StuffBusters Blog

The short answer is yes, you can. But it takes time, patience, and understanding.

The objects that a hoarder collects, which may have little or no value to you and me, are important and valuable to a hoarder. They’ve collected these objects over years, and becoming ready to get rid of them won’t happen overnight. That broken toy could be fixed and used by a child someday. That old receipt may be needed. So might that empty box. And someone else might want that magazine, old newspaper or worn shoe (the other one is around somewhere, isn’t it?).
There are several stages a hoarder goes through before becoming ready to let their possessions go. They first must recognize that they are hoarding, and realize that something isn’t right. They start looking into their problem and talking to people. They begin to feel dissatisfied and want something different. Next, they reach out for help. When the hoarder is finally ready to take action, you can help.

Counselors and therapists with experience in hoarding treatment can help the hoarder work through issues surrounding their motivations and concerns. Trained Professional Organizers with experience in hoarding help can work with the hoarder to clear areas of the home and make the environment safe and functional again. Trained Professional Organizers can also collaborate with the counselor or therapist to make the process as smooth as possible.

Above all, understand that the hoarding person cannot just turn off this problem.

You love your stuff. And that’s often great. But when your stuff gets in the way of living your life, then maybe keeping all the stuff you’ve acquired is no longer the right choice for you. Take a look at how your life is going.

Does clutter interfere with your daily activities? Is it difficult for you to move from one room to another in your home? Is there so much stuff piled near your stove that it is dangerous to turn on the oven or stovetop? Are exits blocked by clutter? Do you have family or friends who do not visit your home because of the way you live (either by your choice or theirs)? Is your home excessively cluttered with things you haven’t used in two, three, four, or more years? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your possessions are probably interfering with your daily life.

Is that so bad? It appears so to most of us. Your family and friends would say absolutely (and they may already have encouraged you to change your ways). But the fact is, only you can answer that question for you.

By the time you recognize that you’ve got way too much stuff, you’ve probably been collecting for many years. When you’ve worked so hard to collect possessions, it won’t be a quick and easy thing to let them go. This is a challenging situation that requires the support of experts (or “professionals”). A trained professional organizer can be one of the experts who will help you get your home, and your life, back in balance. Take the first step—call someone and talk it over.

Has your garage become a “catchall”, preventing you from parking inside? Do you feel confused and overwhelmed when you enter your garage to find something you know is stored there? Here’s how to organize your garage so you can make room for your car and find what you’re looking for:

Planning Phase

• First, schedule a day and time to tackle the project. Even when you minimize distractions, it will probably take longer than you think.
• Look around your garage and decide how you want it to function. Then envision your garage organized…a place for everything and everything in its place.

Action Phase

• Begin in one corner and proceed clockwise around the garage, sorting as you go.
• Sort items into categories: keep, toss, donate, recycle, and move.
• The goal is to park your car inside, so get serious and keep only those items you really need or use.
• Label trash bags “Toss”, “Donate” and “Move”.
• Toss items that are worn out.
• Donate items that are lightly used.
• Put recyclable materials into a recycling bin.
• “Move” items are things you’re keeping that belong somewhere else.
• Repeat the sorting process with each wall and area of your garage; keep, toss, donate, recycle, move.
• Continue sorting through every single item in your garage, whether it’s on the floor, shelf, hook, or bin. Leave no stone unturned.
• Move all “toss” bags to the trash. Place the “donate” items in your vehicle if you will be dropping them off, or move these items out of the way and call for a charity pickup. Put all “move” items in their rightful places.
• Now you’re seeing progress! Continue by organizing the things you’re keeping.
• Sort like items together…toys, sports equipment, auto care, garden tools, seasonal, etc.
• You can easily see how many of each item you have. If you have duplicates, now is the time to consider donating them and any other items you don’t really intend to use.
• Purchase bins and label each bin with its contents. Labels make it easy to quickly find what you’re looking for.
• Use shelving, cabinets, boxes, hooks, bins and baskets to give everything a designated home.

Maintenance Phase

• To keep the garage looking like a “dream” remember to put everything away after use.
• Every month or so take 20 minutes for a quick garage “once-over,” spending the time to reorganize and put everything back in its home so you continue to know where everything is stored.

When your organizing project is complete, you’ll not only feel great, but your garage will look great, and you’ll smile each time you open the garage door and park your car inside! The time you spend organizing today will save you from freezing in the cold, while scraping your windshield this winter.