DECLUTTERING DISCREETLY, CLEANING-OUT WITH KINDNESS: HOW TO APPLY A “WE TRULY CARE!” APPROACH TO THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF HOARDING & JUNK REMOVAL
By and large, hoarding ranks as one of the most widespread yet delicate psychological issues that have resulted from modern-day living.
In short, hoarding is a psychological concern that renders the task of removing excess items extremely challenging.
Therefore, if you have a loved one with hoarding tendencies, it can be confusing to determine exactly where to start, not to mention how to assist them in relief from their disorder and tidy their home.
However, before helping a hoarder get rid of things, it’s important to realize the complex nature of this disorder.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A HOARDER?
All in all, there are a range of symptoms that identify someone as a hoarder.
These symptoms encompass not only emotional signs, but also social, financial, and even physical concerns.
Overall, the most telltale behaviors that pinpoint compulsive hoarding include:
- Avoiding the disposal of possessions that, in truth, have no value to the hoarder
- Experiencing mild to severe anxiety about getting rid of even one of their possessions
- Compulsively expanding their hoard without recognizing there is a serious issue
- The lack of available rooms in the home that, due to excessive clutter, can no longer serve their original purpose
- An overload of possessions that adversely affect one’s safety, health or hygiene
Please keep in mind that hoarding tendencies can vary in severity.
Be that as it may, it is equally important to arrange for professional help before you proceed to address the situation.
All things considered, this support should come in the form of a social worker or counselor, a mental health professional, and also an incredibly sensitive and respectful junk removal company that specializes in difficult hoarding scenarios.
SAME-DAY HOARDING CLEAN-UP IN NEW YORK CITY & LONG ISLAND
Hoarding, in essence, is a serious emotional issue, particularly in New York City.
Because of this, Cleanout Express is now available to help you work through each aspect of the situation with confidentiality, ease, and efficiency.
We offer our Hoarder Cleaning Services for Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island City, and Nassau County NY — Call (718) 658-0979 Today!
Our hoarding cleaning services include:
- A dedicated staff member that will help you navigate the whole process
- No judgments will be imposed on the hoarders or the situation
- No discussions with anyone except you or your appointed representative
- Sorting and organizational expertise for the hoarder’s belongings
- Our trucks and teams are available for removing unwanted items
What is more, our knowledgeable, extremely caring staff understands how to interact with a hoarder and the families that want to help them.
We work hard to respect the reasons the hoarding has taken place.
In addition, our employees know how crucial it is too kindly collaborate with the hoarder, the landlord, family members, and special staff, all in the service of properly managing the hoarding clean-up process.
BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF DE-CLUTTERING WITH A HOARDER
Once you’ve linked your loved one with a mental health professional (once again, to address the underpinning issues behind their hoarding concern), you can then concentrate on helping them de-clutter and clean. We often come in way before any professional visits and accomplish the task with 100% of patience and satisfaction to the family and person living in the hoarding environment.
First and foremost, you must determine the severity of the situation. You should ascertain how many people can make themselves available to provide cleanup help as well. Usually just one loved one can supervise and work with our teams and their family members.
NOTE: Working with a professional hoarding junk Removal Company like Cleanout Express makes this even easier for you.
Such a company knows how to professionally organize and manage the entire hoarding clean-up endeavor.
They can manage the sorting of all items, as well as create a structure and schedule for the process.
CLEANOUT EXPRESS CARES ABOUT HOARDERS
At Cleanout Express, we understand that the items in a hoarder’s home aren’t merely junk or trash.
On the contrary: we get that these are items which hold great meaning for them.
Because of this, we always enact a plan in place before we start, so that their needs and emotions are adequately factored in.
Trust Cleanout Express to return their home to a livable condition. What is more, we are fully insured, and we also have certificates of insurance available at your request.
STEP ONE: GENTLY BEGIN A DIALOGUE ABOUT DE-CLUTTERING
Kindly, carefully, and sensitively broaching a conversation with the hoarder ranks as a pivotal first step to take.
When you talk with them about your desire to help them, please highlight that their confidentiality, safety, and health are the top considerations.
Also, discuss the benefits that will come from a de-cluttering effort.
Emphasize how much safer their home will feel, and reinforce that you and everyone involved are NOT there to judge or condemn, but rather to provide the kindness and most caring support for their life.
Keep in mind that a mental health professional could be present as well, as these conversations are taking place. The 1000’s of clients we have helped over the years have been with just a family member present and no mental health professional present. The work was always completed and a sensitive and patient way!
Furthermore, be extremely careful about the words you use.
By all means, please avoid word choices like “clutter,” “dirty,” or even “hoarder.” These words can easily trigger someone and provoke their defensiveness. We
Instead, opt for softer, neutral, non-threatening dialogue choices. The goal should be freeing their life to feel better, and never about pointing fingers and blame.
STEP TWO: CAREFULLY PLAN HOW THE DE-HOARDING WILL BE MANAGED
By this point, you all have earned the trust of the hoarder, as well as their permission to proceed with the cleanup.
The time has now come to formulate a solid course of action. By all means, you should involve your loved one in this step, if possible.
Compose an approach to de-cluttering that earns their approval and encourages them to get started.
STEP THREE: DECIDE HOW THE ITEMS WILL BE REMOVED
On the positive side, you are now ready to figure out the criteria by which decisions will be made for what will be kept and what will be removed.
Please sit with your loved one, inviting them to share their voice on this criteria. One thing must be remembered: these are their belongings. In light of this, they are the one who is in charge of this process.
Jot down the criteria as they are mentioned. In this way, all help and support personnel can reference a list of these criteria. For instance, one criteria could be that “any mail older than a few months can be discarded.”
HAS YOUR HOARDING SITUATION BECOME SERIOUS?
There are various life experiences that can end up resulting in a serious hoarding dilemma.
As an example, apartment tenants in New York who are challenged by hoarding disorders may find themselves piling up large amounts of trash or belongings in their living spaces.
Alternatively, families may need to intervene to help an elderly or sick family member who is having trouble taking care of themselves and their property.
If either of these are the case, we are available to help to dispose of this clutter.
While rubbish is a fact of life for all homes, disorganization and accumulation can sometimes overwhelm other properties.
Unfortunately, hoarding can become so anxiety-provoking that it can negatively impact a homeowner’s family, relationships, and overall sense of healthfulness.
Bringing a gingerly approach to hoarding is where Cleanout Express truly shines.
We have years of decluttering know-how, equipping us to safely and confidently help others experience a cleaner, worry-free home.
TREAT DE-CLUTTERING AS A LONG-TERM JOURNEY
There are few rubbish removal situations as emotional and time-consuming as handling a major hoard.
Be that as it may, proper organization of your loved one’s living environment is extremely advantageous for their entire sense of well-being.
When you help a hoarder create fresh, open space in their home, you are endowing them with a feeling of empowerment, achievement, and peace of mind.
These qualities, without a doubt, greatly enhance their overall quality of life!
HOW CLEANOUT EXPRESS DISPOSES OF WASTE FROM HOARDING
We should take a moment to discuss our “We Truly Care!” approach to rubbish disposal in a hoarding situation.
To emphasize, waste prevention is especially critical for people grappling with hoarding.
That’s why Cleanout Express makes every effort to identify items that could be recycled, repurposed, or donated to a local NYC charity.
What is more, Cleanout Express will set aside a dedicated area to organize all of your items.
We can also categorize your items (furniture, plastic, electronics, etc.), so that we can better determine which items can be sent to local charities, salvaged, or otherwise removed.
Above all, Cleanout Express deeply, deeply cares about everyone we work with… especially our clients involved in a serious hoarding situation.
If you would like more information about how we can confidently and professionally support you, please contact us at your convenience.
