Cleaning a hoarder’s home by yourself can be overwhelming. It’s best to get professional help.
When you find out that someone you know is hoarding, you may want to try cleaning the home yourself. But doing this puts you, the hoarder, and anyone else involved at extreme risk.
Hoarder’s homes are not just filled with clutter. You can end up getting sick from breathing in mold or taking home a bed bug infestation. If you’re not prepared, you could actually make things worse instead of being helpful.
If you live with a hoarder, or you know someone who does, it’s important to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting help.
Hoarding is a complex problem that requires individualized treatment.
It’s best to get professional help before you begin cleaning a hoarder’s home.
Attempting to clean the house on your own could backfire and cause your loved one to begin compulsively collecting as a way to soothe their fear or embarrassment.
Make sure you take the proper precautions to deal with everything the right way.
Create a hoarding cleaning plan you can handle.
Don’t take drastic measures—it won’t help.
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s okay to clean a hoarder’s home without their permission, the answer is no. You may be tempted to try to make them see that their life will be better if they get rid of some things, but this will only make things worse.
Create a hoarding cleaning plan you can handle.
Don’t take drastic measures—it won’t help.
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s okay to clean a hoarder’s home without their permission, the answer is no. You may be tempted to try to make them see that their life will be better if they get rid of some things, but this will only make things worse.
Here are some ways that you can avoid making that mistake:
- Don’t pressure them into cleaning up. It’s important for your hoarder to be able to decide for themselves when their situation has become too much for them, and taking away their ability to do so could have disastrous consequences.
- Don’t throw out any of their belongings unless they give you explicit permission first. In fact, don’t touch anything at all until after they’ve agreed with your offer to help.
Even if the hoarder agrees to allow you to help them clean their home, you shouldn’t get started right away. You need to assess the situation and plan out your next steps.
Working with a professional will help you set appropriate goals.
It will also ensure you have the manpower you need to get the job done safely.
Staying Safe When Cleaning a Hoarder’s Home
As you start to clean your hoarder’s home, it’s important to keep safety in mind. If you’re going to be doing a lot of cleanup work, it’s best if you wear protective clothing and gear.
Do not enter the home until you’ve determined it’s safe to go inside.
Some hoarder homes suffer from structural damage that could put you at serious risk.
Make sure you have a plan in place to support your loved one as they process the stress of allowing a stranger to go through their belongings. Get guidance from someone with experience so you aren’t caught unprepared if your loved one has any extreme reactions.
The best way to help hoarders is by gently educating them about their behavior and helping them identify the root causes behind it.
Hoarding disorder is a complex mental illness. It is not caused by laziness or a lack of desire to clean. Understanding this can make a big difference as you help a hoarder recover.
You don’t have to try to fix everything on your own. Instead of just throwing away all the junk or trying to pressure someone into cleaning up their house, ask yourself what else could be causing these problems in your loved one’s life.
There are usually deeper issues at play than just the clutter.
Professional Hoarding Cleaning Help
Finding a cleaning company with experience in hoarding cleanup is the best way to make sure your loved one gets the help they need.
No matter what your situation, Home Clean Home can help.
We specialize in hoarding cleanup, and come ready with a solution for any challenge you may face. Whether you need clutter-clearing help, junk removal, mold remediation, handyman repairs, or pest control, we’ve got you covered.
Don’t try to clean a hoarder’s home on your own—it can put you and your loved ones in danger.
Call Home Clean Home today for a risk-free consultation: 718 691 6049
