To start decluttering a hoarder, work with them at their slow pace, focusing on small, manageable sessions in one area at a time, using supportive, non-judgmental language, and setting up simple systems like "keep/discard" piles to create structure and motivation, rather than overwhelming them with a full house clean-out. The key is to build trust, respect their emotional connection to items, and aim for harm reduction and improved function, not perfection, often requiring ongoing support and professional help.
If the 5x5 method is as new to you as it was to me, allow me to explain. Coined by Steph of The Secret Slob, this technique requires nothing but a timer and twenty-five free minutes. Pick five rooms or zones and dedicate five minutes per area. In twenty-five minutes, Steph promises a cleaner, less cluttered home.
Decluttering and Organizing
Start the cleaning process by removing obvious trash and clutter, beginning with the room closest to the exit and working your way through the home. A top-to-bottom approach ensures that the hazardous areas are cleared first, improving safety as you go.
Some people develop hoarding disorder after experiencing a stressful life event that they had difficulty coping with, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or losing possessions in a fire.
The 50% rule for clutter is a decluttering method that challenges you to remove half the items from any given space (closets, drawers, rooms) to create instant space, reduce overwhelm, and achieve a more organized, functional environment by keeping only what truly adds value. It's a powerful technique for making significant progress quickly, forcing intentional decisions about what to keep versus what to let go of, making finding and using items easier.
Loss: When Clutter Holds Memories
Loss is a universal human experience, but for those with complex trauma, it can feel catastrophic. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a home, or a sense of safety, these experiences can lead to hoarding as a coping mechanism.
Hoarding disorder may exist on its own or may be part of another condition. Mental health conditions most often associated with hoarding disorder include: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).
Hoarding disorder is a recognized psychological condition where people feel compelled to keep items regardless of their actual value or usefulness. The thought of discarding things causes significant distress, leading to rapid accumulation and cluttered living spaces.
12 Tips to Overcome Hoarding
SERVPRO® professionals know how to execute various sanitization, restoration, and biohazard cleaning services for hoarders that can restore your space. Start by contacting your local SERVPRO® location to schedule an inspection with a project manager.
But try to remember that the items they hoard feel important to them – even if they don't seem valuable to you. Don't take over their space. It's understandable to want to help them improve things. But if you try to take charge, they might not want to accept any help at all.
The 20-minute cleaning rule (also known as the 20/10 rule) is a simple, time-boxed method to tackle household chores by cleaning with focused intensity for 20 minutes and then taking a 10-minute break, repeating as needed to prevent burnout and keep messes from piling up. It breaks large tasks into manageable sprints, making cleaning less overwhelming by focusing on progress over perfection through short, frequent sessions rather than marathon cleaning days, often tied to the FlyLady system or similar organizing principles.
Walk through your home with a garbage bag and collect 27 items. Do not stop until you have 27. Then close the garbage bag and throw it away. Next, take an empty box and go through your home collecting 27 items to give away.
Ask yourself when you used it last.
If you pulled the item out and said, “I've been wondering where this was!” you should probably get rid of it – unless it really is useful. If you didn't even know you still had the item, or ever even owned it you should definitely get rid of it! You didn't even miss it!
The idea behind the 10-10 decluttering method is refreshingly simple—which ups the chances that you'll be able to stick to it! Over the course of 10 days, you'll declutter 10 items a day from 10 different areas or rooms of your home. Not hardcore enough? Try limiting each day's decluttering session to only 10 minutes.
The 80/20 rule (or Pareto Principle) in cleaning means focusing your limited time on the 20% of tasks or areas that yield 80% of the visible cleanliness, like kitchens and bathrooms, to get the biggest impact with less effort. It also applies to decluttering by identifying the 20% of items you use 80% of the time, making it easier to remove the excess stuff that creates clutter and adds to cleaning work. The goal is to streamline your routine and home, creating more calm and space by prioritizing high-impact cleaning and getting rid of unused belongings.
Hoarding disorder. A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. The items can be of little or no monetary value.
The medicines most commonly used are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research continues on the most effective ways to use medicines in the treatment of hoarding disorder.
Decluttering Tips For Hoarders With Checklist
Hoarding is more common in older age groups than younger age groups. Below are some early signs that an individual may have hoarding behaviors. These behaviors are typically mild and progress over years. They may develop into a severe problem in adults around their 50s.
5 Decluttering Mistakes That Make Your Home Feel Colder, Not...
(Some) Emotionally Significant Items
“In the middle of a decluttering spree, it's easy to toss something just to get it out of sight,” notes Wells. “But when an item connects you to a person or moment that shaped you, it's worth a second look.” Take your time when it comes to these meaningful objects.