So your home is chock-full of junk. Papers, old electronics and old CDs from 2003 litter each and every corner of your living room. It’s time to get rid of some things and stop hoarding. Let’s go over the top decluttering tips for hoarders so you can live a more peaceful life, save money and appreciate the simple things in life.
Read on to learn about the best decluttering tips for hoarders.
What Is Decluttering?
Before getting into the best decluttering tips for hoarders, I need to define what decluttering is. Decluttering is the process of getting rid of items you don’t need, are junk or are duplicates of items you already own. The process of decluttering can be applied to any spaces you own or use including your home, car and even a locker that you rent at the gym. Decluttering means evaluating each and every item that you own and deciding whether or not each of your belongings bring you joy or serve a purpose. If the item does not do either of those things, you can likely donate or get rid of it.
What is Hoarding?
Hoarding is a bad habit that revolves around issues getting rid of stuff. Hoarders generally have trouble getting rid of physical possessions they own because there is a degree of sentimental value attached to their belongings. These belongings can range from valuable items like jewellery one rarely wears down to plastic bags. Hoarding various in seriousness.
Hoarding doesn’t always mean that a person is dirty – it just means that one has issues getting rid of possessions. However, hoarding disorder can be unhygienic. We’ll get into how shortly.
Hoarding vs. Clutter and Collecting
Cluttering vs. Hoarding
The main difference between a person who tends to clutter and a hoarder is simple. A person with a cluttering habit doesn’t clean regularly, thus collecting clutter. Those who clutter are able to stop buying and keeping stuff around the house – it just takes a bit of practice getting into good habits. On the other hand, a hoarder keeps stuff due to the fear of getting rid of it. A hoarder is sentimentally attached to stuff he or she doesn’t need, while a person who clutters is simply messy.
Collecting vs. Hoarding
Not sure if you or a loved one is a collector or hoarder? The main difference between hoarding and collecting is simple. A collector intentionally gathers alike possessions due to a personal interest. For example, someone who is really into collecting stamps may own hundreds of them. While someone owning hundreds of belongings may initially sound like hoarding, the main difference is the intent. A collector enjoys acquiring possessions for the purpose of enjoyment.
On the other hand, a hoarder collects and keeps belongings because of an unhealthy sentimental value. For example, a hoarder may collect candy wrappers or hoard stacks of yarn. He or she simply can’t bear the thought of getting rid of an item even though it’s never used or is junk.
5 Stages of Hoarding
There are five stages of hoarding ranging in a minor issue to a very serious problem that requires help:
Stage 1: Minor Issues
- Minor issues including a cluttered home, blocked stairways and a tendency to collect things that you don’t need. A person with minor issues may have problems getting rid of stuff.
Stage 2: Noticeable clutter and Embarrassment Surrounding Visitors
- At this stage, the hoarder may be embarrassed to host guests. There is a large amount of clutter and at least one entry is blocked. One major appliance may not be functional due to the clutter piled on top of it.
Stage 3: Poor Sanitation, Clutter Spilling Outside
- The home has clutter on the front porch, backyard or deck. There are odours inside the house and spaces are unusable. Garbage bags litter the floors and surfaces are dirty. The hoarder may be struggling with health issues including weight gain and mental health issues like anxiety.
Stage 4: Sanitation, Sewage and Pest Issues
- At this stage, the hoarder’s bathrooms may have sewage issues. There may be animals, rodents and insects around the home. The person with the disorder has poor mental and physical health and cannot maintain good hygiene habits.
Stage 5: Irreversible damage, Fire hazards, Nonfunctional Utilities
- The final stage of hoarding disorder out of the five stages of hoarding: when the home is unliveable. There may be no running water or electricity. Clutter and trash is so piled up that the home may suffer from irreversible structural damage.
Decluttering Tips for Hoarders Who Have a Serious Problem
How do you know if you have a serious hoarding problem? While it’s difficult to know exactly where to draw the line between a hoarding issue and a serious problem that requires assistance, there is one indicating factor to help you determine whether or not you need help. If your personal possessions get in the way of your daily life – for example, taking up space in your home so you can’t participate in normal activities, this is a strong indicator that hoarding is serious. Still not sure? Generally, even if you’re in the first or second stage out of the five levels of hoarding, you’ll want to get help before it gets to be a really bad problem.
One indicator of hoarding is the inability to throw out stuff one might normally toss such as wrappers or gift boxes. Hoarding can range from a minor issue to a very serious problem that impacts you and the lives of others. Those with serious hoarding issues may create health hazards for family inside the home. Neighbors will be subject to an eyesore if the clutter spills out onto the front lawn and into the backyard.
What should you do if you or a loved one has a hoarding problem? Decluttering tips for hoarders aren’t just limited to practical cleaning advice. Enlist the help some professional help. A therapist will be able to help you with tackling the root of your hoarding problem. Additionally, he or she will be able to point you in the right direction so you can get help – whether it be through a special program or additional therapy. Remember: there’s no shame in getting help!
Why Decluttering Matters for Hoarders
Decluttering is crucial step for hoarders in building a better life. When you hoard, you’ll benefit in many different ways. Here are the top reasons why decluttering matters for hoarders:
Eliminating Bad Habits Leads to Building Better Ones
Bad habits themselves take up clutter and space in our lives. When your life is full of poor habits such as acquiring and accruing stuff you don’t need, you waste time and energy digging and cleaning through stuff. When you’re focused on managing bad habits, it’s impossible to grow as a person.
On the contrary, when you build good habits such as living a clutter-free lifestyle, you’ll be motivated to make and keep good habits in other areas of your life. For example, if you aren’t constantly surrounded by clutter, you may have more energy to go for a run or hit the gym. At the very least, you’ll feel better about yourself. When you create and keep good habits, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment for achieving such a challenging task!
Decluttering Helps You Reduce Anxiety and Increases Concentration
The home should be a place for resting and recharging. After a day full of work and other obligations, the last thing you want is to be surrounded by clutter! A crowded home full of junk can reduce concentration and increase feelings of uneasiness. Additionally, clutter can cause you to become distracted. When you see piles of paper in the corner of your eye as you’re trying to type out an essay, it’ll likely take a lot longer to finish your work by the deadline.
Decluttering Saves Money
When you have a decluttered space, you’ll not only feel more relaxed, but you’ll likely save some cash too. How? Isn’t decluttering just getting rid of stuff? When you can’t find a hammer that you think may be buried under a mountain of tools in your garage, you may just give up on finding it and run to the local hardware store to find a replacement. No big deal, right? If you do this for many items, over time, you’ll waste money. When you can find your items, you won’t run the risk of needing to buy replacements when you’re in a pinch to use the item right away!
Decluttering Reduces Wasted Time
Aside from money, hoarding can cost you in another big way: your time! When you’re trying to find a specific recipe book or pair of jeans buried under a mountain of other stuff, you’re wasting time. Additionally, more stuff means that you’ll spend more time cleaning and organizing it. You’ll also waste mental energy. When you’re thinking about where an item went, you take up time thinking about this when you could be focused on other stuff.
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The Top Tips on Decluttering for Hoarders
1. Try Simple Decluttering Methods
The first on my list of decluttering tips for hoarders: keep it simple. Feeling overwhelmed by decluttering? Don’t worry – there’s no rush. While the process of decluttering may seem like an overwhelming task, it doesn’t have to be. Keep decluttering simple by making a list and breaking down tasks into smaller chunks. Try going room by room. If you’re not sure where to start, begin with your bedroom. The bedroom is a place where one tends to accumulate the most stuff. When a guest comes over, it’s easy to just close your bedroom door and hide the mess.
2. Take Breaks During Your Cleanup Episodes
Another important tip on my list of decluttering tips for hoarders: taking breaks! There’s no way that leads to burnout faster than cleaning as much as you can until your energy runs out. You may be excited to get going with cleaning – if so, that’s great! However, when someone tries something new and goes at it for too long, it can lead to burnout.
What Are the Signs of Cleaning and Decluttering Burnout?
Here are the telltale signs of decluttering burnout:
- A decreased sense of motivation to clean
- Cynicism about creating and maintaining bad habits
- Exhaustion at the thought of cleaning
Avoid these signs of burnout by:
- Setting achievable goals – clean one room at a time. While decluttering fast might appeal to you, don’t take on too much too soon. If one room at a time is too overwhelming, start with one section of the room. For example, for the kitchen, you can start with the fridge, kitchen or even countertops if they’re cluttered.
- Taking before and after decluttering photos for each room or space you clean. Decluttering before and after photos can help motivate you. When you see how much progress you’ve made, you’ll feel great!
- Taking regular breaks during cleaning. For every 45 minutes of cleaning or so, take a 15-minute break. Go make a coffee and sit outside to enjoy the spring breeze. Do some quick exercises like jumping jacks or squats.
- Need some more decluttering motivation? Find a roommate, friend or family member to declutter with. Decluttering a hoarders’ home – especially if it’s yours’ – is daunting. If you don’t live with the family you’re doing the decluttering with, set aside some time once a week to help each other declutter. You can also make time to catch up and keep each other informed on your decluttering progress. Having an accountability partner will keep you motivated. Why? When you need to report to someone on a regular basis, you’ll want to have something good to say!
3. Fun Decluttering Tips for Hoarders – Treat Yourself to Rewards
Decluttering Tips for Hoarders Who Want to Treat Themselves
Decluttering and tackling a hoarding issue is a monumental task. Be proud of yourself for taking it on! Simply choosing to build better habits and work towards a better you is a huge undertaking. Be sure to reward yourself for progress you’ve made! The best way to set and achieve objectives? Set realistic goals.
Why not commit to decluttering one room at a time? Set aside 10 minutes per day to chip away at decluttering the room. After you’ve completed the room, take yourself out for ice cream or to the movies. If you’ve broken the cleaning down into smaller sections, reward yourself after you’ve completed sections of the room.
4. Give Yourself Permission to Buy New Things
Just because you have hoarding tendencies and have decluttered doesn’t mean you can never buy anything ever again! Give yourself permission to go out and buy some new clothes, shoes or housewares. Just be sure to ask yourself these questions:
“Are the items I’m purchasing serving a purpose? Will I actually use them?”
“Do I need this item?”
“If I don’t need this item, will it add value to my life?” For example, if there’s a nice perfume or bright pair of heels you would love to own, will you actually use it regularly enough to justify the purchase?
Want an easy way to reward yourself for your progress? Make the reward for decluttering a room or section of your home going out and buying one item. Allowing yourself to buy one item per room or section will help you avoid cluttering your home up again – and will help you stay on budget!
5. Decluttering Tips for Hoarders Who Feel Overwhelmed: Try a 30 Day Decluttering Challenge
Is the process of decluttering overwhelming or don’t think you can commit to it long-term? Why not try the 30-day decluttering challenge? Every day, set aside 10 minutes or so to declutter a specific section of your home. Even a few minutes a day over a few weeks or more can help train your brain to commit to a daily cleaning routine. After 30 days, assess how much you’ve decluttered and reward yourself for the progress you’ve made. When you’ve been successful at the challenge, start decluttering a little bit every day.
Remember – only take on a little bit at a time. If decluttering every day is too much, just do it a couple times a week. Help yourself stay consistent by setting aside a designated time slot on a specific day. A Saturday afternoon may be an ideal time if you have less going on with school and home obligations. There are no right or wrong times – just choose the best schedule that works for you!
6. Find a Cleaning Service for Hoarders
Still feeling overwhelmed by the clutter? If your finances are in check, look online to find a cleaning service for hoarders in your area. There’s no shame in getting help and there are many organizations dedicated to cleaning up spaces that have been made dirty by hoarding. One great benefit to using decluttering and organizing services: you’ll have time to do other stuff! While the company is cleaning your home, go spend some time with family or friends. You can even take some time to start a side hustle or find some part-time work.
A Final Note on Decluttering Tips for Hoarders
Decluttering is a crucial step in reducing stress, increasing happiness and letting positive habits spill into other aspects of your life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start slow. Take it one area or room at a time and slowly build your decluttering habits over time. If you have a hoarding issue, don’t feel afraid to seek help if needed.
Enjoy a cleaner home and a more peaceful life!
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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
