Mental health issues look different for everyone. Some people suffer from crippling anxiety and overwhelming depression. Other people have things like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
However, one mental health issue that’s rarely talked about is hoarding disorder. This is when a person convulsively collects belongings and stores them in their home. The problem can get so out of hand that the home becomes unliveable.
If you know a hoarder, you understand how bad it can get. When it comes time to clean a hoarder home, where do you even start?
We’re here to help you through the process. Keep reading for a quick guide on purging a hoarder house.
1. Make Sure the Property Owner is Onboard
When cleaning out a hoarder house, compliance is key. If the owner of the property is there through the process, they can slow things down or bring them to a halt if they’re not onboard.
It’s important to understand that hoarding is a legitimate mental health issue. Therefore, you must approach the property owner with patience and compassion. They will likely have a hard time letting go of things. Take your time and try to help them uncover the root cause behind their hoarding so they can begin to relinquish control.
2. Empty Each Room of the House
The first step of the process is to purge the hoarder home. Pull everything out of each room to be sorted wherever there’s space. This will most likely be the front or back yard.
If you’re working with limited space, you’ll need to take it one room at a time. This can be slow and frustrating, but it must be done. Make sure you bring tarps and other protective necessities in case it starts raining.
3. Organize the Items
The most important part of purging a hoarder house is determining what stays and what goes. If you want the best results, the goal is to get rid of as much stuff as possible.
Organize the contents of each room into multiple categories:
- Keep
- Sell
- Storage
- Donate
- Trash
In most cases, cleaning a hoarder house means throwing a lot of stuff away. For this, you’ll need to rent a roll-off dumpster. You can learn more here about your options.
4. Deep Clean the Empty Home
After you declutter the hoarder house, everything should be left out until you can deep clean the interior space. Now is the perfect time to take care of any issues that were neglected due to the sheer volume of stuff.
You should also look for any major damages or issues while the home is empty. This includes:
- Water damage
- Mold and mildew
- Pests
- Damaged drywall
- Carpet stains
- Damaged flooring
- Etc.
We recommend replacing carpeted floors if the hoarder home was unsanitary. If the carpet is salvageable, have it steam cleaned for maximum sanitation and renewal.
5. Re-Furnish the Home
Finally, once all the items are organized and the home is deep cleaned, you can start to put it back together. Most often, a hoarder home isn’t cleared out as most people would like. You’ll probably be left with a ton of storage items that will need to be reexamined later.
If the property owner has passed, however, you’ll have a little bit more liberty to get rid of unneeded items. If you’re putting the house up on the market, this will be a necessity.
Are You Trying to Clean Out a Hoarder Home?
Cleaning out a hoarder home will be a tedious process. Commit yourself to the task at hand and get as much help as possible. And if the property owner is still around, remember to be patient and compassionate.
For more lifestyle advice, homeowner tips, or cleaning tutorials, stick around. Check out some of our other articles before you go to find what you need.