Hoarding is a condition that affects up to 5% of the population and causes financial, mental, and physical stress on the occupants of the home. This condition causes a person to accumulate items with little or no value. Trying to move the collected materials will take a lot of time and resources, so it’s best to contact a professional waste management company to remove the items quickly. Here are a few signs to look for if you think a loved one may be hoarding their belongings.

3 Facts About Hoarding

1. Attachment to Items

The hoarding process may extend out of the home, and the car or storage units may become collection points. Organization skills will diminish, and they may become obsessed for long periods, looking for a specific item. A loved one with hoarding tendencies may shun the idea of waste management because they’ll become extremely attached to their items and think that some inanimate objects have feelings.

2. A Need for More

Although they may be unwanted or broken items, collecting objects brings them joy. These items are typically useless and mundane, such as a newspaper from five years ago or empty cosmetic bottles. Individuals experiencing this disorder will consistently buy items in bulk just because they’re on sale or get something they don’t need, like purchasing a case of light bulbs every time they go to the store.

3. Diminished Quality of Life

The amount of comfortable living space is reduced as items begin to pile around the home, affecting your loved one’s quality of life. Useless belongings will pile around appliances and on top of cooling vents and restrict access to bathrooms. Eventually, the living environment will become unhealthy, and air quality will diminish because mold may grow undetected in piles. Rodents and pests may enter the home, causing infestations and bringing in harmful diseases.

If your loved one is ready to break their hoarding habits, contact the compassionate and reliable waste management experts at Rainbow Waste Services in Kapolei, HI. With over 50 years of experience, these waste management professionals have provided homeowners with recycling, trucking and hauling, and roll-off containers for all their removal needs. View their services online, or call (808) 682-4797 to make an appointment.