Wanting to clean a hoarder’s house as quickly as possible is a normal response. But, whether it’s possible or not depends on you.
Cleaning a hoarder’s house as quickly as possible is of the utmost importance. Hoarding comes with a wide range of risks – including health, legal, and financial. The longer the problem persists, the more likely and more extreme these things become.
But convincing a hoarder to clean up is not easy. They can be very reluctant to allow anyone else into their homes, and throwing things away can trigger an extreme emotional response.
Hoarders struggle with something called disposophobia.
Many have a very intense attachment to their belongings.
They see losing the items in their collection as a threat to their survival, and getting rid of anything can result in true psychological anguish.
The distress that hoarders feel when throwing things away can lead them to compulsively collect more stuff to replace what was lost. It also explains why most hoarders live reclusive lives – to avoid experiencing that overbearing anxiety of having their things taken from them.
All of this makes it incredibly difficult to get a hoarder to cooperate with any sort of cleanup, and, as you can imagine, makes getting organized take a lot longer.
So, how do you help someone like this? Is it possible for a hoarder to ever really get clean?
The answer is this; yes, you can help, and yes, hoarders can clean up.
But in order to accomplish this, you need to be patient. It’s not going to happen overnight, but with the right support, your loved one can recover from hoarding.
If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, that’s OK.
You can still get everything that you need to get done, and we’re here to show you how.
The most important thing is that you show your loved one you’re there for them before you start making decisions about their stuff.
Once you’ve established trust, you can work on creating a foolproof plan to declutter.
How Long Does it Take to Clean a Hoarder’s House?
Everyone’s situation is different. How quickly you can clean up a hoarder’s home depends on a few things. Some hoarding cleanups only take one day, but it can take up to a week – or even several – depending on how severe the condition of the home actually is.
The amount of clutter in the home will play a big role in how long it takes you to get rid of stuff and clean up. How much time it takes will vary greatly whether or not you have help, or if you’re doing it by yourself.
You also have to consider the person you are trying to help and their mental state.
If they panic and struggle to let go of their belongings every time you try to throw something away, it will take much, much longer to clean up the home.
Any unsanitary conditions, pests, or structural damage will also add to the cleanup time.
Ultimately, the more prepared you are to confront mental health issues and come up with solutions for all the problems going on in the home, the better off you will be.
But even with the best preparation, this can be a lot for you to take on by yourself.
The more help you can get, the easier and faster cleaning a hoarder’s home will be. Help could come in the form of a few caring family members or friends.
We always recommend getting help from a professional who’s experienced in helping hoarders recover. They can help guide you through the process and make the best possible decisions.
Where Do I Start Cleaning a Hoarder’s Home?
You know you have to help your loved one clean their home fast. But knowing where or how to get started is often the most difficult for many people to figure out.
Here’s something you should think about. The very first thing you should do is not what you’d expect. Of course, you will want to clean. But there is something else that is even more important than that.
You need to learn everything you can about hoarding disorder before any cleanup even takes place. Then, you can start thinking about how to approach your loved one to convince them to accept your help.
If you want your hoarder’s house cleaning to be successful, then you need a step-by-step plan.
Planning ahead will save you time and stress, and that’s exactly what you need if you’re going to get through this without straining yourself or your relationship with your loved one.
Make sure you assess the situation ahead of time so you know exactly what’s needed.
Check the house for pests, damage, broken appliances, or anything else that may make it unsafe. You want to make sure if you enter the home, you’ll be able to navigate without getting injured. Unfortunately, not all hoarder homes are safe to enter.
If the home is safe to enter, then you can do a more thorough inspection to determine the best course of action. Get a good idea of how much clutter there is and what needs to be done.
Once you set your goals, make your supply list, and get your loved one’s consent, you can begin cleaning. But make sure you have enough help.
All too often, people who attempt to clean a hoarder’s house all by themselves get overwhelmed and stop before the cleanup is complete. This only becomes more discouraging to the hoarder, who may be more reluctant to accept help again in the future.
You may also find yourself getting frustrated trying to be a support system and a cleanup crew.
Your loved one is going to need a lot of patience and encouragement. Cleaning up will likely come to them as a massive shock, even if they know they need to and agree to do it.
Making a plan will give you a good idea of what you would like to accomplish. But it still might be best to communicate your goals to a professional so you can be there when your loved one needs some extra courage and reassurance.
Help For Compulsive Hoarders
Getting professional help is the best way to make sure your hoarding cleanup happens smoothly. At Hoarders911, your loved one’s needs are our top priority.
We will help you clean the home as quickly as possible, while always treating you and your loved one with respect. Our experts will work closely with you throughout the process to determine the best steps to take for effective cleanup.
Forcing a hoarder to clean up before they are ready can make the whole process more difficult.
That’s why we never throw anything away without your loved one’s express permission. It’s part of our commitment to providing the best hoarding cleaning services in NYC.
We have been helping hoarders get organized for nearly 30 years. Our experts know what it takes to clean a hoarder’s home and help them get on track to a healthy lifestyle.
To minimize your stress, we train our hoarding cleaning professionals to be prepared with a solution for anything. Our innovative 7-step process consists of a solution for every challenge possible in cleaning a hoarder’s home.
There is nothing we haven’t seen. We are always ready, but we never judge.
To respect your privacy, we will arrive in unmarked vehicles without uniforms. When it’s time to get rid of things, our team will swiftly and quietly carry it all away in one shot.
Our experts are available 24/7, to help you clean up on your schedule.
Call today to book a no-obligation consultation: 718 627 5781
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