My Dad’s A Hoarder

My Dad’s A Hoarder and I don’t know how to clean his house. Discovering your dad might be hoarding can seem daunting, frustrating, and even heartbreaking. Closets expand to fill rooms, hallways shrink to tight pathways, stacks of newspapers and laundry become fire hazards and health concerns. You may wonder what to do if your dad hoards? Believe me, you’re not alone and there are helpful things you can do.

Helping Dad with Hoarding Disorder

The first thing to understand is that hoarding isn’t laziness or carelessness. There’s often an underlying anxiety, trauma, or fear that leads to hoarding disorders. Your father likely has deep attachments to things that you might consider junk or trash. For him, throwing things away may cause severe anxiety and panic. He may love these items or just be afraid to part with them. Simply telling your dad to “clean up his room” or stop purchasing junk mail isn’t going to cut it.

Hoarding poses severe dangers for your dad and anyone else in the home. Hoarded homes may have blocked exits, fire hazards, mold issues, and insect infestation. Over time, hoarding can cause health issues and emotional distress for everyone involved.

Lead with Love and Listen – My Dad’s A Hoarder

Your dad is probably not living this way out of spite or to make your life difficult. Before you start tossing junk and scrambling to clean the house, try sitting down and having a conversation. Tell him you’re concerned for his health and safety, and that you love him and want to help.

You can say things like:

“I’ve noticed it’s becoming difficult to keep up with things.”
“I care about you and want to help.”

Avoid giving him ultimatums or trying to shame him into action. These will only cause him to become defensive or make him shut down.

Break It Into Manageable Portions – My Dad’s A Hoarder

Hoarding an entire house may seem like an impossible task. Try taking small steps and breaking larger tasks into little goals. Sit down with your dad and decide on one area to clean. This might be the hallway or one room at a time.
 Work at his pace and don’t try to overwhelm him. Remember to praise each accomplishment and celebrate when you make progress.

Consider Counseling or Professional Help

Oftentimes hoarding is an extension of an anxiety issue that may require counseling. Encourage your dad to talk to his doctor or a professional about hoarding disorders. If you need help cleaning his home, hire professionals who specialize in cleaning hoarded homes.

You can find many services online that are trained to handle these situations with respect and kindness. If he’s not receptive to your helping now, don’t push him. You can bring it up again later and hopefully your dad will realize he needs help.

Don’t Neglect Your Own Well-Being

My Dad’s A Hoarder and I need help! Your dad may depend on you for emotional support if he’s receptive to your help. It’s normal to feel angry, stressed, overwhelmed, or even guilty when dealing with helping a parent who hoards. Make sure you take care of yourself and seek support from others. Seek outside help if you feel like you’re in an unhealthy situation.

When to Seek Outside Help

If your dad’s house is full of health hazards or fire dangers, you may need to contact professional services. Health hazards may include severe insect infestation, mold, or rotting debris. Fire hazards may include exposed wiring or overloaded electrical sockets. As difficult as it may be, do what you need to do to keep everyone safe.Feel free to reach out to Fort Worth Hoarding Cleanup if you need hoarded property removal services. We are compassionate and discreet. We are here for YOU!