Hoarding Support Cleaning – Peterborough – A Customer’s unabridged story
We were asked to help with a hoarding support clean, which we have done and the recipient is now enjoying a more comfortable home and life experience.
Before building the Loos and More business, Debs worked in care and gained valuable insight into the needs of people, particularly with mental health issues.
Below is feedback from one of our customers who has experienced the Loos and More hoarding support cleaning service. The text that follows is exactly as it was received.
When I first met the cleaners at Loos and More I saw them tripping over the obstacles that were obviously working as what I call ‘burglar alarms’. They didn’t comment about it – nor looked like they were judging – and purely wanted to learn about what I required.
If it helps to explain, I have a clinical diagnosis as a hoarder. I collect rubbish in certain areas like near windows so I would hear if anyone would break in. This is not the only hoarder activity I do but as you will know as a hoarder its very complex. Thankfully Loos & More understood this complexity and began working with me.
Loos & More cleaners steadily encouraged me to have a look at what would be helpful to me going forward. They never judged my reasons but gently asked about my issues and what would feel okay.
Slowly I could recognize when things were out of place. Hoarding is a lot like muscle memory. I didn’t realise this until Debs and Emily asked about why certain things get repeated. But, wow, what a request for insight into my mind, problems and possible help they could offer. Now there are little but important things that I don’t do anymore thanks to them repeatedly making a new normal for me. I now don’t automatically repeat some of my old behaviors. They have helped me create new neural pathways in my mind.
We started sorting out everything I own, one area at a time and sometimes several times over. They were patient with me as I began to see I didn’t NEED everything each time and I made brave decisions with their support.
After very patient times sorting with me there becomes a home for everything. I started to be calm about my belongings as they began to have places. I suddenly didn’t need to buy more stuff as I knew where things were for the first time in a long time.
What I would say to anyone thinking about this process: Trusting people to come into your home is a difficult thing to do but these are honestly the right people to trust. You do want your home back and although it’s a difficult thing to let people in it will be the best thing you’ve done recently as you will live a normal life again. Trust.
It IS your home and YOUR belongings/way of living. They will have helpful suggestions and working through it gently with no rush and upmost respect for your journey and choices. You will feel so free afterwards.
It’s probably the hardest decision to make, but once you make it and when Loos and More start helping you it will be the best thing you’ve decided to do. You are brave to do so but you will be so happy as you will get your home back and if you have pets they will be so happy too. It really is about physical health, mental health, and then when you have a stable home you can focus on just living.
If you have a situation you would like some help with, feel free to get in touch. We absolutely promise care, compassion and total discretion.