Hoarding clean up is no ordinary task. For many families, the clutter is just the surface—what lies beneath is often a complicated mix of emotional history, health hazards, and logistical overwhelm. Whether your loved one is still living in the home or you’re stepping in after they’ve moved or passed away, this guide offers the fastest, most manageable approach to cleaning the home while honoring the emotional weight behind it.

Step 1: Start With a Thoughtful Plan

Before picking up a single box, pause and prepare. If your loved one is still living in the home, involve them if possible—but be gentle. Hoarding is often tied to grief, trauma, or mental health challenges, and pushing too hard can backfire. If they’re not involved, gather family members, set realistic goals, and assign roles. Decide what gets sorted, what gets tossed, and how you’ll pace yourselves.

Step 2: Clear a Path

Safety comes first. Begin by opening up hallways and walkways so you can move safely through the house. Hoarded homes often have blocked exits and unstable stacks, so make sure the space is navigable before focusing on individual rooms.

Step 3: Set Up Sorting Zones

Designate clear areas for four categories:

• Keep
• Donate
• Trash
• Not sure

Limit the “not sure” pile—this is where time and energy go to die. Items with mold, waste, or serious grime should go straight to trash. Only clean, usable items should be set aside for donation.

Step 4: Go Room by Room

Choose the easiest room first—often a guest room or bathroom. Tackling a lighter space helps you build momentum and see visible progress faster. As you move room to room, use simple criteria like: “If it hasn’t been used in the last year, let it go.”

Stay focused. Don’t get sidetracked by paperwork, photos, or memorabilia in the middle of cleaning. Those can be set aside to sort later, once the home is safe and clean.

Step 5: Deep Clean Once the Room Is Empty

Once a room is fully cleared, only then begin deep cleaning. Disinfect all surfaces, walls, baseboards, and floors. In many cases, items like mattresses, upholstered furniture, and old appliances are beyond salvaging and should be discarded.

Always wear gloves, masks, and protective clothing. Hoarded homes often harbor mold, pests, and airborne contaminants that can pose serious health risks.

Cleaning a hoarder’s house is never easy—but with a plan, a team, and the right mindset, it becomes possible. Be patient with the process and kind with yourself along the way.