Cleaning a Hoarder's House

jpv on 30/06/2015 - 23:34
Last edited 01/07/2015 - 08:46 by 1 other user

I'm in the process of cleaning up my house during my uni break. The problem is, my mum is a hoarder. She's kept a lot of things that should have been thrown out a long times ago.

Here's a list of things that she's kept

• CRT TVs and monitors
• PC Towers
• Carpet (ripped out of my house when we replaced them with floor boards)
• Off cuts of wood
• Old clothing that hasn't been worn for years
• The list goes on

I've subtly suggested to her over the few years what to do with these things, such as donate old clothing or recycle the old TVs and monitors. She always said, "I'll do it when I'm free" but it never seemed to happen.

Since I'm on uni break, I told her that I'll start cleaning everything out. I'm planning to sort the things into 3 piles which are; To Keep, To Sell/Donate & To Dump.

Here is where I need your help.

1. How do I recycle these things to get the most out of it? (i.e. Rip the copper out of the TV, Garage sales)
2. Recommend any good skip hires in Point Cook? (I've done my research about quotes but would also like to hear about some recommendations for people who have used certain services)

tl;dr - Cleaning a hoarder's house. Need help on where to start.

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  retiredfeline on 30/06/2015 - 23:39

  You need to check your council's procedures for e-waste. Some organise periodic collections or drop-offs. Some collect on request up to X times a year. Some have a transfer station where you can take the waste.

  • 

    jpv on 30/06/2015 - 23:48

    Thanks for the advice. I just checked my council's procedure for e-waste. There's a few places which take TVs and Monitors for free. IIRC, they also offer a free 1m x 3m hard waste collection service as well.

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      Diji1 on 01/07/2015 - 11:05

      If yer gonna do that ya might as well save yerself some time and effort by putting a few free ads up … "Free TV, not sure if working, free pickup" etc.

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  [Deactivated] on 01/07/2015 - 00:06

  -3

  Fire fixes all.

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  Heizenberg on 01/07/2015 - 00:30

  +2

  Unless you have absolutely heaps of it, i can't imagine breaking everything down for parts will be worth your time. Anything you can't sell or donate, just toss it i reckon.

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  holdenmg on 01/07/2015 - 00:53

  https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/waste/kerbside_collections/ha…

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  Davo1111 on 01/07/2015 - 01:39

  +5

  Honestly just get a skip and dump the lot. By the time you advertise stuff, any savings will be long gone. Plus your mum will drag the shit back inside.

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  anastasiastarz on 01/07/2015 - 05:38

  +2

  "She always said, "I'll do it when I'm free" but it never seemed to happen." You need to find the root of the issue, like does she know she's a hoarder and it's a problem? If it's not a problem in her opinion, she'll fill the empty space within a month. Is it really about time? Or the fact that she's fine with the way things are?

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  svenson on 01/07/2015 - 08:36

  +8

  Also you'll need to be careful to manage how your mum is feeling as you do this. She may have developed an attachment to her stuff and getting rid of it can be pretty distressing.

  some info is here: http://www.anxietyaustralia.com.au/anxiety-help/compulsive-h…

  and there are hoarding support and treatment groups around if it is a real problem

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  Randxyz123 on 01/07/2015 - 12:15

  In my area you can do a pre booked hard rubbish pickup. (Seems like your area does as well https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/waste/kerbside_collections/ha…).

  Basically you call up and book a time and then you put the stuff out on the street. Another option is hiring a skip and putting everything in it. No recommendations for Point Cook I'm afraid but given this is Oz Bargain call a few places ask for a quote and go with the cheapest.

  The good thing about the skip option is everything can go in but with the curbside there might be a limit as to how much s*** can be left on the street.

  Try and sort things first then get her to make the final call. If the old clothes have some sentimental attachment (i.e from her parents etc) Perhaps dedicate a cupboard or space in your garage or spare room or similar to keep them.

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  mlychn on 03/07/2015 - 14:10

  Donate the clothing to charity :)

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  PVA on 03/07/2015 - 14:15

  dont just round up all the junk and get rid of it. Really work it out with your mum, you see junk, but she doesn't.