Decluttering a hoarding situation is never “just about cleaning.” It’s about people, memories, safety, and often many years of emotional attachment to belongings. For many individuals and families, the idea of starting can feel overwhelming or embarrassing.

We want to be clear from the start: hoarding is not a failure, and asking for help is a courageous first step to reclaiming your indoor space. Over the years, at Advanced Bed Bug Preparation, our team has learned that the most successful decluttering efforts are rooted in compassion, patience, and trust.

Below are our top 7 strategies we use when helping individuals and families navigate hoarding situations—always with respect, empathy, and understanding.

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1. Start With Trust, Not Trash Bags

Before anything is moved, sorted, or discarded, we suggest that you focus on building trust. Many people living in hoarding situations have experienced judgment, pressure, or trauma regarding the keeping or discarding of their belongings. Rushing in with an aggressive cleanup plan can cause shutdown or resistance.

Always take the time to listen, understand concerns, and establish clear boundaries. The goal is to ensure the person feels safe, heard, and in control of the process.

Decluttering works best when it’s done with someone—not to them.

2. Break the Process Into Small, Manageable Wins

Hoarding situations can feel impossible when attempted all at once. Entire rooms, hallways, or homes may feel like too much to handle emotionally or physically. If you or a loved one is struggling, know that that’s okay. We suggest focusing on small, achievable goals. For example, this can be one drawer, one countertop, or one corner of a room.

Each small win builds confidence and momentum. Progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Even clearing a single walking path can dramatically improve safety and peace of mind.

3. Keep, Donate, Discard (and Decide Later)

A key decluttering strategy we suggest is to Keep, Donate, Discard, and Decide Later.

Decision fatigue is real—especially in hoarding situations. Asking someone to immediately decide the fate of every item can be overwhelming. We suggest using a gentle sorting system:

Keep – Items that are clearly needed or deeply meaningful
Donate – Items in good condition that may help others
Discard – Broken, expired, or unsafe items
Decide Later – Items that need emotional processing or more time

That fourth category is critical. Giving permission to not decide right away often reduces anxiety and helps the process move forward.

4. Respect Emotional Attachments—Even When You Don’t Understand Them

What looks like “junk” to one person may represent comfort, security, identity, or memory to another. At Advanced Bed Bug Preparation, our team never dismisses or minimizes emotional attachments, even when the items themselves seem insignificant.

Instead, we ask questions, such as:

“What does this item mean to you?”
“Do you need the item, or the memory attached to it?”
“Would a photo of this item preserve what’s important?”

Honoring emotions doesn’t mean keeping everything—it means acknowledging why letting go is hard.

5. Prioritize Safety First

While emotions matter deeply, safety always comes first. In many hoarding situations, there are risks that must be addressed early, including:

Fire hazards
Blocked exits
Structural stress
Mold, pests (such as bedbugs or cockroaches), or biohazards
Tripping hazards

Our team carefully identifies urgent safety concerns while still maintaining respect and transparency throughout the process. The goal is not perfection, but rather, creating a safer and healthier living environment as quickly as possible.

Bed bugs are a common pest in hoarding situations

6. Work at a Pace That Respects the Individual

There is no universal timeline for decluttering a hoarding situation.

Some people move quickly; others need time to process emotions tied to their belongings. Forcing a pace that’s too fast can cause distress or undo progress later.

We adjust our approach based on comfort level, emotional readiness, and personal circumstances. Sustainable change happens when people feel supported—not rushed.

7. Focus on Long-Term Success, Not Just a Clean Space

Decluttering is only one part of the journey. Long-term success often depends on ongoing support, new habits, and realistic systems that prevent overwhelm from returning.

At Advanced Bed Bug Preparation, we help clients think about:

Simple organization strategies
Maintenance routines that feel achievable
Support systems (family, professionals, or community resources)

Our goal isn’t just a cleaner home—it’s a space that supports dignity, independence, and peace of mind moving forward.

You Are Not Alone

If you or someone you love is dealing with a hoarding situation, please know this: you are not broken, lazy, or beyond help. Hoarding is complex, deeply human, and often tied to life experiences that deserve compassion. Decluttering doesn’t have to happen all at once. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to begin—with patience, understanding, and the right support.

When you’re ready, the compassionate team at Advanced Bed Bug Preparation is here to help—one step at a time.

Need Help with a Hoarding Situation? Contact Us!

Advanced Bed Bug Preparation is your local company, ready to help with an hoarding, bed bug, cockroach, eviction, or extreme cleanout situation that you may be facing. We are experts in the industry, and serve Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Appleton and the Fox Cities, Green Bay, and Northeast WI with trusted hoarding cleaning services.

To get started with cleaning an extremely cluttered home, please schedule a consultation online, or give us a call to speak with Nikki about your hoarding cleanup plan.

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Our Top 7 Decluttering Strategies for Hoarding Situations