Hoarding is more than just having a lot of stuff. It’s a complex behavioural condition characterised by an excessive accumulation of things and an inability to discard them. The condition involves a profound emotional attachment to objects with little to no value, such as magazines, clothing, or household items.
Compulsive collecting leads to cluttered, unlivable spaces that can compromise the usability and safety of the home. The disorder can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, posing health risks, fire hazards, and social isolation. Recognising hoarding as a serious and complex issue is the first step in addressing and managing it effectively.
As a professional hoarding cleaning services provider, we’re obviously not experts in mental health, but we are experts in cleaning and this is a guide to hoarding clean-ups. We encourage people experiencing hoarding to reach out to a professional to address the psychological and emotional aspects of the disorder.
5 tips for a hoarding clean up
1. Consider getting mental health support
Hoarding is often linked to underlying emotional or psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. The emotional aspects of hoarding make cleaning a difficult and overwhelming task. A hoarder clean up can trigger uncomfortable emotions, which may be hard to process independently. Seeking support from a mental health professional can help you address the root causes of hoarding and develop healthier habits in the future.
2. Get help from a professional hoarding cleaning services
A hoarding clean can feel like a daunting task. Significant health and safety issues are often involved, making the process even more challenging. This is when professional hoarding cleaning services become invaluable. The cleaning experts remove rubbish and human or animal biohazards, and thoroughly clean and disinfect floor to wall. They also provide a safe, non-judgmental environment, assisting you in making decisions about what to keep and what to discard, ensuring the process is manageable and less overwhelming.
3. Create a hoarding clean up plan
When you’re staring at a pile of mess and can’t see the floor, it’s hard to know where to start. This can lead to serious procrastination. Mess doesn’t happen overnight, and cleaning won’t either so it’s best to tackle it gradually. Creating a cleaning plan can help make the task more manageable.
Here are our tips for creating a hoarding clean plan.
- Break it down: Create a plan with key focus areas and manageable tasks. A great place to start is throwing away anything you know is rubbish, like empty food wrappers, in a particular room.
- Set a schedule: Schedule a time to clean like you would any appointment. Be specific with the timing, e.g. one hour of sorting the drawer.
- Set a timer: Set a timer for 20 minutes, clean, and then take a break. Once you’ve finished the area, congratulate yourself and start again tomorrow.
4. Stay motivated
You may feel overwhelmed or discouraged during the hoarding clean up. This is normal. One way to keep the momentum is to celebrate your wins. Once you’ve finished your allotted cleaning time, congratulate yourself. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to attend the next clean time. You can also take before-and-after photos so you can see your progress.
5. Remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint
It can be tempting to take an all-or-nothing approach to cleaning, but we recommend taking it one step at a time – it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Seek support from friends or family, and remind yourself of the benefits of a clean and organised space. With the right support, a clear plan, and the help of professional hoarding cleaning services, you can achieve a cleaner, safer, and more organised living space. Remember to be patient with yourself and take it one step at a time
Ready to sort your living space and live better? Get in touch with Kleenit to organise your clean.