If you're one of the many people with a friend or family member who is a hoarder, you know that cleaning their house can be daunting and stress-inducing. But it doesn't have to be! Here are some essential tips for reducing stress while cleaning for a hoarder. Follow these tips, and you'll be on your way to an easier, less stressful clean:
Schedule time for cleaning and stick to it.
Cleaning up can be a daunting task, especially in hoarding scenarios. It's easy to let cleaning get away from you and make it overwhelming. Therefore, it's important to establish a cleaning schedule so that you don't find yourself buried in a mountain of clutter:
- Allocating time for cleaning will help prioritize the cleaning process, reduce stress levels, and also help maintain cleanliness.
- Set cleaning goals and, if possible, devise creative ideas to make the hoarder feel comfortable throughout the process.
- When establishing the cleaning schedule, make time for challenging tasks that may pop up between cleaning cycles, such as deep cleaning carpets or tackling projects like organizing paperwork.
Once you have established your routine and stick with it, cleaning won't seem like such a climb up Mount Everest!
Don't try to do everything at once - Focus on one area at a time!
When hoarding cleanup is your goal, it's easy to want to tackle the entire project at once, but that can be overwhelming. It's often better to break up the task into smaller, more manageable chunks by focusing on one area of the space at a time. This way, you can ensure each area gets properly addressed and that your hoarding cleanup efforts are used efficiently.
Furthermore, techniques such as organizing items by category or temporarily setting aside items for donation help remove some of the stress from hoarding cleanup and make it easier to focus on one area at a time.
Don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends.
Feeling overwhelmed or anxious when tackling hoarding or clutter is natural, but don't hesitate to ask for professional help. Turning to close family and friends can be immensely beneficial. They understand your lifestyle better than anyone and can provide invaluable moral support. Plus, they can keep you accountable while providing helpful organizational tips and techniques.
Take breaks often, especially if you start to feel overwhelmed.
It can be hard to step away from an important task when you have a lot of work or projects to complete, but taking small breaks whenever you feel overwhelmed can help boost your productivity and creativity in the long run. Get up and stretch occasionally throughout the day — it will do wonders for your body and mind by helping clear any mental stress you may be feeling.
Taking a walk, listening to a few songs, or even just meditating for five minutes can give you a sense of renewed energy, allowing you to approach tasks with more focus and attention. Don't forget that taking some time for yourself is okay - it will improve your energy and provide insight into how to approach different challenges with fresh eyes.
Set realistic goals for yourself, and don't try to accomplish too much.
It's important to be ambitious and strive for your dreams. However, setting unrealistic expectations for yourself can lead to feelings of disappointment or frustration when you struggle to meet them.
- Taking small steps and setting realistic goals for yourself is the best way to make progress toward achieving those dreams. It can help keep you motivated because you will continuously progress and accomplish small goals.
- Everybody has different skills and time frames, so practice self-awareness and ensure that your goals are achievable within the best timeframe.
Remember that you're doing this for yourself and not anyone else.
If you're cleaning up for a hoarder, remember that it's a process of improvement for you and your loved one, and it's not something anyone else should force you to do. It's a great way to control your surroundings, clear out the clutter, organize what you need and value, and ultimately make your and their living space more enjoyable and livable.
If it feels like too much of an overwhelming task, break the cleaning process down into smaller chunks to make it more manageable, and don't rule out the possibility of asking for help from our Bio-One team!
Compassion. Experience. Respect.
Bio-One of Pittsburgh is always ready to assist you in unexpected situations. Our expert specialists are always ready to assist you in dealing with highly pressurized situations that may be emotionally and physically draining, allowing you to focus on other vital activities while healing in a sanitary environment. Locally owned and operated, we provide the following:
Disinfection, sanitation, and decontamination services
- Crime scene cleaning
- Blood spill cleanup
- Homicide and suicide cleanup
- Unattended death cleanup
- Biohazard cleanup
- Feces and bodily fluids cleanup
- Odor removal
- Virus Disinfection
- Fentanyl cleanup
- Tear gas cleanup
- Emergency vehicle decontamination
- Sewage backup cleanup
- Medical Waste disposal
Remediation & Hoarding cleanup services
- Hoarding cleanup
- Animal hoarding cleanup
- Junk removal
- Deep cleanup
- Gross filth cleanup
- Hazardous waste removal
- Homeless encampment cleanup
HELP FIRST, BUSINESS SECOND
Bio-One works closely with victim support centers nationwide and local authorities, communities, emergency services personnel, hoarding task forces, apartment communities, insurance companies, and other organizations to accomplish each customer's most efficient and superior service possible.
Many crime scene cleanup companies may face unexpected, unfortunate life events. Still, Bio-One is the right choice because of our expertise and profoundly caring and discreet specialists.
We are proud members of the NAPO Pittsburgh - National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals!
Serving the Greater Pittsburgh / Western Pennsylvania Area!
Bio-One of Pittsburgh serves the following Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny County, Washington County, Beaver County, Butler County, Armstrong County, Westmoreland County, Lawrence County, Greene County, Fayette County, and Mercer County.
We also serve the following cities and surrounding communities: from Allison Park to Creighton, Crescent, Cuddy Curtisville, Millvale, Monroeville, Oakmont, Pitcairn, Pleasant Hills, Plum, Port Vue, Presto, Rankin, Rennerdale, Rural Ridge, Russellton, Sharpsburg, South Park to Springdale, we are ready to help you.
