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Hoarder cleaning can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a simple hoarder cleaning checklist, you can tackle hoarding one step at a time and make progress towards a more organized and clutter-free home. In this blog post, we’ll share a simple hoarder cleaning checklist to help you get started.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

Welcome to the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series! We will be starting in the laundry room and patio this month. Each day is dedicated to spending only 30 minutes decluttering your specific daily task. We will be working 5 days a week, so you can take 2 days to enjoy time with your loved ones.

Ignore the dates within this post. Each year we do the declutter series, so the dates won’t coincide from year to year. If you wish to subscribe and join us as we Declutter a Room in 30 minutes a Day, leave a comment below. You can also find the video below and subscribe via youtube. Follow me as we explore how to declutter and clean with my Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist.

How to Clean & Organize a Hoarder House: Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

Step 1: Assess the Situation

The first step in hoarder cleaning is to assess the situation. This means taking a good look at the clutter and determining how severe the hoarding disorder is. It’s important to be honest with yourself and acknowledge that hoarding is a serious issue that requires professional help in some cases. If the hoarding disorder is severe, it’s important to seek professional assistance from a therapist or mental health professional.

Step 2: Set Realistic Goals

Once you’ve assessed the situation, it’s time to set realistic goals. Hoarder cleaning is a process that takes time and effort, so it’s important to set achievable goals. Start by focusing on one room or area at a time, rather than trying to tackle the entire house at once. This will help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Step 3: Decluttering and Organization

simple hoarder cleaning checklist

The next step in hoarder cleaning is decluttering and organization. This involves sorting through the clutter and deciding what to keep, donate, or throw away. It’s important to be ruthless when decluttering and not hold on to items that are no longer needed or useful. Once you’ve decided what to keep, it’s time to organize the remaining items. This may involve purchasing storage solutions such as shelving, bins, or baskets to help keep things organized.

Step 4: Cleaning and Maintenance

The final step in hoarder cleaning is cleaning and maintenance. Once you’ve decluttered and organized, it’s important to keep your home clean and clutter-free. This may involve developing a cleaning schedule and sticking to it, as well as regularly evaluating your belongings to make sure you’re not accumulating unnecessary clutter.

A simple hoarder cleaning checklist can help break down the cleaning process into manageable steps. Remember to approach each step with empathy and patience, as hoarding is a sensitive issue. Here’s a basic checklist to get you started:

  1. Safety Precautions:
    • Ensure that the cleaning environment is safe for both you and the hoarder.
    • Consider wearing gloves, masks, and appropriate protective gear, especially in cases of excessive clutter.
  2. Start Small:
    • Begin in an area with less emotional attachment or clutter, such as a hallway or a bathroom.
  3. Sort and Categorize:
    • Create three categories for items: Keep, Donate, and Discard.
    • Encourage the hoarder to make decisions about each item.
    • Consider using colored bins or labels to make sorting easier.
  4. Declutter Gradually:
    • Focus on one area at a time, working from one side of the room to the other.
    • Avoid overwhelming the hoarder with the entire space.
  5. Dispose of Discarded Items:
    • Arrange for proper disposal of items in the “Discard” category, including recycling or trash removal.
    • For large-scale cleanups, consider professional services for hazardous materials or biohazards.
  6. Organize the “Keep” Items:
    • Find suitable storage solutions for the items the hoarder wants to keep.
    • Use clear containers and labels for better organization.
  7. Deep Cleaning:
    • Once the clutter is reduced, clean the area thoroughly, including dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing.
  8. Maintenance Plan:
    • Develop a maintenance plan to prevent re-accumulation of clutter.
    • Schedule regular check-ins and assistance as needed.
  9. Seek Professional Help:
    • Encourage the hoarder to consult with a mental health professional who specializes in hoarding disorder.
  10. Emotional Support:
    • Provide emotional support throughout the process and reassure the hoarder that you are there to help, not judge.

Remember that the pace of cleaning and decluttering will vary depending on the hoarder’s comfort level and the severity of the hoarding. Patience and understanding are key, and it’s essential to approach the process with care and empathy.

How to Clean a Hoarder Bedroom

Cleaning a hoarder’s bedroom can be a challenging and sensitive process, as bedrooms are often places with strong emotional attachments. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you clean a hoarder’s bedroom with empathy and practicality:

1. Gain Consent:

  • Begin by discussing the cleaning process with the hoarder and obtain their consent. Make sure they are comfortable with the idea of decluttering their bedroom.

2. Safety First:

  • Ensure the room is safe to enter. Look for potential hazards, such as tripping hazards, pests, or unsanitary conditions. Address any immediate safety concerns.

3. Plan and Prepare:

  • Plan the cleaning process and set realistic goals. Be prepared with cleaning supplies, garbage bags, and storage containers.

4. Start Small:

  • Begin with a small, less emotionally charged area within the bedroom, like a corner or a portion of the floor.

5. Sort and Categorize:

  • Encourage the hoarder to sort items into three categories: Keep, Donate, and Discard.
  • Assist in making decisions, but prioritize the hoarder’s comfort and choices.

6. Declutter Gradually:

  • Focus on one area at a time, working from one side of the room to the other to avoid overwhelming the hoarder.

7. Dispose of Discarded Items:

  • Safely dispose of items in the “Discard” category, ensuring proper disposal of trash and recycling.
  • Consider professional assistance for items requiring specialized disposal.
simple hoarder cleaning checklist

8. Organize “Keep” Items:

  • Find suitable storage solutions for the items the hoarder wants to keep. Use clear containers and labels to improve organization.

9. Deep Cleaning:

  • Once the clutter is reduced, thoroughly clean the room. This includes dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing surfaces.

10. Emotional Support:

  • Provide emotional support throughout the process. Hoarding can be emotionally taxing, so be patient, understanding, and non-judgmental.

11. Maintenance Plan:

  • Work with the hoarder to develop a plan for maintaining the clean bedroom. Regular check-ins and assistance can help prevent re-accumulation of clutter.

12. Seek Professional Help:

  • Encourage the hoarder to consult with a mental health professional who specializes in hoarding disorder to address the underlying emotional issues.

Cleaning a hoarder’s bedroom is a gradual process, and it’s essential to respect the hoarder’s feelings and boundaries. The goal is to create a safe and comfortable living space while providing the necessary emotional support for the hoarder’s recovery journey.

In conclusion, hoarder cleaning is a process that takes time and effort, but it is possible to tackle hoarding one step at a time. By following a simple hoarder cleaning checklist, you can assess the situation, set realistic goals, declutter and organize your home, and maintain a clutter-free living space. If you’re struggling with hoarding disorder, it’s important to seek professional help to address the underlying issues. With time and effort, you can overcome hoarding and enjoy a more organized and clutter-free life.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.

Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.

Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores and wondering: What Housework Should Be Done Daily? Grab my free ebook to walk you through the process. What Does a Deep Clean Include? One of my best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to use a House Cleaning Planner. Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price. Better yet… get it FREE when you subscribe to my site. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post designed to help you learn tips and Decluttering Ideas For Your Home.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

Maybe your house is clean but cluttered. If so, you need to know a few Declutter Tips and Ideas before you start using the Step By Step Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist. Does a Cluttered House Cause Stress? You Bet! Let’s look at a reputable, mental health site to answer that question and see exactly How Clutter Affects You. Then you can learn Why and How To Start to Purge Your Entire Home.They have given us 8 ways mess leads to stress and exactly How Clutter Affects You. According to Psychology Today:

How Clutter Affects You: Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Can a Messy House Affect Your Mood? You bet! How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives. (source) But, unnecessary stress is one aspect of How Clutter Affects You.

How Clutter Affects You Mentally can help provide the motivation you need to know How to Clear Clutter and Get Organized. Why does mess lead to so much stress? (source)Getting rid of all of that stress can be one of the best declutter motivation tips you need for some instant Declutter Inspiration.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist
  1. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important. (source)
  2. Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. (source)
  3. Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.(source)
  4. Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.(source)
  5. Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile. (source)
  6. Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces. (source)
  7. Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.(source)
  8. Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter). (source) So, experiencing constant frustration is another aspect to How Clutter Affects You.
simple hoarder cleaning checklist

Overwhelmed by a Messy House? It can really affect you negatively. How Do You Deal With a Cluttered Mess? One way is to have a plan, set aside a specific time, and learn the steps to declutter your home. What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? I have a room by room specific Printable Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist linked above. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post.

For a clean, simplistic look, one of the best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to declutter a room before cleaning and then use an Easy House Cleaning Schedule to maintain it. Declutter Checklists can help you learn How to begin to Purge Your Entire Home.

How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? As you can already see, there are at least 8 ways we become negatively affected by clutter. Also, I though it might be thought provoking to look at some statistics on clutter to learn more about How Clutter Affects You.

  1. US consumers buy 40% of the world’s toys, but bear only 3% of the world’s children.
  2. Most people wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. (source )
  3. 9.4% of U.S. households rent a storage unit. (source)
  4. People do not look at 80% of the papers and information they keep.(source)
  5. The average American house is double the size it was in the 1950s–and getting bigger. (source.)
Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

Today, we’ll lay out the solutions for the steps to declutter using my tips on Why and How to Declutter a House. Plus, we’ll look at a few ways to answer the concern of How Clutter Affects You and what you can do about it.

A few guidelines to keep you on task: 

1.Only spend time on your specific daily task. 

2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted. 

3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. 

4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. Recruit help if you are stuck in the decision process. 

5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

How to Declutter

Supplies Needed:

1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Declutter Tips and Ideas: Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)

2. sturdy trash bags

3. marker/pen to label boxes

Steps to use my Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag

2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have

3.Get rid of duplicate items, broken items, outgrown clothes and shoes, anything you’ll never use again.

4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest

5.Select a charity to donate your items and schedule the pick-up if that is an option

Your task today for today, September 19th is to: Declutter any sports equipment.

  • Move any sports equipment items to the correct location.
  • Declutter any that are not working as they should.
  • Get rid of anything that does not fit or you never use.

Need to deep clean? I have a Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist for each room to guide you along.

My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.

My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.

You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule/ Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Below is a sample page of what you’ll get in my Housekeeping Schedule for Home printables.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

After you have decluttered and cleaned using my Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist, you’ll need to maintain it. To keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.

Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.

Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.

How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.

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How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.

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How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.

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Happy Decluttering!

To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist

Happy Decluttering!

To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.

New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:

Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.

Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.

Step 3:   How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.

Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered. 

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.

If you found the Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist helpful, Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com: 

14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered

How to Do A 1 Day Declutter

How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule

How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter

What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?

Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.

For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.

I hope you have found my Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist helpful. Let me know in the comments below. Also, leave a comment if you wish to subscribe to the declutter series.

Simple Hoarder Cleaning Checklist