How do you clean out a whole house full of stuff from a hoarding situation?

Clear hoarding room by room, sorting items to keep, donate, or dump. Hiring a professional junk removal crew can help simplify the process and reduce some of the effort. 

A hoarding cleanout is as much an emotional job as a physical one. Patience matters more than speed here. And, in fact, trying to take on the whole house at once is overwhelming. The trick is to make the task smaller. Work one room or even one corner at a time. Finish it first, then move on. Even small wins can give you a sense of momentum that makes the rest of the project feel lighter.

As you go, sort into three simple groups: keep, donate, and remove. Clear the trash and haul piles out of the house right away rather than letting them sit. As you do this, watch for things that hide in these homes like important documents, keepsakes, and cash. (This is another reason to move carefully rather than quickly).

For a large or unsafe job, this is not something a family should have to shoulder alone. The Junkluggers of Treasure Valley approaches hoarding cleanouts with compassion and discretion. The crew can handle the heavy lifting and disposal so loved ones can focus on the decision and the person, not what the person happened to leave behind.

After the pickup is complete, we’ll then sort the items. Usable ones are donated or rehomed when that’s possible.

As for the job itself, we work at a pace that respects everyone involved. Hoarding situations can be complicated, and that means it’s hard to estimate how long they will take. It could take a day or two to well over a week. We’ll work with you either way. We’re more than comfortable adjusting our timetable based on what the situation requires and what you need. 

Ready for compassionate help? Schedule your pickup online. The Junkluggers of Treasure Valley serves Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Kuna, and Caldwell.