Son inherits a hoarded house. Let's clean it!
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- čas přidán 21. 04. 2023
- #autistic
This man has been living with his parents' hoard for years after they passed. He has been afraid to throw it away, and the longer he lets it sit, the more emotionally attached he gets to it. Fortunately, he reached out for our help, so let's do our thing.
I lived with a hoarder for over 50 yrs. His famous saying to me was after he died I could clean everything up-all his stuff. He passed away on a Thursday and by the following Tuesday everything was clean and it’s been that way since. Our youngest son made probably more than nine dump trips. Any of his clothes that were good went to Goodwill. His famous saying was he might need it someday about all the crap that he kept. A lot of resentment on my behalf, but time heals those wounds. Hoarding is a terrible disease.
53 years.... living with a hoarder. I love him but I get so angry at times....
My mom’s been resisting the dehoarding process and says the same thing. A refusal to deal with it, just leave it for others.
Yes, my mom has always said we can't go through/get rid of anything in the house until after she's dead. I doubt we'll throw out everything so soon after, when it happens. But I have a hoarder brother who will probably want to keep everyone for himself. 😅
Today my widowed mother in law signed papers to go into assisted living. Her home is almost like this house. Now we will talk about how and when we will clean her home.
And you did all that in 5 days?? WOW👏 🤯
I know you specialize in spin kicking the filth away, but I really appreciate seeing how you and your team are so fluent in chipmunk it's quite inspiring.
Very well said.
Cultural competence 😊
🤣🤣🤣
That would be a great saying on a tee shirt
Chip and Dale would be proud 😊
A side note I thought about as I watched this video. If you are a parent with adult children and you have a home filled with things that you’re keeping so that you can pass them down to your kids, go through those things NOW and ask your kids if they want those things. If your kid says no, get rid of it, and reclaim those spaces or rooms for your own purposes. ❤
For some that's just there excuse, it goes deeper then that and it becomes for common people like throwing out your favorite loved pet. On each item. Most don't think they have a problem so getting them the right help is hard.
That would be the reasonable thing to do.
My mum and dad are divorced. Mum is remarried and has thrown out things over the years without asking us kids if we would like them one day. On the other hand, my dad is a hoarder and cannot face it - he has said that he is leaving it up to us kids to clean it up!
Not to mention that your kids won’t have to deal with the mess when you’re gone…!
Hoarders are not keeping the items for their children...they are hoarders
I agree. Eg my children have told me to keep my own photo albums from 1980s onwards - about 100 albums which fill a huge cupboard space and although they are scanned they want me to save them so I have. Lots of other things I scanned and gave those who have left home them on a hard drive including all old family photos and records. When teh youngest went to college I went through every single bit of my house clearing things as I don't want them left with junk after I die. no doubt it will build up a bit again but hopefully not too badly. My current challenge is a 1800 piece of furniture. 3 auction houses have rejected it - I paid lots for it and now it has just been rejected as a donation to a major UK charity. I refuse to destroy it after 200 years and I also do not want my children to be left with it - it is very big and fitted all the DVDs etc and is now empty in the garage. Videos like this make me get on with this kind of sortint out.
There are many things I appreciate about this channel: your compassion for people with hoarding disorders and other mental illnesses, your deadpan snark, and your willingness to hire chipmunks. Most people wouldn't, you know. There's a real anti-chipmunk bias out there in the workforce.
Our son and his wife were killed in a car crash many years ago. They were renting a home, so we had to go in and clear out their stuff within 2 weeks. We were dealing with the grief, and it felt as if we were invading their privacy by going through all their things. Honestly, we held on to a lot of their things too long just because we knew how they felt about some of the things they collected. As the years passed, we began to understand that our holding on to the "things," did not mean that we love them anymore or any less.
Now my spouse and I are at the age that we really need to go through our things, so our remaining children won't have the same experience we did. I realize we can't just toss everything, but we do need to clear out a lot of stuff.
I'm so sorry for your loss
I am sorry for your horrible loss and the unnecessary pain of having to deal with their belongings within the span of two weeks. That's just cruel ..
My son died suddenly/tragically in the military. He is our only child. I had saved a lot of his childhood things but gradually started giving them away to nieces and nephews who were having babies - for their kids. They particularly liked his childhood books. I kept his little chair and it is in the living room with a cardinal chair pad on it (which is really a dish pad). I am so very sorry for your loss. Tragedy changes us forever but our loved ones are watching over……….I believe.
I think the Swedish call it death cleaning.
Ps RIP to your son and daughter. That was a hard thing to do. I'm sure you did the best you could.
What a terrible loss. Going through their stuff must've been terrible for you. Sending love. X
The way that you explained a deceased persons view of an item, for those who have faith in an afterlife or not, was brilliant. Better than any psychologist I’ve ever heard. God put you here to do this work.
Well, he did leave out reincarnation. Not saying anyone should keep stuff around for the eventuality that a kid connected to the consciousness of a deceased person happens to turn up at some point, but not mentioning this means he made half a point that could have been more complete. Also, if you have memory issues you may remember your mum without that teddy bear, but not a lot of details without such visual reminders, making such decisions even harder.
Amen. We are not doing storage for our dearly departed. They will not be resuming possession of their junk.
Agreed. I go through the same mental process with every close person dying even when I know those things are just things now and there is noone left caring for them. Just can't bring myself to throw out/donate until at least a year later.
Yes, that helped me too!
Came here to say the same thing. I felt the lifting of a burden as his words unfolded. I feel like I owe him for the cost of a therapy session.
I hope the owner knows how much courage he shows by 1. Working so hard for his physical health while struggling with mental health and grieving; 2. Knowing that a clean house is better for him than keeping everything to avoid losing special possessions; and 3. Trusting someone to help clean those possessions out. It's extremely rare that somebody can take care of themselves and ask for help where they need it during such a difficult time, and I wish him the best. Thank you for helping him work towards happiness like this.
Such kind words. Thanks for the perspective.
When my mom passed in another state my family brought most of her stuff to our house. She was the family geneologist. When my dad passed, 4 states away, tons of his stuff (lots of paperwork) ended up at my house. My dad built plant stands nick nack shelves. Going through all of their stuff has proven torturous. It's like deciding what to do with who they were.
Watching this video gives me a different perspective. Thank you!
🥰🎯🙌
The son sounds like a trooper. I hope life gives him many blessings.
Losing 200lbs is absolutely insane btw, he should be so so proud
That keto diet has helped so many people. Praise God he is getting healthy, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Don’t underestimate the effect of stress has on a person’s health. Just living in this house would drive anyone’s bp/cortisol through the roof. Thanks for doing this for him.
This man loves throwing stuff out so much he even threw his back a while back! True inspiration
That is the cleanest hoarded house I've ever seen. All the best to the owner
Came here to say just that. She may have been a hoarder but she kept her home very nice. I am very impressed.
She passed away…
This looked like my mother's home that I purchased when she passed. It was months of going through every little thing as she had a tendency to put money in envelopes and use them as book marks for whatever reason. My Aunt and I would clean and declutter until we had enough money for lunch and then take donations to the library (she was a book/cookbook hoarder) and other places. We filled many dumpsters and trash cans - 13 sets of dishes and countless magazines etc. I have paired my own belongings down to a 2 bedroom apartment and declutter constantly. I do not want my daughter to have to go through what I did. Thank you again for all of your hard work and I sure wish you would have been available when we went through that mess.
I’m the same, every year I get rid of things I haven’t used. My elderly parents have so much stuff it makes me anxious thinking about when the time comes. I tried to get them to sort through it, but they always say, “I might need it” and “it’s worth a lot of money” or their attached to a memory. And every week they go to a second hand shop to add to it. But I Love them so much and so happy to still have them here.
I truly admire you for what you did, a proof of love to your mum😘.
I will not put that burden on my kids. I am already old.
So I declutter regularly.
It frees my mind.
Out and away with the old stuff!👍
🙋🏼♀️🇩🇪
I’ve been cleaning out my parents’ house and yes, it’s overwhelming! No hidden cash so far, but lots of items, some of which is hard to tell exactly how valuable things are, and whether I have the time to research and sell! It’s a rough job, and I’m glad you and your aunt can be there for each other to get through it!
I ended up with parts of 24 sets of dishes when I cleaned out my family home! Being the only child of two only depression era parents meant everything was saved and came to me.
@@seattlegirl2077 I feel ya! That era and WWII, they learned to keep everything because then you aren’t without if the crap hits the fan, but many of them went overboard, and many of us inherited the habit and the mess!
I just want to say I appreciate you explaining the hoarders mindset and how it applies especially to items of loved ones. It has made me realize even as a 17 year old who still lives with my mom, if I don't focus on these tendencies I have I will likley become someone like this, and it has made me want to deep clean my room in a way where I am getting rid of anything I genuinely do not need or things I am keeping because of that negative obligation you were speaking about. Even though you are not physically here cleaning my room, you have helped me to get it clean and organized. I have already spinkicked unnecessary items right in their dumb face because of these videos, thank you!!
It also inspired me to clean and organize my things..
This is why I really appreciate Swedish death cleaning. Not only can the person themselves go through their belongings, they can involve their loved ones, reminisce, and then let the item go. They get to spend their last remaining years in a clutter free area and their kids aren’t burdened with having to go through it all in a difficult time. I really see this being my parents home after they pass, which I hope isn’t for many more years.
I had to clean out my parents home they lived in for 55 yrs when one passed two weeks after the other and it was crazy hard thing to have to do
I'm from Sweden, I didn't know that it's just us that use death cleaning. I'm just above 50 and I have already started with my 'decluteration', i give away things to my son and friends and to charity in that order. I thought it was a normal thing to do, in most countries, to make it easier for your children.
@@martinanordlund9796 sadly, it is not. I've brought up Swedish death cleaning to my mother, who is the "collector" in our family, and she just looked at me like I was nuts.
@@annagering8430 I find it odd, it's better to give it away than have a lot of stuff on shelf's that just gather dust. Make someone happy when you live, you can't take it with you.
@@martinanordlund9796 just make sure you ask your kids and friends if they really want those items you're giving them. You might be cluttering their houses without realizing it...
I'm going through this right now. I lost my mom last week to cancer, and inherited her hoard. Her boyfriend was a very heavy smoker, so I'm cleaning years of tar, dust, and grime off of everything. We've been working on things for a little over a month now, and have filled up well over 100 contractor bags of trash. Never realized just how much she did keep. I'm finding medications of mine from when I was a year old, along with piles and piles of mail.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mother and having to clean out those conditions.
This is my story exactly. My mom died a couple of months ago. Mom was a smoker and dad doesn't have the strength to do what I am doing, though his expectation (along with my three brothers) is that I would do this process, because I was the only daughter. It has been so hard. I have thrown up so much stuff that was ruined by smoke. She was the Catalog Queen but I loved her for that.❤
@@meganl.5650So sorry for the loss of your Mum. So sorry for the sexism from your 3 brothers expecting you to do it all ….. 👁👁😡because you are a woman.
I really want to commend you for putting so much effort into understanding the psychological aspects of hoarding, as well as grief and trauma. That's something that a lot of people refuse to even acknowledge, let alone learn about. It's as much a gift to the people you help as the physical cleaning you do. With channels like yours and Aurikatarina's, I hope it prompts more people to understand how important the psychology behind it is.
Huge appreciation for your (I'm pretty sure) Gen X humour, to which I completely relate. That, and the devil worship. 😄
Thank you for understanding, Going through Mom's stuff after she died was ... somewhat cathartic but mostly painful. Throwing away things she loved but had no meaning or value to the rest of us was really difficult. It was saying goodbye over and over again. I don't miss any of those things. But sometimes the creepy dolls do still haunt my dreams!
@@burghbrat3319 I'm glad you were able to get through it. It's not an easy thing for some to deal with. You might need to perform a smudging to rid the house of the spirits of creepy dolls past. 😄
Do you also watch A Hoarder's Heart? She is a recovering hoarder and explains everything really well while decluttering!
Looks great!❤
Really appreciated this one, thanks. Not a member but no devil worshipper either. The 67 year old who hasn't kicked the bucket yet. Getting more motivated to clean by watching. Hope not to let my children inherit the junk. Bare bones, just waiting to get there. Again, thanks so much! 👍👍👍👍
Going to buy a bottle of mr clean and spin kick! Nah, will be just happy to get to the cleaner mode.
To the fella that lives here I am so sorry you lost your Mom. Truely. You are making some healing choices with your weight loss and your brave decision to declutter. I know this can be painful. You are so strong. I hope you feel lighter. Wishing you peace and comfort.❤
I'm not a hoarder but you motivate me to go through closets and just get rid of "stuff"!! Thank you!!
I love your explanation on why physical things aren’t cared about by those who died. It’s just the memories attached for those who are alive. Such a helpful and important lesson!
I really needed to hear this. A dear friend passed away 10 years ago and I'm in possession of a bunch (and I mean a BUNCH) of their VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, and DVDs. I've been preparing myself to get rid of these things, but I've felt guilty because they were obsessed with their media. Thanks for putting this into perspective. ❤
Best wishes to you :-) The memory of them (not the tapes, etc.) will bring you joy. I"m sure they would want that for you.
Donate to a charity shop - they sell a lot of those
Sorry,
I think the technique is totally out, isn‘t it?
People don‘t have CD-players nor videorecorders any more.
Good luck🍀🙋🏼♀️🇩🇪
If you can find another collector who would enjoy them, or find a charity your friend supported, that might lighten the emotional load :)
@@hildaba-wu1499 Actually, they're still out there. People who don't have cable or streaming services still use DVDs and (less frequently) VHS tapes.
Also, that's an incredible feat, losing so much weight. Good on him.
You know, I think the fact that he has lost weight and then has let you into his home to clear it out means he is ready to move on in his grieving process. ❤
I completely agree! Both the weight and the clutter were keeping him stuck in that depressive energy, and the literal shedding of pounds and stuff is providing a much-needed shift for him. I hope he’ll consider getting some grief counseling, too. Wishing him all the best!🙏🏻💜
My mom passed away 6 months ago. She stayed with us and she was a bit of a hoarder, things she had for more than 30 years. It was very emotional to me to sort out her room,and it took me 2 months to complete it, because of getting emotional everytime I started, but I knew I had to do it. I only kept a few sentimental things and all her books she wrote in and her poems she wrote
What you said around the five minute mark hit home with me. My dad has passed and all of my grandparents left me with their things. Trying to decide what to keep donate or trash left me very depressed and weighed down. I’m very sentimental so it doesn’t make it any easier. I can justify keeping just about anything but you are right. The memories belong to me now and if it’s too stressful to keep… it needs to find a new home.
From 4:30-7
@librarysquirrelgirl9037 U nailed it! There's a name for it "re-homing"..let it bring joy to others. And PEACE to you!
I'm like you. Recently a friend suggested that I sell my grandmother's dresser. I was shocked at the idea. It took some days for me to accept that I don't like the style and it doesn't work very well because the drawers don't have tracks on the sides. I wasn't going to get rid of it, but now I feel some relief thinking I dont have to keep it.
OMG this is so relatable! My dad was a hoarder and he passed last year. When I cleaned his house I realized just how much he kept. All the pay stubs from his first job, back when they still put your SSN on every one of them. Magazines, books, our old Beta tapes, vintage tools and car parts he *might* need. Worst of all my mom passed 5 years ago, and he didn't clean up any of her stuff, he just put his stuff on top or in front of it. I say worst of all because it forced me to confront those memories and make those decisions at the same time I was grieving his passing. Fortunately, my husband and my aunt and uncle were there the whole way. My memories were so present I felt like I was living in two time periods at once. I can't imagine having to face that immense physical and emotional burden alone. I'm sure your help was immensely appreciated.
that is tough to do. my Mom is 93 and doesn't throw out anything (in the house 50 years). Dad passed 6 years ago... you know what i am thinking....
My parents died ten years apart and I went through the same thing. I was lucky in that I had multiple siblings who helped, but it was still very, very difficult. I only have one son, and there is no way I want to leave anything similar for him [or any surviving siblings] to deal with.
You described my experience exactly
My husband is an only child and his parents were late having him... we're not looking forward to clearing out their house, as its only FiL left now and he's lazy and constantly depressed and refuses to do anything about it, no matter how many times we've asked him to get out and get therapy, we're not his keeper.
😢
So much like my grandparents' house I grew up in. "I grew up during the Depression" was Grandma's excuse to not throw out newspapers, magazines, mail, etc. So cluttered that I didn't have friends over as a kid because I was embarassed which is a whole psychological stress to itself. Possessions were cleared after each person's death. I became a minimalist in my own house, both so I can breathe as I live, and so I won't do to my three kids what my family did to me when it's my time. If it's not used daily, it's not out on a surface. If it's not used or worn every season, it's donated. I get some pyschological healing with every vid of yours I watch.
It was a real thing with people that grew up during the great depression. My dad had so many tools when he passed we had 6 complete sets. My 5 brothers and one brother in law got those. When mom passed, we found two full dresser drawers of just plastic grocery bags. She really didn't have much as the downsized their home already. That meant 90% of their stuff was already sold or given away.
I have to try to throw things out. I am sort of a hoarder but not really. I have mail from y2k.
Oh my gosh my Dad was exactly the same. Depression generated high hoarder rate. Weard.😢
One of my grandmothers had a lot of clutter and I think she also was impacted by the depression mentality. Most of the things she ferreted away were not practical though. She had a lot of dolls and knick knacks. I would think she would value practical things instead but no, she mostly had useless junk lining all her walls. She had a book case of books that nobody was allowed to touch or read. She died having had spent her life watching television and doing nothing but being surrounded by junk nobody could interact with. Oh well. I don't miss her she also wasn't a very nice person.
It's a good reminder for parents to declutter before they age too much, to be easier on everyone involved, them in their old age for getting around, the kids to not be left with a burden, and anyone else involved in preparing the home for the next step. I say this with love. ❤
You’re 100% right!
Yes!
Don't be lazy and work for your inheritance! haha
I’m doing that now
Absolutely. Anything you are not using on a daily or weekly basis - ask your kids NOW if they want it. If not, get rid of it - donate it if possible - if it’s junk, just toss it. You will feel like you lost 10 pounds. At one point we had several antiques - our eldest took a couple of pieces - are youngest wasn’t interested. Chances are your kids don’t want your stuff, so clear it out if you aren’t using it and free up your space.
"Is this a good memory or is this a negative memory." Powerful. Thank you for doing this hard work in such a spirit of kindness and respect.
Cleaning out my moms house after her and my brother passed away was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I'm sure this guy could breathe easier and relax after you helped him.
OMG. Your example about creepy looking dolls blew my mind.
My mom collected these expensive dolls. Ever since I was little, I've had nightmares about dolls: they had sharks teeth and would whisper to me that they were going to kill me. I was so terrified of them that I was scared of walking past the room that contained the dolls, much less have one in my room. My mother thought it was funny to wait till I was asleep and would sneak one of those into my bedroom so when I woke up, that's what I would see. (Yeah, she was a psychotic bitch. My dad was even worse). Anyway, I developed insomnia at the age of 8 years old & 45 years later, I still have insomnia and looks like I always will.
My mom developed dementia in her old age. The moment after she entered a nursing home, a friend and I boxed up every one of those dolls and sold them to a doll collector.
Wait, you're going to be pantsless??? Let me dig out that 80s porn music first.....😂
We had a family friend that would gift both my daughters a creepy china doll on their birthday for a few years…we would all laugh and promptly put it into the attic, in a box, out of sight because they were truly scary!
I wonder if magnesium would help? You should try some B12 too! I think it will make you feel better! The liquid magnesium works fast but the capsules might help keep you levels even.
My s/o and I got my in laws house and they have dolls. There in a box in the attic
I spent over 8 months alone in my deceased parents house; gutting it out by myself. My brother went MIA and left me to clean up the mess. He became a millionaire with mom’s split stocks that he was supposed to liquidate a small chunk to help pay her bills before we sold the house. In which never happened. Then I inherited dad’s osteoarthritis and stopped walking by the end of 2018 . With $30 between my savings and checking.. my two adult sons have picked up my pieces and pay for my own house payments, I gave my car to my oldest son who needed a good reliable car for his own family and I am now just taking baby steps after 2 hip surgeries and have vegan gutting my own place so this doesn’t happen to my kids.
Garage sales are still a thing and I recommend doing them a few times a year…
Ty so much for your pointers regarding things and grief. You are a true gem and I completely agree. I was widowed in 1998, so I ain’t blowing smoke. Truly. Well done you. 🇬🇧
I found that until I had my parents house totally cleaned out I couldn't move on from my grieving. My very best to this man. I do hope he gets therapy.
When my mother was admitted to a nursing home, it was just my sister and I left to clean out the house. I remember wanting to keep EVERYthing. My sister was more inclined to throw things away. I was distraught…I cried. Almost 60 years of our life was going into garbage bags. I know now that it was impossible to keep everything, but, 9 years ago it was very difficult for me. God bless you for helping this man.
Fortunately my sister and I were pretty much on the same page when cleaning out our parents house. So much stuff, so many taper candles in every room/dresser of the house!
My weird love of watching a dirty, cluttered space come clean brought me to your channel. Your wacky, witty humor caused me to subscribe. You never fail to make me smile! You do such an excellent job!
I'm here on a post break-up sleepless night, and you made me loose it with the bit about you cleaning pantsless!! 😂😂😂
You have a killer sense of humor & delivery, not to mention generosity. An all around amazing human being.😇
This reminds me of when I cleaned my mum’s house after she passed. I either donated or threw away as I had the same attitude as you that she didn’t need it in heaven. I felt fantastic after, it was like therapy for me. Fantastic job!
Enjoy listening to your reasoning and advice regarding cleaning a hoarded space. As a hoarder I have been taking your advice when I’m trying to get through my rooms. It’s hard but I’m getting there 🤗
It helps to definitely don’t buy anything more. And just throw it away you will not miss it. It will feel fabulous. Also you will have a beautiful neat home later which in turn will make you feel in control , comfortable and relaxed and proud of your hard work and clean spaces. You can do it I have faith in you. Enjoy the in control process you are worth it.
The way you described the keeping of a deceased person's possessions is spot on. I caught so much hatred for parting with my mom's stuff so quickly after she died. Most of it meant nothing to me and she wasn't coming back to use it. I kept what I needed and parted with the rest, even supposed sentimental items.
I was the same. I asked over family members if they wanted anything. Only her cousin wanted something that had belonged to her. I gave her some cross stitches my mum had done and a rag doll that I had my mum's name on, her cousin was delighted.
How unfortunate for the son and how considerate you and your team are! The respect shown is truly appreciated.
You're a kind guy, Rhianna. Another awesome cleaning job from the heart. I wish the owner the best. This was a sad one.
This video came just at the right time for me.
Today I sold my mother's china cabinet. She loved that cabinet, but I just didn't have to room to continue to keep it.
I felt so horrible about selling it. Your words helped me feel better about it, thank you.
I'm going to buy myself a little piece of jewellery with it, so it will always be with me.
Cheers from Australia. 🇦🇺
Hi to Australia,
please don‘t feel horrible. You did the right thing👍!
When our parents died (both at the same second) long time ago we had to split up the belongings.
One brother took some china (the „good one“).
I have never since seen that.
His wife obviously does not estimate it and bought sth. else, modern.
Same with the silver cutlery.
Maybe it ended at ebay…..
Hug to you from far away🇩🇪
🙋🏼♀️
What a lovely way to safeguard and cherish your mother’s memory!
think of it as a piece of wood whose purpose was fulfilled long ago, and let it go. If you must, take a photo of it !! Taking a photo has helped alot of people deal with the item leaving. Cheers to you too! And cheers to this wonderful guy who does the videos and all the cleaning, he is the best, isn't he?
@@hildaba-wu1499
🙏
@@LauraMacMillan-cp9yk 🙏
This was the same situation with my mom. Clean but cluttered. We put everything in boxes and then went through each after the funeral. We donated at least 200 boxes of just yarn and fabric. Big packing boxes. 😅 I miss her. 😊
16:28. That carpet is really groovy. God bless you for bringing it back to life. 😁👍🏼🇬🇧
I recently lost my mother and had to make some difficult decisions on what to keep and what to get rid of. I decided to take pictures of things that had good memories but I didn’t have room for. I figured I would appreciate the memory when I see the pictures more than if it was stored away somewhere. Great job with the house and helping him move on.
My mother passed away suddenly last October. She was 90. Lived by herself. I also took pictures of the happy memories. I have been decluttering my home for 2 years now. Not leaving a terrible job for my kids.
@@MsAugust30 I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve been organizing everything also! Well it helps that it helps with my stress. I feel like if I organize my life/house it helps me feel better about the things that are out of my control.
This video brought back so many memories for me. My grandmother in law was a hoarder (depression era baby), and she was so bad she'd save the plastic containers cakes came in from the grocery store, washed cups from fast food places (yes, cardboard ones), and so on. EVERYTHING had a story and if you tried to throw anything away, she'd go to the garbage can and pick it back out. Her daughter, my MIL, was the same. EVERY single bouquet of flowers her husband of fifty years ever bought her was found still in the vases dried out all in the garage and dining room table of her house. Every outfit, pair of shoes, purse, old medications, make up, etc...nothing was tossed. When both she and my GIL passed, it took us weeks to go through everything and discard it. My husband passed two years ago, and I'm finally getting to the finish line on clearing out the garage that was his man cave (I absolutely wouldn't deal with all the stuff in the house). It's so very sad that this condition exists for people; husband, MIL and GIL all would go into serious break down and get extremely defensive if you tried to even talk to them about clearing out some of the clutter. I even feel guilty that I'm giving away or tossing out my husband's belongings that I don't need/want due to the memories of his and his family's reactions of the past. My heart goes out to the homeowner here and I pray he can find some peace now.
Parents, please, please please do not do this to your children! I don't care if you are 25 years old with toddlers, 40 years old with teens, or everyone is now full-grown adults. Clean out your closets. Clean out your basements. Give your kids a week to collect what they want. 99% of your 'collectibles' are worthless and no one wants them Just. Get. Rid. Of. It. Thank you!
My aunt that raised me was a hoarder, but she was a very neat, clean hoarder. She had a whole closet full of National Geographic magazines neatly stacked on a shelf in the closet from floor to ceiling. She had drawers full of material (she sewed), old patterns, thread, buttons and other sewing paraphernalia. Tons of old books and photos neatly stacked on shelves. Shoes in special containers that were out of style and hadn't been worn in years. Same with purses. Small kitchen appliances that had never been used and were still in the box. She loved old dishes and had a ton of them that were in a glassed in hutch. She never used them for fear of breaking them. She also kept old bills and mail. I had the joy of cleaning it all out. My solution was to store it and clean it out a little at a time. A year or so later, I had a clean up day where I advised everyone in the family to come if they wanted anything of hers. We sold her furniture, donated her clothes, gave away things like her sewing machine, microwave, hand mixer, electric knife and then rented another much smaller unit and moved her dishes, books, tapes, knickknacks , etc. into it. Then , gradually one box at a time, I donated, gave away, trashed etc. the rest.
I would have been still going through those geographical magazines lol
I wish I had an aunt with a netgeo closet :)
Bob Macky, make sure you pay special attention to the spices. They do have expiration dates on them. They are hard to see sometimes with the spices inside, but they’re there. And ask him if he cooks with them. If not, just toss all of them. Those were probably something his mum used. ☮️-out!
you are so right...i love spice collecting and there's nothing worse than saw dust in a bottle!!!
I wish for that man comfort, happiness, a serene heart, and peace of mind. Letting go of all his mom's stuff will help him on his long journey of recovery. Your understanding and sensitivity to his situation and struggles make you uniquely suited to this work. I'm glad your CZcams channel is so successful so you can continue this work.
I inherited a huge hoarder house and am still cleaning it out many months later. I'm still going through every single item. It is hard to get rid of stuff that your loved one owned no matter what. Most of it so far has gone to three local charities. But word of advice, please don't hoard and leave a catastrophe for your family to deal with. And if you do, be organized. Don't leave valuables scattered here and there. And keep important papers in one place.
The papers are such a big deal. My friends mom passed and we had to go through 1000s of things just to find the correct papers to handle her mothers estate properly.
Wow, that paneling brings back memories
This makes me wish I could get on a plane and come help you help this guy. He sounds like he's had so much, TOO much going on, and it kicks the MUST HELP button on. Thank you for being there for him, and please tell him some crazy purple haired lady in the UK is sending him love, hugs and all the keto best wishes he can handle.
Hey Mack Daddy! Im so glad you saved those quilts! They are so beautiful and so many hours were put into creating them. There are collectors that would be interested in them. The other thing I would save for him are the Christmas ornaments from when he was a little boy. And anything his mom truly loved. Like something she took really good care of and took from place to place no matter where she lived. Any signed artwork. And like you said, the collectible toys. Clothing definitely donate. And the pots and pans and dishware are great to donate to churches. If anyone ever loses their home to fire or flood or natural disaster, those are great to give to families to allow them to function in the meantime. (Before they can get a new place, insurance pays etc etc.) Please pass on my sincere congrats on his success with keto. And the fact that he’s taking care of his health. He deserves a healthy life. And his mom wouldn’t want him to live just grieving her dying every. single. day. for the rest of his life. As moms we want our children to be happy!! That is what we want more than anything else in the world. And she also doesn’t want him squashed by the weight of her STUFF. By the time I die, I hope there’s just the very minimum left. So my kids aren’t buried under my crap. One last thing, I think you need to invite Barbie to IL for a clean-fest. Poor girl is just OVER cockroaches and spiders. I don’t even know how she walks into some of those places. I bet a lot of yours and her subscribers would LOVE it. But you’d have to wear pants “Pantsless Cleaning Johnny-Mac” people talk, even if you’re as innocent as the pure driven snow and newborn babies. You know. So fully clothed would be optimal. Now I have to figure out how to get my extras as a member. Because it also doesn’t show up on my regular CZcams via my iPhone….probably through Safari….you’re a pain in my ass. Lol.
Time for a Big Mack attack! I was just showing my husband your videos, and I saw all the Tupperware lids. This is another great way to declutter…make sure ever container has a matching lid that actually works. You can get it on and it seals the container completely. Anything left over that doesn’t have its match it automatically tossed. And I honestly believe you can put them into the recycle bin!
A friends father was a hoarder in the UK. He passed & it fell to him & his wife to clean out the house. His dad had tons of books. After donating/throwing away quite a lot, they happen to open a book, it had money in it! They had to search through every book after that, found quite a lot of money. They also looked into all boxes, games, etc, there was money hidden everywhere.
Watching your channel really should be mandatory for all licensed therapists. Full stop. So much to gleam from your experiences and expert narration throughout. Very relatable to so many. Ty. 🇬🇧
Impressive work. I hope he will feel much better in his recovery in a cleaner home, he deserves a good life after so much tragedy and hardship.
Dear Rhianna Pantsless Playing With Nineties Toys Johnny from Seattle,
Your heart is so kind. Everything you did in that house (and all your houses) was aimed at making the client feel better. My prayer for this guy is that this will motivate him to move forward with decluttering everything and to continue to lose weight. He’s obviously such a strong guy to have done so much considering all of the challenges he’s had to face. Your decluttering and his significant weight loss is so symbolic (literally and figuratively) of lightening the load or burden. You’re helping free him from a heavy prison. Love your videos and look forward to seeing more in this house next week. 😃
Omg. Just realised how impactful your work is to pets!!!! Bless you and your team again. 🇬🇧
Thank u for helping this guy out and continuing to spin kick your way into all your viewers hearts 🙏
Love your observation about possessions and those who have died. You are such a kind and observant person to make that connection and help this fellow. That he's lost 200 pounds and is cleaning the house out seems to indicate that he's healing in a lot of ways, though.
This week I cleaned my house using the Midwest-Magic-Cleaning method, by looking only at 1 square meter and clearing that, before moving on to the next. It helped a lot. Mind you, we have decluttering our house last year because we didn't want to let our kids having this burden when the eventual thing is going to happen and we're going to hell. But when you've still got 2 (of our 5) kids living in the house (both adults) and their friends coming over regularly, our house always seems full, so it's nice that my closets and cabinets and store rooms are neat ... and stay neat.
Why would you go to hell??? You could go somewhere so much better and peaceful.
@@greaterishewhoisinmethanwh1209 I was alluding to what our Pantless-Cleaning-Johnny from Seattle, who here in this video jokingly said, that if you aren't a 'members-only', you will go to hell. I was responding in good gesture. Ofcourse I'm not really going to hell... too crowded over there.
@Have A Fresca Thank you dear but I'm not worrying about going to hell at all.
“There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold.” ~ The Doctor
Someone is holding my hand for over 35 years now, I'm alright.
@Have A Fresca You're theorizing about doom and gloom and are blind to see the beauty of having someone (my husband in my case) to hold your hand for 35 years (and hopeful longer) then maybe it time for you to lighten up. See, I see the light .... bright and clear! =D
@Have A Fresca You never get into heaven with that attitude I can assure you that, no matter how much you pray. You aren't nice at all. Nobody here was talking about gathering riches and treasures, but maybe you are jealous because I'm married for over 35 years to my best soulmate, maybe you envy other good souls living their life to the fullest by helping others out and lending a hand (it's nice to have a hand to hold on, it really is) and maybe you've never understood humor, all is possible, but I do hope one day, you'll find eternal life isn't a reward to seek, maybe you'll find being a good person warms your own heart, wetter there's someone up there or not, it shouldn't matter, just be nice.
Goede avond en slaapwel.
Those books were from my childhood. I've read almost everyone. My grandparents had the childrens encyclopedias. You just brought back so many memories. I'm 61 and a half.
Ha ha, love the 61 and a half!
What a badass. Very glad to hear about him taking control of things. Community and love is exactly what he needs rn.
The before and after is amazing 😮 BTW, the comment I made about bubble gum on Wednesday was because I have a 14 yr old, autistic grandson, he will pick up gum off the ground and chew it. He's 6'2" and smart as a whip but we can't seem to stop his impulsive behaviors. I love that child with all my heart, the stinkin math genius😂 He's adorable 🥰
I cannot wait for part 2!!!!
As a current cancer patient… I can tell you I’d give ANYTHING if someone did this for me.
@@NdnUrbanCat thank you.
This describes how it was to help my dear friend clear out not just her own house, but also her parent's house after her dad died (10 years after her mum did unexpectedly). It took 10 months of visiting almost every weekend, as there was quite the hoard. It was also difficult for me, as I spent a lot of time in their homes as both a child and an adult. I was gifted some treasures that remind me of all of them, and I cherish these things. It was very slow progress, as she would get easily overwhelmed. Unfortunately her son has learned the sentimental attachment and is possibly worse at letting go of things. I also suffered autistic overwhelm at times, which upset everyone and I desperately wish that hadn't happened, but I am who I am and I explained it was me, and why, not them, and we got there in the end. I admire you for establishing and respecting the rules re getting rid of things, and having the patience to change tack when asked. I've been there and it's an understatement to say it's not easy. You do a great job, Professor Spinkicker. In addition you are hilarious, your sense of humour hits me right in the funnies. Watching your vids is like having a conversation with my favourite colleague, diagnosed Aspie, who talks so much shite but who I get deep into shared interest and conspiracy conversations with. Rock on, good man!
Kudos to the son for taking control of his life! I have been doing keto for years... I dropped over 80lbs (and kept it off even during COVID, aside from a little backslide while recovering from surgery), and I can't imagine ever going back to the standard American diet. Very proud of him!
Needless to say, enjoyed the video, too.
*we rise by lifting others*
… and my friend, this is what you guys are doing.
Bless your hearts for doing what you do.
And btw I loved the compilation at the end!
By cleaning for him you have given him an invaluable gift.
I’m sending this home owner peace and healing energy.💞
Omg if this show about this guy was on TLC I'd watch it. Weight loss ✔️ mental obstacles ✔️ hoarding ✔️ cancer recovery ✔️ community charity ✔️ home improvement ✔️
Your compassion and understanding is remarkable. I cannot tell you how many times I would have gladly and for free done a fraction of what you do for the sheer satisfaction and good vibes. Yet so many “deserving” rightfully expressed how anxious they would be. Many of us mean well. You do so much for wellbeing. Ty. 🇬🇧
You did an absolutely incredible job considering the customer's unique situation. Well done, sir. My thoughts and prayers go out to the man for all he's gone through
I found taking pictures of some of my Mom's belongings that were sentimental to me allowed me to remember the memory that particular item had but got rid of the physical clutter of it.
Not only is it cathartic to watch you cleaning but your sense of humor is so much fun!😂
My heart breaks for this poor man. I couldnt even imagine what he is going through. Makes my heart happy to know he was about to reach out and get help
You hit the nail on the head when you explained what to keep and the guilt associated with it.
It is eerie how much this cleanup reminds me of my friend who I am helping. His mother died over twenty years ago and he is still not over her. He has tons of her old stuff...including old bills. I have found a ton of old collectables in the house (The good news is I have made him over $3000 selling some of that stuff). He also has a massive amount of dishes (his, his mom's, his dead boyfriend's, and his dead boyfriend's mother's - we are talking hundreds of everything). Expired food (we are talking expiration dates as far back as 21 years go, and opened things in the fridge that expired 8 years ago!) The one big difference...he needs to be there for everything and therefore we are 2.5 years into the project, and probably 60% done.
You are a true friend ❤
What a huge boost for this man, you have taken a huge weight off his shoulders. Looking forward to the next one!
so many beautiful quilts in this home! I am glad they are able to be saved
For being a hoarder house, it’s honestly very clean!
I’ve become slightly obsessed with recreating my grandmother's home that she decorated n the ’70s. It was my haven when I was a child, but after this video, I'm a little less enthusiastic about it because I realized that I will pass on a ton of stuff that I cherished thus creating a bigger burden on my children. Thank you for helping keep things in perspective ❤
I couldn’t think of a better person than you to take care of this gentleman’s Mum’s belongings. Bless you. ♥️
I too find it very satisfying and relaxing to organise. I run anxious lol, and find myself visualising organising others’ homes in my imagination, and how much less bitchy they would be interacting with me. I think what you do is a valuable gift to so many who don’t find it such, and exponential gifts to those interacting with them. 🇬🇧
Oh those quilts and quilting stuff - I'd loved to get hold of that, what a desaster
What wonderful people you are, doing such a kind and loving thing. May God Bless you and your team and provide tenfold everything you need to continue doing this kind work. God bless 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
This really helped me realize why I reacted and took a lot of my mom's things when my sister and I were going through them. I didn't and wasn't ready to let her go. I wound up paying to have them moved from NH to my home in NC. I am still going through them one box at a time.
Lori
That is so awesome seeing the carpets. They look really good.
I really appreciate what you said about keeping a dead family member's possessions because of guilt.
Hope the gentleman that lives there gets some grief counseling. It should help him a lot. ♥️
Each time i saw a Longaberger basket tossed away, i screamed and had a heart attack 😂
Thank you so much for your Life Lessons and explaining so kindly about the human psyche. It means more than you know. ♥️
Ha ha, I wondered if they were Longbergers! If it makes you feel better, I tried reselling a couple of them, in excellent condition, 4-5years ago. Zero buyers. No interest. Not even $1 in a garage sale ( on a busy day). Collectibles don't hold value as much as people are led to believe!
@@cathycoryell2351 it DOES make me feel better! Sorry you couldn’t sell yours, but good to know ☺️♥️
this will help....i have no clue what a longberger is...nada. So there you go ! Everything is nothing! lol
@@Jendromeda longabergers are handmade baskets popular in the Midwest in the 1990s. They had home parties to sell them like Tupperware! lol. I purchased several back in the day, so when i saw them getting trashed, I panicked a little! Guess they aren’t worth much these days. 🤷🏻♀️
I Saw the Longaberger Baskets,Protector & Pottery too!!
Made me Realize I’d Better Make Sure someone Knows NOT to throw it away! 😭
My sister and I call throwing junk away … “freeing yourself”… y’all did a great job!
What a voice ! I could listen to this voice all day long !
You are an absolute ANGEL!
So happy to have you here!
It’s so good to see you helping more people, I think you’re a natural at it. You have the heart & the will to do it all! Great job!
You are contributing to his recovery from cancer. Getting rid of the clogged stale home will encourage his body to get rid of the blockages and toxins. Flow is everything. Great job.
I’ve cleaned for a rental company. One thing I’ve noticed… hoarder house or just a person that moved out and left everything. There are always tons of cleaning stuff that was never used. lol
Thank you for helping him. I’m sure you helped him tons. Taking on that mental task for him , I’m sure took a ton off his shoulders. Thank you.
Your kindness, compassion and understanding of the situation is just as good as your cleaning skills. My mom is 85, a huge 5,000 square foot home and never throws anything away to include magazines and junk mail like you mentioned. I dread the day that this has to be dealt with as they are her memories, not ours. My heart goes out to the homeowner having gone through so much, hopefully your help will bring him a new chapter in his life of peace that he so deserves. Great job!
I'm going through this now and it fucking sucks. My mom just died and so my dad and I are going through all of their junk. Thank you for helping this family.
That’s amazing he lost all that weight after what he’s gone through. Kiddos to him!
Thank you for your advise in this video, I'm moving into my old family home. Everything is a memory & I frequently get overwhelmed & walk away. The attic, garage & basement are piles of a mess. I've been chipping away at it over the years. Now, it's my mess, not my folks' mess. My time would be better used to close my eyes & toss it all or become a hoarder myself... then, someone else will be stuck with the mess. I can start today & fill the trash... don't look back...
Thank you for another video. You have so much empathy for people who find themselves in situations such as these. I can identify with this person’s situation. I lost both my parents to cancer - my mother 26 years ago and my father 18 years ago. Throw in my house burning down 8 years ago and then losing my 17 year old dog a week before being in lockdown for 6 months in 2020 and I have a hard time dealing with the loss and grief. Even though I have had years of therapy nothing seems to shift the pain. I feel that maybe I will never get over it all but have to keep on going anyway. I hope this man finds some peace in the future. Thank you so much for caring. Until next time, take care 😘💕🙏🇦🇺.
I am so sorry for your losses and struggles. I pray healing for your heart and brighter days for your future. This is some random stranger sending you warm virtual hugs. 😊 🌺