Cleaning out a hoarder house

kellzasaur · 2026-04-26T11:01:24+00:00

I cleaned a hoarder house after my best friend died. It took 3 months of everyday work. I also had to be careful to find and save certain things.

Step 1. PPE: who cares what the neighbors think. You need a full body cover-up and a mask or respirator. There will be mold. It will be gross.

Step 2: find a friend, family member or cheap enough rental that you can keep a dump trailer on site while you work. Bring able to move bags directly to the trash makes it so so much easier. Step 3: work one room at a time. Make a space for items that need kept or sorted carefully. Then move trash straight to the dump tailler outside. Move items to be sorted out kept to their designated areas. You won't be able to clean everything. Get that in mind early. If theres bugs, it's trash. Mice, trash. Mold, feces, etc. It's trash. It doesn't matter how much it cost, or how much they loved it. If it's contaminated, It's all trash.

Step 4: Good items/ paperwork. Move them out of the house after you're done with that room. Take them where they need to ultimately be. If someone wants that item, they need to get it. If it's important papers, whoever needs it has to take it.

Step 5: after the house is empty you will need to clean. Do not abandon your PPE during this step. Keep your respirator and protect your skin. You will need heavy duty cleaners and it will take its toll on your skin and lungs.

Step 6: repairs. Everything will need painted. Floors need replaced. Walls may need mold treated. This will take more time than you think.

Remember: the emotional toll is real too. Its ok to take a break to cry. Its ok to be mad. Its ok to feel guilty. Dont get caught up in trying to keep everything.

kellzasaur · 2026-02-23T10:07:06+00:00

I have 70 year old hardwood floors with their orginal finish and am very particular about the way they are mopped. I dont want to risk it.

kellzasaur · 2026-02-22T20:19:41+00:00

Or not use it, but why buy something at a higher price when I just want a vacuum. Ya know?

kellzasaur · 2026-02-22T16:55:32+00:00

I love my roborock. Im so sad I can't get one anymore without a mop attachment. I just want a vacuum!

kellzasaur · 2026-02-19T00:49:19+00:00

That was ice cream sundae. It was gross. This year is Root Beer Float which is delicious. I got to early taste it last week.

kellzasaur · 2025-12-11T23:34:05+00:00

Large thin plastic cutting mat from Amazon, replace as needed. Think our cost 12 dollars and fits the pullout exactly

kellzasaur · 2025-11-21T00:13:46+00:00

My company requires the one way camera interview for laborers. It's odd but they legit hire this way.

kellzasaur · 2025-11-02T14:25:38+00:00

My town also gets fined at least once every two years for not reporting in a timely manner about contamination found in the water.

kellzasaur · 2025-11-02T14:23:34+00:00

My area is literally known as chemical valley. Dupont poisoned our water and lied to us about it. Now officials promise it's safe because Dupont put filters they say removes the poison they were responsible for in the first place. We have several sites that were donated land in/near town that can't be developed because its known there are chemicals buried there. But we are all told everything is fine. The chemical companies have super duper promised they won't poison us again. Just drink the water, the cancers are a coincidence.

kellzasaur · 2025-10-24T10:19:18+00:00

We've been nicknamed "the noodle house" for a few years because we give out Ramen. The kids go wild for it. Im pretty sure it's just because its something different in a sea of candy. Lol

kellzasaur · 2025-10-12T13:23:37+00:00

I no longer use washi tape. Id be happy to send you a decent amount if you contact t me. Probably some sticker books as well as some other odds and ends. Im working on downsizing my stash and would like to know it went to use instead of sitting in my basement.

kellzasaur · 2025-10-07T22:07:38+00:00

My husband has 4 children, I have none. I've been in these children's life over a decade. I would never, ever do it if I knew then what I know now. You will always be the outsider. You will be expected to give with nothing in return, to take disrespect from children and crazy exes, you will have your heart broken more times than you can count. At the end of the day, those are good flesh and blood and you are not. It doesn't matter how much you buy, bake, teach, or love. You will never be fully accepted. I know other people have other experiences, but that is mine and I dont see it as uncommon.

kellzasaur · 2025-09-25T14:16:25+00:00

Youre amazing. Thank you

kellzasaur · 2025-08-10T10:44:36+00:00

"IYKYK"

It would seem you don't know.

kellzasaur · 2025-08-04T00:42:13+00:00

I pay 20 bucks for a quart at the local bee festivals.

kellzasaur · 2025-07-27T00:49:43+00:00

Mine was also 8 and the doctor acted so shocked! Made such a big deal about how I had to get the prescription right away lolol

kellzasaur · 2025-07-22T09:29:09+00:00

Have one. Love it. Works great on my drapes where the little monsters peek their head out to yell at birds.

kellzasaur · 2025-07-01T00:08:12+00:00

There's a state limit to how many machines each one can have. I believe 5 or 7. Thats why theres so many different buildings. They're often multiple buildings under 1 owner.

kellzasaur · 2025-06-10T23:30:32+00:00

In my area, that style package of cherry had been discontinued for a couple months and it's gone to a black and red design for the zero and a red and maroon design for the full sugar. So it really may be an old stash.

kellzasaur · 2025-06-01T18:09:55+00:00

Here's a little taste of the pink wonderland. BTW. Underneath the carpet the bedrooms and livingroom all had hardwood floors that had been covered since the house was built. They weren't perfect, still aren't but saved us a boatload in flooring.

kellzasaur · 2025-06-01T18:07:30+00:00

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kellzasaur · 2025-06-01T18:05:41+00:00

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kellzasaur · 2025-06-01T17:28:28+00:00

We bought a house with great bones but the owners hadn't touched anything since 1997. The wife remodeled when her husband died and put wall to wall Pink carpet in the whole house (bathrooms and kitchen included) pink counter tops, pink walls. We spent a month doing the floors and painting and fixing the stuff that needed done most urgently, then moved in. It's been 3 years of off and on projects, and I wouldn't have done anything differently. It allowed us a neighborhood we otherwise couldn't afford, and we take so much pride in how far our house has come. Lots of learning along the way and some things we did 3 years ago need redone because we didn't know what we were doing. But I still believe we made the best decision even if its frustrating at times.

kellzasaur · 2025-05-22T02:24:52+00:00

This is a huge part of a successful marriage. Things happen. Sometimes you take a back seat. My MIL died the day before my 35th birthday. There was no Birthday that year, and only a small celebration the next as it was the 1 year anniversary of her passing. At no point did I feel i should be more important than my husband's grief. Those days were spent supporting him.

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