How to Clean a Hoarder’s Kitchen? Like a Pro

Hoarding is a mental health disorder affecting millions worldwide, making it challenging for them to part with their possessions. This leads to cluttered living spaces that pose health and safety risks, especially in the kitchen. Cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen can be daunting, but it’s essential for maintaining a clean and healthy living space. In this blog post, we will provide you with a practical guide on how to clean a hoarders kitchen effectively.

Keynote: How To Clean a Hoarders Kitchen

Remove all expired or no-longer-needed items to clean a hoarder’s kitchen. Then, categorize and organize the remaining items into labeled containers or cabinets. Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant, and vacuum or sweep the floors. Repeat as needed.

Preparation

Setting realistic goals

Before you start cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen, setting realistic goals is essential. Here are the top five bullet points to consider:

Start with small goals: Set achievable goals, such as clearing out a particular kitchen area, before moving on to more significant tasks.

Be patient: Cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen is a time-consuming process. Be patient and persistent, and avoid getting overwhelmed.

Respect the person’s belongings: Hoarders emotionally attach to their possessions. Respect their belongings, and avoid throwing away items without their permission.

Focus on safety: Safety should be a top priority when cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen. Remove any potential safety hazards before starting the cleaning process.

Seek professional help if necessary: Hoarding is a mental health disorder, and it’s essential to seek professional help for the person with the disorder.

Gathering necessary cleaning supplies

You’ll need the right cleaning supplies to clean a hoarder’s kitchen effectively. Here’s a list of necessary equipment:

• Heavy-duty trash bags
• Gloves
• Dust masks
• Cleaning solutions
• Brooms and dustpans
• Mops
• Vacuum cleaners
• Scrub brushes
• Sponges

Creating a cleaning plan

Creating a cleaning plan is crucial to effectively clean a hoarder’s kitchen. Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:

Assess the situation: Take a look at the kitchen and identify the areas that need cleaning. Determine which items need to be removed or relocated.

Set up a staging area: Set up a staging area outside the kitchen to sort through the items. Have labeled boxes for items to keep, donate, and discard.

Sort through the items: Work through one area of the kitchen at a time, and sort through each item. Respect the person’s belongings and avoid discarding items without their permission.

Clean the kitchen: Once you’ve sorted through the items, it’s time to start cleaning the kitchen. Work from top to bottom and left to right, using appropriate cleaning solutions for different surfaces.

Reorganize the kitchen: After cleaning the kitchen, it’s time to reorganize it. Decide on a system for organizing the items and make sure that everything has its place. Label drawers and cabinets to make it easier for the person with the disorder to find things.

Maintain the cleanliness: To prevent the kitchen from getting cluttered again, it’s essential to maintain its cleanliness. Set up a cleaning schedule and stick to it. Encourage the person with the disorder to take part in the cleaning process to make it easier for them to maintain a clean kitchen.

Know more: What To Do with Hoarders House?

Sorting

Once you have set realistic goals, gathered necessary supplies, and created a cleaning plan, it’s time to start sorting through the hoarded items in the kitchen. Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively sort through the items:

Categorizing items into keep, donate, and discard piles

1. Set up three labeled boxes or bags: one for items to keep, one for donate, and one for discard.
2. Work through one kitchen area at a time, starting with the most cluttered areas.
3. Pick up each item and ask the person with the disorder if they want to keep it or not. If they do, place it in the keep box. If they don’t, ask if they’re willing to donate it. If they are, place it in the donate box. If they are unwilling to donate it, place it in the discard box.
4. Be patient and respectful throughout the sorting process, as it can be emotionally challenging for someone with a hoarding disorder.

Identifying hazardous items

• Look for expired, moldy, or spoiled items, and discard them immediately.
• Check for broken appliances, sharp objects, or other hazardous items that can cause injuries and dispose of them properly.
• Look for any chemicals or cleaning solutions that are expired or in poor condition and dispose of them according to local regulations.

Managing emotional attachment to items

1. Be patient and empathetic towards the person with hoarding disorder, as they may have an emotional attachment to their possessions.
2. Encourage the person to keep items that are important to them and find creative solutions for storing them.
3. Respect their decisions and avoid throwing away items without their permission.
4. Offer support and understanding throughout the sorting process, as it can be emotionally challenging for the person with hoarding disorder.
5. Remind the person that their possessions do not define them and that letting go of some items can lead to a more organized and healthier living space.

Decluttering

Once the sorting process is complete, the next step is to declutter the kitchen by clearing surfaces and countertops, organizing cabinets and drawers, and reducing excess items.

Clearing surfaces and countertops

Remove all items from the surfaces and countertops in the kitchen: Start by removing everything from the surfaces and countertops in the kitchen. This includes appliances, cookware, dishes, utensils, and other items stored on the surfaces.

Clean the surfaces and countertops thoroughly: Once the surfaces are cleared, clean them thoroughly with soap and water or an appropriate cleaning product. Wipe down the countertops, backsplashes, and any other kitchen surfaces to ensure they are free of dirt and grime.

Decide which items are essential to keep on the surfaces and countertops: Before returning any items to the surfaces, decide which ones are essential to keep on the surfaces and countertops. These items should be the ones that the person with a hoarding disorder uses regularly.

Designate a specific place for each item to ensure it’s easily accessible: Once you have decided which items to keep on the surfaces, designate a specific place for each item. This ensures that the items are easily accessible when needed and don’t clutter the surfaces.

Organizing cabinets and drawers

• Empty each cabinet and drawer and clean them thoroughly.
• Sort through the items and categorize them into groups.
• Assign each group of items to a specific cabinet or drawer based on how often they are used.
• Label the cabinets and drawers to make it easier to find specific items.

Reducing excess items

1. Encourage the person with hoarding disorder to let go of excess items not essential to their daily life.
2. Consider selling or donating items in good condition that others can use.
3. Help the person prioritize their belongings and keep only those with sentimental value or who are essential to their daily life.

Deep Cleaning

After sorting and decluttering, the next step is to clean the kitchen deep. This involves cleaning appliances, scrubbing floors, and removing stains and odors.

Cleaning appliances

• Start by unplugging appliances and removing any removable parts.
• Wash removable parts with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly.
• Clean the inside and outside of the appliances with a suitable cleaning product, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Wipe down the exterior of the appliances with a clean, damp cloth and dry them thoroughly before plugging them back in.

Scrubbing the floors

1. Remove any furniture or items that are on the kitchen floor.
2. Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any loose dirt or debris.
3. Fill a bucket with warm water and a suitable cleaning product.
4. Dip a mop or scrub brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the floor thoroughly.
5. Rinse the mop or scrub brush with clean water and go over the floor again to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
6. Allow the floor to dry completely before returning furniture and items to their original positions.

Removing stains and odors

• Identify any stains or odors in the kitchen.
• Apply a suitable cleaning product to the stained area and allow it to sit for the recommended time.
• Scrub the area with a brush or sponge until the stain is removed.
• For odors, place a bowl of white vinegar or baking soda in the affected area and leave it overnight to absorb the odor.
• Ventilate the area by opening windows or using a fan to circulate the air.

For more info: How Much Does It Cost To Clean A Hoarder’s Home?

Maintenance

Maintaining a clean and organized kitchen requires establishing a regular cleaning routine, preventing future clutter, and seeking professional help if needed.

Establishing a regular cleaning routine

1. Create a cleaning schedule that includes daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
2. Encourage the person with hoarding disorder to follow the cleaning schedule regularly.
3. Celebrate small achievements and encourage progress throughout the cleaning process.

Preventing future clutter

• Encourage the person with hoarding disorder to adopt a minimalist lifestyle by only keeping essential items.
• Develop a system for organizing and storing items in the kitchen.
• Provide ongoing support and encouragement to help maintain a clutter-free space.

Seeking professional help if needed

1. If the person with hoarding disorder is struggling to maintain a clean and organized kitchen, consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor.
2. A professional organizer or cleaning service can also provide additional support and guidance.
3. Remember to be patient and supportive throughout the process of maintaining a clean and organized kitchen.

Read more: How to Clean a Hoarder House in 1 Day?

Final Thoughts

Cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen can be a challenging and emotionally difficult task. However, with a systematic approach, patience, and empathy, it’s possible to help a person with a hoarding disorder maintain a clean and healthy living space.

The process of cleaning a hoarder’s kitchen involves sorting through items, decluttering, deep cleaning, and establishing a regular maintenance routine. Each step requires careful consideration and respect for the person’s emotional attachment to their possessions.

Remember that hoarding disorder is a mental health disorder affecting millions worldwide. It’s essential to approach the cleaning process with empathy, patience, and understanding. Seek professional help if needed, and provide ongoing support and encouragement to help the person maintain a clean and organized kitchen.

By following the steps outlined in this blog post and being patient and respectful throughout the process, you can help a person with hoarding disorder maintain a clean and healthy living space that promotes their mental and physical well-being.

Cleaning a Hoarder’s Kitchen (FAQs)