1. Assess the situation and make a plan:
This means taking a look at the home and assessing what needs to be done in order to clean it up. It's important to make a specific plan of action so that the cleanup process can be effectively organized and completed.
2. Remove clutter from floors and furniture:
This includes removing items from floors and furniture so that surfaces can be cleaned. It's often helpful to begin by clearing out the most obvious areas of clutter so that progress can be seen and momentum can be maintained.
3. Clean all surfaces:
This means wiping down all surfaces in the home in order to remove dust, dirt, and other debris. It's important to be thorough in this step so that the home is clean and free of any contaminants.
4. Wash all bedding, curtains, and other linens:
This includes washing all bedding, curtains, and other linens in order to remove any built-up dirt or dust. It's important to make sure that all surfaces are clean before putting new linens back in place.
5. Vacuum and mop all floors:
This includes vacuuming all floors and mopping all wet areas. It's important to get all of the surfaces clean so that the home is free of any dirt or debris.
6. Dispose of garbage and recyclables:
This means taking out the garbage and recycling any appropriate items. It's important to get rid of any excess waste so that the home can be decluttered and organized.
7. Organize belongings into manageable piles:
This means organizing belongings into neat piles so that they can be more easily dealt with. It's often helpful to group like items together so that they can be more easily stored or disposed of later on.
8. Store belongings in appropriate places:
This means finding appropriate places for all of the belongings that have been sorted into manageable piles. Often, this will mean storage areas such as closets, cabinets, or drawers.
9. Repeat as needed to maintain a clean and clutter-free home:
This means continuing with the cleanup process as needed until everything has been properly sorted and stored away. Often, it takes multiple rounds of cleaning to completely declutter a hoarders home. However, with a plan and a checklist, it is possible to achieve a clean and clutter-free home.