles or sections as you go, and then deal with the piles one by one. For example, when cleaning out a bedroom, sort things into piles for trash, clothing, shoes, sentimental items, items for donation, items to keep, etc. Grouping items into piles might take a bit of time, but it will help with the dejunking process and make it easier to tell what’s what.
Hire Help
Because hoarders tend to hang onto items that are otherwise junk, it is a good idea to hire some professional help in the form of a junk removal company. Hoarders are notorious for the sheer mass of stuff they keep, so an expert junk removal service will be able to assist with the removal of bulky items as well as recycling. This will limit the number of trips you need to take to the dump yourself.
Be Understanding
Perhaps one key element of helping a hoarder clean out their home is making sure that they are being heard and understood. Often, hoarders will hang onto items that hold some type of emotional attachment or that they fear losing. Cleaning out a home is a great first step to helping a hoarder, but don’t forget that they may also benefit from therapy or other mental health resources. Be gentle, don’t push, and try to be as empathetic and understanding as possible.
Professional Junk Removal in Swampscott, MA
If you know a hoarder who is ready to make a change and you’re ready to help, get in touch with a local junk removal service that specializes in hoarding for the best professional service. Elite Services Junk Removal in Swampscott, MA has the a team of experts prepared to deal with any mess you might be faced with. For professional junk removal from a trusted team, get in touch with us today! Please fill out our online form, or call or text us at 978-317-5388!