How To Help A Hoarder Clean Their Home And Keep It Clean
Posted on: 18 February 2016
If someone you love suffers from compulsive hoarding, helping this person get his or her house clean can be a daunting task. Just the thought of where to start is enough to make even the most organized person's head spin. With the publicity of this illness growing thanks to the shows on TV today, it's now easier than ever to formulate a plan to help your loved one tackle this issue once and for all. Keep reading to learn more about how you can help the hoarder in your life clean up their home and keep it clean:
Rent A Dumpster
If you want to keep your sanity throughout the cleaning process, then you need to rent a roll-off dumpster. In fact, you may need several dumpsters if the situation is extreme. Renting a dumpster is the most cost effective, time saving, and efficient way to remove the trash from a hoarder's home and get rid of it forever.
Make sure that you understand what can and cannot be placed into the dumpster, because each dumpster rental company has their own rules and guidelines. For example, some companies will not allow cans of paint to be disposed of in their dumpsters. Other companies don't allow large appliances to be tossed into their dumpsters.
Hire A Professional Cleaning Crew
If you feel overwhelmed by the hoard and don't feel like you have the equipment to handle this clean-out on your own, consider hiring a professional cleaning crew. These specialty cleaning crews have experience working with the delicate psyche of a hoarder, and they understand that hoarders feel very emotionally attached to objects that most people don't give a second thought to throwing away. Many times, professional cleaning crews who help in these types of situations also work with therapists who will come to the home and assist the hoarder during the cleaning process.
One such group that helps people who have unhealthy residential trash piles is The Phoenix Task Force. Not only does this task force seek out and help hoarders in Arizona, they work hard to raise awareness of the hoarding condition. This professional group may be able to help you facilitate a dumpster rental, provide psychological assistance to your loved one, and dive right in with gloves to help you clean out the hoarder's home. There is probably a similar group in your area.
Take It One Room At A Time
Clean one room at a time, starting by the room closest to the door. This will make it easier and much safer to remove items and throw them into the dumpster without tripping over other objects. It's hard to walk through an obstacle course with your arms full of who-knows-what.
If your hoarder is having an especially difficult time, bring everything outside. Then, allow the hoarder to look at most of the items and make the decision to keep, donate, or trash them. Have the hoarder think about the last time they used the object. Set a rule that if an item hasn't been used in 6 months to a year, it must not go back into the home.
Create A Weekly Cleaning Routine
Once the home is clean and clutter-free, work with the hoarder to come up with a weekly cleaning routine he or she will stick with. A chore chart might work well for people with hoarding tendencies. You or another trusted person should check in with the hoarder on a regular basis to make sure he or she is keeping up with the weekly cleaning routine. Offer to help if you notice the cleaning isn't being done and things are starting to accumulate in the home.
These tips should help you when your loved one is a hoarder and it's time to clean their home for good and keep it clean. Just keep in mind that hoarding is a psychological disorder, and a lot of compassion and patience will be required from you and everyone involved. Your loved one should be receiving treatment for their condition. But it isn't a lost cause, and with your help, your hoarder can live in a clean and healthy home for the rest of their lives.
For more information, contact a company like Road Runner Waste Service Inc.
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