How to Help a Hoarder Dispose of Sentimental Items
When an individual struggles with a hoarding disorder, their home becomes filled with all sorts of items. This is usually a result of severe anxiety when it comes to throwing anything away. Some of the objects can be useful, practical items. Some of the objects may even be valuable products. However, some of the items are bound to be invaluable, worthless things, such as old newspapers and even trash and dangerous materials. Some of the items can even be duplicates of a product the person already owns, making it useless to them.
The more items that an individual hoards, the more dangerous their situation becomes as their home gets cluttered with an excessive amount of belongings. The person accumulates so many items that rooms are filled, pathways are blocked, and fire and tripping hazards are created. A home in that kind of state is unsafe, which is why it is crucial that the affected individual gets cleaning help.
Hoarding cleanup, however, is not simple. Individuals affected by hoarding will not just choose to clean their home and rid of unnecessary items. Often, they are embarrassed by their problem, making them hesitant to seek help. It usually takes a trusted loved one to help the affected individual realize that the danger of their situation necessitates action.
But even when the person has agreed to clean their home, it can be tough. This can especially be the case when it comes to getting rid of sentimental items. With these following tips, you can help a hoarder dispose of their sentimental items so that they can have a clean, safe living space yet again.
Emphasize the Memory Over the Item
Getting rid of an item doesn’t mean you are also getting rid of the memory of it
One of the reasons an item can be tough to get rid of is because of the memory associated with it. The object reminds you of some moment from the past, so you hold on to it. But it’s important to remember that the item is not the memory itself. If you get rid of the item, that does not mean you are also getting rid of the memory. This idea can be helpful when trying to help individuals affected by hoarding decide what to remove from their home.
If the individual says that they need something for the memories it brings, then emphasize this idea to them even if the item is from a loved one. While helping with hoarding cleanup, let the individual know their family and friends want them to be safe and happy, and that remains the case even if it means getting rid of belongings.
Use the Item One Last Time
Sometimes, it can be helpful for people to let things go if they use it one last time. It gives them an opportunity for closure and to get it out of their system. For example, if there’s a hat the affected individual is having trouble parting with, have them wear and enjoy it for a while. Take pictures of them wearing the hat to preserve the moment. These actions can help them feel more at ease with getting rid of the item.
Consider If the Item Invokes Good Feelings
In life, you will naturally feel down, so it’s normal to be upset. However, you do not want the belongings in your home to make you feel bad. Your home should be a sanctuary, so the contents inside of it should invoke good feelings. Keep this in consideration when assisting with hoarding cleanup.
Knowing this, if an individual is hoarding an item that puts them in a negative emotional state, let them know they do not deserve to feel bad while at home. Let them know their home should make them comfortable, which means getting rid of whatever upsets them.
Repurpose Items
Repurposing items is a good way of giving them a new meaning and use
Just because items serve no purpose, that does not mean it has to remain that way. For example, an individual may hoard worn out T-shirts that they do not actually use. These shirts, however, can be made useful by turning them into a blanket. This option allows things that simply took up space to serve a purpose and can be good to consider for any collection of items.
Distinguish Between One-of-a-Kind Items and Generic Belongings
It’s fair to get sentimental over certain belongings, but it’s important to consider just how unique these items really are. Is the item they are holding on to a generic object or an item that was handmade with care? This is something to consider if you’re helping someone affected by hoarding clean their home. If the item is generic, then chances are the sentiment isn’t worth keeping the item.
Professional Hoarding Cleaning Services
When an individual who struggles with hoarding disorder agrees to clean their home, it is good news. However, the actual hoarding cleanup can be overwhelming and even dangerous because of the amount of cleaning that must be done and the amount of content that needs to be sorted. Because of this, it is helpful to hire a professional to provide hoarding cleaning services.
When you call a professional for hoarding cleaning services, the experienced technicians will be compassionate, considerate, and sensitive when working with affected individuals. They will develop a relationship with the individual to establish trust and then place the individual in charge of the cleanup. This ensures that only approved items will be removed. Once the contents are sorted, the technicians will sanitize and decontaminate the home. Any mold, biohazard materials, and lingering odors are also removed.
With professional hoarding cleanup help, homes affected by hoarding will become free of clutter and restored to a clean, safe living environment.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
