Hoarding House

This video is a shortened version of what was made for the family after clearing out 23+ tons of crap, including over 15,000 VHS tapes, from their mother's house in 2006.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• hoarding
• proshow

[cindysellshomes]

How did the assisted living go? My husband is an only child and his mother is a hoarder and will turn 81 in March 2010. Still pays her own bills, etc. but declining slowly due to dementia. I see Assisted living as a real obstacle. Really? how did you get her to agree?

[ShaBaby426]

Oh, she was NOT happy about it. Her four children pretty much had to just move here there, I think they let her think it was temporary. It had to be done for her own safety. She is 82, and in severely declining health. The pathways would not have accommodated either a walker or wheelchair. We had no idea where she could be sleeping, because all beds and surfaces were buried. For years, if you picked her up, she met you at the door.

[ShaBaby426]

Continued: Only because a granddaughter was allowed entry to use the bathroom, was the severity discovered. It was horrible. Good luck to you and your husband. If you end up having to do it yourself, wear face masks - 20 years of dirt, dust, mouse turds, etc. has taken its toll on all of us, and we had to do it in 90+ degree weather with no fans or cooling. Ugh.

[jemokups]

congratulations is not enough! i salute you: the one who cleaned it for the patience and the one who hoarded it for letting it go.

[ShaBaby426]

Well, the hoarder didn't really let it go. Her children were forced to put her in assisted living as she could no longer care for herself and was in danger of dying in that house. She continues to hoard, but on a much smaller basis in a small studio apartment. It really was a horrible job and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. At least now the Hoarders show is bringing some attention to just how many of them are out there. Scary.

[viciousbill]

wow that was a amazin' video . my father is like that (not as bad) . you never showed the backyard was it as bad as the house? my fathers back yard looks like a junk yard

[ShaBaby426]

Thank you. While the yard was very overgrown, at least it wasn't full of crap like what was in the house.

[cyc7lops]

Wow. So that means that if one person were to try to clean up their own mess, they would have to take at least an entire year off from work to get it done. No wonder such people feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start. They can't let anyone help them because it's a big secret and they could be reported and lose their home and everything else, yet realistically then can't do it themselves, so it just keeps getting worse. What a dilemma!

[yandrsupreme]

How long had she been taping stuff? If she had been taping anything before 1982 or so, they should NEVER have thrown away those tapes, they could have been throwing away the last existing copy of a show that a network or syndicator erased or lost.

[popination]

Good job crew, I've completed a similar project.

Blood, sweat and tears literally.

[vivitar45]

how manny job site big dumsters you fill from here

[hornrimmedspectacles]

What a fantastic effort. Done with good humour and good taste. Well done!

Now to make sure I don't leave anything even remotely like this for my kids to deal with!

[shawstevens]

Watching videos like this & the two hoarding shows has opened my eyes & I have been taking steps to rid my house of unecessary items, duplicate and unwanted items. I don't want to leave this for my four children to have to deal with after my husband & I are gone. I keep occasion cards and letters as well as what-nots given to me by the children but, items I bought at garage sales and thrift stores have returned there. I'm 58 and smarter with a cleaner house.

[utubedriven]

It's different when the stuff piled is all newer 5 yr old items, then when its all half rotted junk from 1967.

[LiveLaughLoveCA23]

youtube.com/watch?v=V6J4erbcdo­8

[princesscharmer]

Perfect choice of music!

[DewbieHaut]

When we cleaned up the farm house, we had a huge burn pile so it was quite fun!

[ladyvincenza]

Wow! Great work!