Junk Removal vs. Hoarder Cleanout

Junk Removal NJ

Everybody has junk in their house: it doesn’t matter who you are. We all tend to accumulate clothing, broken furniture, old toys, magazine and books, and lots of other stuff that no longer serves a purpose. Sometimes it hits you all at once: it’s time for it all to go so you can breathe easier and make room for what you truly love.

You may wonder: do I need junk removal or a hoarder cleanout? There’s a difference between the two:

  • Junk removal is the everyday clutter we accumulate in our closets, basements and attics and the process of getting rid of it all.
  • Hoarding is a serious condition that involves a debilitating difficulty parting with possessions from a perceived need to save their items. It impacts six percent of Americans. People with hoarding disorder can’t throw anything away, resulting in homes so cluttered with junk that it blocks walkways and fire exits, not to mention interferes with daily life.

It’s About More Than Being Disorganized: Hoarding Disorder

Our culture places top importance on buying and consuming things, but this isn’t the root cause of hoarding disorder. The American Psychiatric Association categorizes hoarding disorder as its own separate mental illness and it’s a growing concern among psychologists, social workers, fire marshals and public health officials. That’s because hoarding can lead to depression and suicide, plus it poses a risk of disease and of fire.

Usually around junk, especially food cartons and wrappers, pests like rats and cockroaches can be attracted to the mess. This is a serious public health issue.

But if you are a self-proclaimed “pack rat” and just have a messy house, don’t assume you necessarily suffer from compulsive hoarding behavior.

The difference between just being messy and having a hoarding disorder is one of degree and compulsion. Hoarding disorder can destroy families, and even cause people to go into isolation because they’re too embarrassed to invite people over. In fact, it can disrupt a person’s entire emotional, physical, social, legal or financial well-being.

Recognizing the Need to Call a Junk Removal Service

One of the biggest differences between suffering from compulsive hoarding (a mental health disorder) and simply being overwhelmed with junk and clutter is the ability to recognize the need to call a junk removal service like Got Trash NJ to physically remove the stuff that’s been weighing you down. It is extremely unusual that hoarders will independently realize they need help and pick up the phone to contact a junk removal company. They usually need to be urged not only by friends and family members, as well as by social workers and hoarding disorder specialists who can walk them through the stages slowly.

Knowing you need junk removal services to help you start over as you look around your home or yard and recognize the need for change, this may just mean you’re an average home or business owner who made the mistake of letting things pile up. It happens to many people.

Not everyone owns a pickup truck and can haul junk to the dump or even to their curb, which is why you may need to depend on an expert junk removal team who can visit your home and remove all those extra items (just not hazardous waste). Many of our clients are facing a one-time event such as a major home cleanup project, home improvement, or renovation and need our help to haul away the resulting debris. Whatever category you fall under, give us a call today.

Contact Got Trash NJ For Junk Removal or Hoarder Cleanouts

Here at Got Trash NJ, we handle both junk removal and hoarder cleanouts. To book your appointment, call us at 732-431-2788 or complete our online form for a free quote.

Top 6 Tips For Hoarder Cleanups

Hoarder Cleanups NJ

Hoarder Cleanups NJ: With as many as 1.4 million people in the United States labeled as hoarders, it’s true that hoarding is a very real mental health issue in this country. Whether you are the one struggling with this disorder, or a loved one is, it can be very overwhelming and frustrating not knowing where to turn.

But when you have made the decision to clear away the clutter, it’s vital that you partner with a professional who is skilled in performing hoarder cleanups, as they bring compassion and efficiency to the task.

Check out these tips for making hoarder cleanups go more smoothly.

1.   Get Rid of Trash

First step before you can reasonably clear away all the other clutter? You must throw away all the actual trash first, as garbage can lead to health and safety issues. Pick up some trash bags and start filling them with containers, wrappers, old pet food, and rotten food items.

2.   Create a Plan

The ability to check off small items every day can go a long way toward making a hoarder cleanup more easily digestible. Now it’s time to come up with a plan of attack for the rest of the stuff. Determine a timeline for completion, listing tasks by room. From an emotional perspective, it’s easier to clear junk when you can tackle it in baby steps.

3.   Group Similar Items

Now you have to figure out what stays and what goes. Create four piles: one for donate, one for keep, one for trash and one for sale. When you group your items in this way, it makes it easier to categorize them while determining what to do with each.

4.   Be Realistic About Value

Many people who suffer from hoarding tendencies believe their jewelry or collectibles are worth far more than they actually are. This is often why they tend to hold onto things for years. But in reality, those items are virtually worthless in monetary value.

Try to be realistic about what your items are worth. If you’re dealing with a loved one who is having a tough time letting go, do some research on each item and show them the results. This way, they can see in black and white how little they’re worth.

5.   Clean Each Room as You Go

Take the time to actually clean each room as you de-clutter it. Handle the process of cleaning one room before moving onto the next, using sanitizing wipes, mops and cleaners.

6.   Make a Vow to Consistently Declutter

It’s very easy to fall back into bad habits after you have gone through the initial hoarder cleanup project. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help sticking to a plan and learning to declutter regularly. Come up with a new mindset about the importance of material belongings. For some hoarders, it can be a group effort within a family to ensure the hoarding doesn’t get to unsafe levels again in the future. For others, this may involve therapy of some kind.

Following these tips for hoarder cleanup may provide you with a refreshing perspective on life so you can start living clutter-free again.

Contact Got Trash NJ For Hoarder Cleanups

If you need outside help in order to clear your home and yard of junk, call us for a free quote today at 732-431-2788. We will bring our compassionate, efficient and speedy team to your property.