My mom died last year and I finally dominated the kitchen. The rest of the house is still piles, but I'm happy to say the kitchen is staying clean. Mom was a hoarder and thaught me to save everything of value, I've learned to value the space more than the stuff, but it's hard to change.
So sorry for your loss, my mom passed in october, not sure which is harder missing near or dealing with all her stuff. Trying to deal with things that were in my grandparents home (so many memories). Helped when I found a group that helps formerly homeless and women escaping domestic violence set up their new homes. All the furniture, kitchen stuff, linens etc that were still useful found a new home. There are things I am finding it difficult to let go of stored in my garage. Made it a point to tell my girls please don't feel you have to keep something you don't have room for or don't love, get rid of it I won't be mad😁
The psychological/neurological angles have helped me out immensely, and I don't even have hoarding disorder. (I DO have depression and anxiety, and some of the routes his commentary leads me down have taught me things I didn't understand about my own brain wiring.)
Hearing more that items are emotionally charged but still can be ignored helps me a bit. If you recall, I'm trying to move my mother to assisted living and she is reluctant to picture not being surrounded by her, I guess you can say, invisible shield. It has made it hard for her to select items to take without quitting and going to watch TV with a big tub of ice cream.
The education you provide has meant the world to my 40 year marriage. I let my husband have a space for his hoarding. He has been told that his trauma is PTSD from his childhood. When he says I can throw something away, I never ask twice. Most of the time I ask what is instead of asking if it's trash. That sets off fire alarms in his head.
When my husband passed away unexpectedly last Father’s Day, he had just purchased two canned coffees that morning. One for him, one for me. They sat in the fridge for six weeks. About the time his favorite cheese got green. It was really green, but his favorite! But, I finally had to toss it. That was when I decided I had to drink the coffee as well and clean out the fridge. A lot of crying and napping (coffee/adhd; if you know you know) later I did decide to keep those two cleaned out cans… They are on a shelf next to our pictures. They serve me as a reminder of all the small lovely kind things he always did for me. But that was also the time I began to sort and start letting go of the things that wouldn’t serve, we’re unhealthy to keep, or where mementos of him the kids wanted to have! I know I have hoarding disorder, partially in my case, it was a learned trait. My grandmother who lived through the WW2 depression era, and saved everything, passed the trait to my father and I learned from both of them! I LOVE these videos, because they trigger my motivation in such a positive way! They help remind me that healing involves letting go… which helps me rewire my brain into a better perspective. I really feel for these people who’ve lost their loved ones and I wish them well and all the best. I don’t judge them, because I may not have been in their exact spot, but I’ve lived in close conditions at times. Everyone processes grief in their own way, and I’m thankful to this gentleman for sharing and letting you guys help him; because it also helps me in so many ways! So thank you all!
@sandranadeau6937 could almost be my story but it was nine years ago last week my husband past. keep up the good work you are doing for you and in honoring him. It is so true that everyone experiences grief differently and not every loss/grief is dealt with in the same way. I also learn through learning of other' experiences - and Mack's videos have helped me learn more about myself and others which I hope I can pass along in some way. May you be surrounded in a gentle comfort as you continue your journey.
Hugs to you and sorry for the loss of your husband! I know I would have a hard time throwing my husband's things out. Thankfully I'm pretty sure I'll be going first!! 😂
Thank you so much for the shout out brother! You are awesome. Onceuponaplaythrough sounds really cool. I started out on harvest moon as a kid and stardew valley just took it to another level. I dont really play games anymore but I put a lot of hours into Stardew valley.
I got all excited like a little kid when he mentioned your channel.🤣 I've been a subscriber for a while now, and I just stumbled upon Mack's channel recently. You gentlemen are really walking the walk to really show how decent and kind human beings can be. The values that you promote are amazing, and I just wanted to say that we appreciate you both so very much.
I feel like your videos cover so many different topics. -the psychology behind hoarding, -the causes of hoarding, -the call to have compassion for those with the disorder, -the what NOT to do’s, -and cleaning product promotions and best practices for how to tackle a hoarded room when throwing away is not an option. And you keep everything very light and humorous with your positive energy
Your videos really help me come to terms with all the 'stuff' I have accumulated. It's been difficult because I inherited a lot of that 'stuff' from my mother and father. Thankfully I have a daughter that is patient and helps me let go. She is right there to help me purge and doesn't judge. Slowly the house that I have inherited is getting cleaned out. We spend a dedicated hour each week in one room and do what we can in that hour. It isn't fast, but there is clear progress that I can handle. Thank you.
I’m so happy for you! It is easy over the years to accumulate. I’m finding myself going through a lot of my notebooks and papers and I think I’m gonna get rid of a lot of books. I’m going to be 72 years old and it might be getting close to time to make a big life change. Maybe a move to a smaller place. Maybe some travel. I consider what I threw away today to be a huge accomplishment, and I patted myself on the back for that today. I usually don’t give myself credit for the things I do accomplish. Mine is more I would like to get rid of collectibles and things like that that my ex-husband had that are boxed away in the storage area. Also, a few bookcases that were his. But definitely watching this guy has made me reconsider disposing of some of my books and you gotta start somewhere! The rest of the house belongs to the cleaning lady. I have a clean house. I love a clean house, but I don’t like to clean that house. I keep the house picked up and tidy for her to come and clean the big stuff! I have ADHD and it is hard for me to stay focused on one task for very long. I certainly can’t plan ahead. I have to do it just as the mood strikes me. So just know you’re doing a good thing and your daughter is wonderful to be patient and supportive in doing so. Give yourself a big pat on the back. 👏👏👏🎈🎈🎈🥳🥳🥳🙏🏻💜🙏🏻
You’d be surprised what you can accomplish in an hour and those hours will add up quickly. It’s great to take your time in this way and I’m sure you’re seeing a good amount of progress along the way.
It's so wonderful to hear this! I am currently trying to be that daughter for my father who has asked me to help him deal with his hoard. I am doing my best to let him set the pace and tone. I never challenge him on what he wants to keep, only that it isn't dangerous health-wise. You deserve to be proud, it's a hard road!
As a single mom about 15 years ago me and my two special kids were homeless. We finally got on our feet and i managed a nonprofit thrift store. A recipe for hoarding. Everything was saveable, useable and cheap. Clothes which at one point we barely had enough of, began filling up chest of drawers. Two or yhree chest per bedroom. Kitchen everything and so much more. The i began crafting again during stay at home yime and before i knew it, i had craft supplies by the droves. I ended up with goat trails. I somehow in my adhd brain with a touch of autism got fed up with the trails and was ready to through everything out the front door because i could not tolerate being in my home. That luckily started my decluttering path. It was slow and painful and i luckily now can to see when things are getting cluttered and my declutter kicks in. It was a decade process to get this point. I will never be cured but i am managing to keep things clean (most of the time).
I just really need to say this... If you did audio book readings, I would be the happiest camper. You've got that kind of voice and rhythm that would be perfect across many genres.
So true.. there is nothing irritating about his voice for me, and I have misophonia, so things get on my nerves super quick and can totally ruin a book
@firecracker187 really though! There are plenty of creators that I have to mute because I can literally hear the wetness of their mouth and it makes me so annoyed borderline angry.
I lost my partner of 44 years two years ago; I'm still on an emotional rollercoaster. I hope this man finds peace and realizes things won't fill the emotional hole in his heart. You and Jason did a spectacular job clearing a space for him to heal.
@@bluehippo5 Dementia it's a horrible decease. I'm just glad he didn't get violent until the very end, by the time he was admitted to a hospital he didn't even recognize me.
@@AZHITW Yep. Physical stuff can't fill a void like that. I hope this guy and others in a similar situation can find the right people and support, and also develop a healthy relationship with physical belongings. A collecting hobby can bring a lot of joy, and give the mind somewhere nice to go.
I’m so proud of him for being willing to throw some stuff away, especially those hand-canned sauces! I’m fairly sure I have hoarding disorder. My dad keeps everything, and his parents did too. When he was cleaning out their house (house was being sold to fund assisted living) he found a phone book from a city they hadn’t lived in for over 20 years (and were almost completely across the country from) and package after package of things like lightbulbs and dish detergent. I have been able to keep things more or less in check for myself by putting things I’m still attached to but don’t have room for in storage, and eventually I heard the Marie Kondo idea of thanking the object for its service and that has helped me let go of a lot. I collect a lot of things (I was very excited to see this gentleman’s Breyer horse collection!) and I keep that under control by the sheer lack of space on my shelves and also being disabled and unemployed. Where I really get bad is keeping things clean. I also have adhd and there’s so much I don’t see and forget about and let things pile up. I’m extremely embarrassed about it, and also sensory overload makes everything worse. The way my mom helped me was by phrasing it like this: “Would it help if I did the dishes for you?” Sometimes I can ask for help but sometimes she comes over and notices something and she just asks if her cleaning it would help me. It’s a lot easier for me to say yes and thank her for doing it than it is for me to ask for help outright. Also what helps is she celebrates the small things with me- I can text her “I got BOTH litter boxes clean!” and she’s just as excited for me as I am.
The only thing I left behind at my parents' house when I moved out at age 25 was MY Breyer horse collection. (Boxed up and on a closet shelf in a bedroom.) Several years later, my parents moved out of state, and my roommate and I moved into my parents' house. We rented it for a year while my parents decided whether to remain in their new state. They did, and sold the house, and my brother and I cleaned out what was left in the garage and various rooms. I was a bit shocked at first, when I discovered that my parents had gotten rid of my horse collection. Now, of course, I think they did me a favor, in doing that.
I'd like to recognize it takes an especially kind person to hear "Yeah my dad has a hoard full of guns, ammo and knives" and still come to clean it anyways. Most organizers, even for hoarding disorder, would've backed out hearing that.
It didn't even occur to me to think that intimidating. I was more focused on thinking about wanting to see them, maybe imagining them displayed instead of put in tubs
I'm really glad that you recognize those steps he took, they are extremely important. Each baby step he takes will build on the previous. As he sees progress, it may increase.
One idea to consider if this person is struggling to get rid of his wife’s old clothes would be to get in contact with a quilt maker and they could turn those items into a quilt for his bed or something. It might help him part with the bulk of it if he can keep some of it as a functional item that still respects the wife’s legacy and memory on his bed or something like that. Obviously I don’t know the full situation and what works for each person is gunna be different, but figured I’d throw the idea out there
Just respect the quilter's time, money, and expertise. I have only done a couple quilting pieces, but the yardage for backing fabric, the quilting interior padding, the thread, the machine rental (if using a store's long arm)... their expenses would rack up pretty quickly. Don't assume they'll do it for free! 😊
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 THIS!!! That stuff is EXPENSIVE because it ends up being nickels and dimes!!! Plus, the quilter's time, it's not a 30 minute project to make these! It's going to be 200+ hours on the overall and no one wants to work for table scraps, they need to earn a living!
Super proud of that man actually taking initiative and being able to have the motivation to help with some of the cleaning and organizing. Absolutely amazing to hear
You’re the only person who I would 100% trust to help me clean. The way you speak with empathy and understanding, and the way you recognize that it’s not just stuff to people comes through in every video. I learn from this channel, and I appreciate the safety you offer people as much as the service.
Smart ass aunt here 😂 Thanks so much for the shout out man! That was a great surprise to wake up to this morning. And incidentally this video was particularly interesting to me because my “real” job is a vintage reselling business. So I’m experienced in dealing with vintage and antiques. I have been in more hoarded “collectors” estate sales than I can count. It’s usually after the collector has passed away or needed to move into assisted living. The adult children not only don’t want these items, but are now completely burdened by them. That’s why they need an estate sale company to come in and organize and sell it all for them - for a hefty fee, rightly so. In other parts of the country they do auction style sales which is basically the same idea. Like you said, they’re getting pennies on the dollar for these “collectibles” because they’re selling the stuff to people like me, who then clean it, research it, photograph it, and list it on eBay or elsewhere to sell it to the actual collector who wants it. And then we still have to ship it. That’s only a profitable job if we can get the item for dirt cheap because of all the labor involved, fees, and shipping supplies we have to purchase. So the idea that “I’m saving these valuable things so my kids can sell them after I die and make a fortune” is absolutely not a reasonable idea. Here’s the only way I’ve seen it work: some collectors have committed to selling their collections later in life as a “retirement job” and doing the work themselves to clean, research, photograph, list and ship the items. They learn how to use eBay or get a booth in a local antique mall and basically become vintage/antiques sellers themselves and slowly sell the stuff as a hobby/project/side hustle to make the money while they are alive to do it themselves. They use it to supplement a fixed income or save the money for their children’s inheritance, whatever. That way it isn’t the children’s burden. But it is a LOT of work and unless they know what to expect going in, it can be too much for a lot of people. Even as a person who has acquired my own hoard of vintage things with the intention of selling it all, it quickly got out of hand because in the beginning of starting this business, I was buying inventory faster than I was selling. Because let’s be honest, that’s way more fun. Then I put it in a storage unit and shit really got out of hand 😂 So that’s where I’m at now - I have been focusing on selling and not acquiring more inventory until what I already have is dealt with. I got rid of my storage unit and brought everything back to my house so I couldn’t just ignore the problem. It caused a major chain reaction in my house because of all the “inventory” spread everywhere plus all the work I was doing to sell things and eliminate my storage unit gave me no time to deal with cleaning or decluttering my own home. My office is still hoarded like crazy because of it, but during my Vlogmas series in December I got the rest of the house more or less under control. So I guess the point of all this is to say it’s a really slippery slope with being a “collector” even with the best of intentions. Throw trauma and/or hoarding disorder into the mix and here we are in this video. Based on houses I’ve been in and just being in the vintage reselling world, I think it’s WAY more common than people even realize. I was happy to hear this gentleman was keeping it somewhat tidy and making progress after you helped him out. That seems like a less common outcome. I’m looking forward to the next time you go to his house as a part 2! 🫎
Yessss!! When my grandma passed, we hired a company to sell all of her lovely collections (after the family had chosen what they wanted) and we made enough from the sale to cover the cost of the estate sale company plus an extra $60. 😮 It was a lot of work for very little money made.
@ Thats so common and can be a big shock to the family. And a pain in the butt too. Sometimes it’s easier to just donate everything. Thankfully my grandma had us take what we wanted or put our name on the bottoms of things and then she donated most the rest of her possessions when she was still alive. Her house was super minimal. Sort of like Swedish Death Cleaning if you’ve heard of that before. I thought that was a really great way to do it and after she passed everything was taken care of within a couple days. It was just a matter of donating her clothes and a few things, and she already told us who she wanted it donated to (a veterans organization). It was a blessing to have all that sorted out since we were grieving so hard and making decisions in that state is very difficult.
I remember that show American Pickers and it really did show how common this stuff is Also probably encouraged some of it, but that's besides the point
Excited for another hoarder house! I had to clean a house this week that had a drug/trafficking situation going on and it was emotionally brutal and physically taxing, but I did it because you inspired me to help others when they need it. The family of the person was blown away by my willingness to help for free without judgement. You taught me well.
Your channel is as much educational as cleaning. Every one of your videos has taught me something...usually more than one thing. I lost my only child this past April after a slow and painful illness. He was 41 and near the end I knew I had to start getting rid of his things because I know me and I knew that after he was gone I would say oops...I can't get rid of that...Daniel touched it. Oh, I can't throw that notepad away...Daniel wrote in it. But you explained things in a way that made such perfect sense. Thank you. I am sending you all of the love that I have in my heart.
I did the same thing when my husband was terminal. Had a manic panic week and took a couple of car loads to the thrift store because I knew I wouldn't be able to after. Five years later, I still have a lot. I go through it as I can handle, it's a process.
@ShellyWest-d8x it is. I try to be selective about what I keep but I am still BatCrap crazy. I have a bottle of soda that I won't let anyone drink because it is his...and I like seeing it when I open the fridge. I'm sorry for your loss. Praying for you.
This reminded me of my dad's house. Every box, jar and tub have to be inspected, there is ammo in everything, every drawer and box. So many knives. I had a crew of bikers help me (for two weekends) empty his garage and it's still a third full. My sister moved into his house and lives amongst the parts that I didn't clean out. We haven't gotten to his dozens of CB radios, his HAM equipment and all of that. He died over a year and a half ago.
My dad was also a radio guy, HAM and 2-meter. I have his call sign as my license plate. When he died, we dug out all his equipment, lined it up, and let a couple of his radio buddies come take what they wanted. They were thrilled to have it and we were thrilled to have it gone. They all declared the remainder to be trash so we could toss it with a happy heart. Thanks for listening to my trip down memory lane.
I never even thought about how shifting the hoard could break the structure. Good point. Great job guys. I think I'll start calling Jason "Moostachio"😂
My mom is a hoarder and filled two houses with stuff and junk, starting in 1972. When my dad started living in "dad's house" full-time, he spent the last 8 years of his life decluttering the 40+ years of stuff and junk from that house. My mom now thinks *I* stole all her stuff. At least she is now living in the house that had been properly maintained, instead of the one that would be condemned if anyone did an inspection
My bestie married a hoarder. It is unbelievable. He is an alcoholic also. It finally killed our friendship. I didn’t understand it but viewing your videos makes me realize how common it is. I remain kind of stunned. Thanks for helping them.
Watching your channel has helped me more than anything to get my house into order. I have both ADHD and autism traits, topped off with PTSD from events in 2009, 2016 and 2020. Found your channel in december I think, and have my house in the best order it has been in a long time. I am using my autistic traits + understanding and empathy with my other problems, and it has helped tremensously! Thank you!
I can't tell you how important these videos are. Besides the incredible service you are providing these people, the education you are providing the general public is far and away even more important. I recently watched an episode of Hoarders and there is no education in those shows. It is pure voyeuristic entertainment and does nothing to give people a sense of compassion or understanding for this particular type of mental illness. You are a treasure.
thrilled to see another upload! i love how your thumbnails and titles arent sensationalized, and the way you talk about the people is incredibly human and compassionate.
That’s a cowboy hoard alright - that’s the most American hoard I’ve ever seen! I’m British 🇬🇧 and that would be illegal over here because of the safety issue - even if you have a license the guns and ammo would have to be in a locked cabinet. It’s a good job there was no kids around!
My mother was this gentleman's female hoarding equivalent. I can't tell you how cathartic it is to hear you state all the things I heard from her., and put it all in context. 25 years after her passing, I still feel frustrated, and you help make me feel less alone. Thank you!
The way you keep compassion and empathy as your North star to these people is what sets this channel apart. All the beautiful wood in that kitchen, that lovely dining table and chairs, and the floors, are like a physical manifestation of the true person underneath the maladaptive coping mechanism that caused the pile-up.
Great job Mac and Jason. I have a family member who’s cleaning out a hoard as we speak. The person who passed away was a gun collector. Problem is there were loaded guns under, around, and in the middle of the hoard-so everyone had to be extremely careful when cleaning. This person was a Vietnam Vet and I suspect he had PTSD from the experience
@@ShannonKauffman-g8h I have many, seasonal dishes, glass sets, and inherited china. I love them all! I love changing things out with seasons and holidays. I am an organized hoarder. Thanks for the reply :)
This was an amazing start. Thank you for respecting this man. I know an unfinished project can be frustrating but you are giving him a chance to process, grieve and move at his own speed. It sounds like he’s already started.
*What an incredible act of kindness! Turning a house buried in a hoard into a livable space again is not just cleaning-it’s giving someone a fresh start and a new chance at life. Hats off to your dedication and compassion!* 💯💯💯❤❤❤
I feel you. I have to stand on a chair to reach the top two shelves of all my cabinets, and have a huge stepladder with rails for changing lightbulbs/cleaning (5'1")
Us tall fellows must always clean the fridge, top shelves, and reach for things for you. It is the duty of you all short fellows to use the sink and save our backs from bending too long. We are symbiotic.
I’m was 4’10” in my 20s. My sister and BIL (who’s 6’4) came to visit me and several weeks (months?) later I found “Dirty” and the date in the dust on my vent hood. No, he wasn’t being rude; he’s a card!
I’m always amazed when I see him do tall people stuff, like paint a ceiling with a short roller! I’m only 5’2 and I’m always climbing on chairs and ladders for everything!
I met my now husband shortly after his dad had passed away very suddenly. He had moved in with his mom, who was just completely out of it with grief. He and his siblings took it upon themselves to start going through, dividing up, donating, organizing and clearing out all of their dads' belongings and had to help their mom re-learn how to do everything for herself; his dad had paid all the bills, organized and planned most aspects of their life and managed their finances. Her kids even managed her house sale and downsizing. It was really amazing to start and see her become more independent and self-reliant over the years but it took years of hard work, healing from grief and dedication by her children, and they still help her considerably.
My mother was raised during the Great Depression & then WW2…That generation was taught to save everything, even the margarine tubs…it’s a difficult mindset to adjust. Looking forward to round 2. I hope the gentleman is willing to make further changes, he will feel so much better & so will his family.
Always look forward to a Hallmark video on hoarding disorder featuring moose high fashion. But seriously, I’m grateful for the education you provide about the cause/effect of hoarding. I have loved ones on various places on the hoarding spectrum.
I hope that man felt relief after you made such a difference to his house am sure his son felt better it was safe for him to walk around. Glad he has started doing some things on his own to help people can change. Love Jamie Chaotic is great she is a reseller & has a channel on her reselling for a few years but the Jamie Chaotic channel has been awesome!
Thank you for doing this for him! I had a similar situation with a dear friend. Am still not finished dispersing all his collections. You explained it exactly. He has every bit of what you said. He has PTSD, too.
I wasn't looking at the screen, just had the video playing, and holy hell, the vacuum scared the hell out of me. "Why the hell is there a panicking pony in that house???"
I was looking laying in bed and was a bit sleepy, it made me wake up instantly and contemplate my life choices🤣 it was a fun sound but never in my life i would assign it to a vacuum!
My parents did not like to get rid of anything. Dad was brought up in a time when everything could be reused. Mom, it was about control. Clearing out the house was an adventure.
@@jamiemikkelson3583 🥰 I like to buy and sell my clothing used. I always think of it as giving the items a new adventure. I love the idea of applying that to my own life as well.
(Below is a classic example of ADHD oversharing AND the need to connect with the storyteller to show empathy. IRL this comes across as being a know-it-all AND making it all about oneself. I consider this a safe place to be myself though, so here is my post.) I have ADHD. Your explanation of how a hording disordered person's brain works was the clearest description of how my brain works. I also have hoarding tendencies. In the house I bought in 2023 -- complete blank slate as I moved across country in a U-Haul -- I can match items purchased/collected/hoarded during high-stress times versus genuinely needed items purchased with deliberation and intention. The first category has far more items and I'm still debating over a floor cleaner system I should have bought last year. Thanks again, Mac, for being your amazing self, and being so compassionate with both the homeowner and being patient with your audience, those who may not understand how this situation came to be.
When I last moved, I packed books in paper grocery bags, taped shut when partly full to form a bale. These were easy to stack in the car, and the size kept them from getting too heavy. I would not be able to lift one of those big tubs if it was full of books. Props to the owner for keeping up the kitchen once you got it clean. Step by step!
I don’t know what it was about this particular house, but it reminded me of my grandmother‘s house, even though her house was always extremely neat and organized and clean. Thinking back, I wonder if she had hoarding disorder. She had an unbelievable amount of belongings tucked away in places that her guests couldn’t see. None of us knew how much she had until after she died. She had an entire walk-in closet filled with dance costumes that she had sewn for her three girls through several years of dance recitals. She had so much stuff, they had to rent a moving truck to take things to the Goodwill, and after several trips, they finally gave up and just started throwing things away. I don’t remember how many dumpsters worth of items they threw away, but it made me sad thinking of everything she had accumulated over the years that must’ve meant something to her, that ended up being thrown away. Everything was well cared for, and everything was organized, but the amount of items she was able to store away in that big house, it was mind blowing. Much of it was only valuable to her. Her husband had died of a heart attack when I was a baby, and several years later, she got remarried. She eventually divorced him, and lived many years alone in that big house. It makes me wonder if she felt like her belongings were all she had to connect her to her past. What’s interesting is that my mom went to the other extreme, she doesn’t like to keep anything. She would often throw away or give away things that me, my dad and my brother wanted to keep. She would do it without telling us because she knew we would fight her on it. For many years into my adulthood, I didn’t like to get rid of things, probably because of the way my mom was, but after my grandma died, and I saw how much work it was for my family to go through her belongings, I have tried to let go of that intense connection to inanimate objects. I’ve done quite a lot of decluttering in the past few years, and your channel helps motivate me to do even more. Thank you for that, and thank you for everything that you do for people who are struggling with hoarding disorder.
I'm so excited to see you and Jason back working together to do what you do to make the lives of other people better. Immensely proud of the homeowner for the steps taken to participate in what will improve his home and health (referring to the black mold situation). I always enjoy your "longish" videos and I do hope you'll get to do a follow-up on this home 😊 Wishing the homeowner all the absolute best as he moves forward. It's not easy what he's been through or is currently going through. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Mack. Been waiting to see this all weekend myself. 🙌 ❤
So glad to see you back doing hoarder house for free,with your empathy and deep understanding of this condition. Thank you I have learnt so much about hoarding. ❤
I’m wondering how many moose to support so many sets of your wings. You continue to be such an inspiration with your deep compassion and commitment to alleviate suffering. Blessings. 🇬🇧
Thanks Mack for this discussion on hoarding.Wonderful you have the patience to do this.I have cleaned and organized for hoarders also and you're right on point.
Mack & Jason, your compassion and patience is such a wonderful gift. Not many people can spend the amount of time dealing with these situations. Your taking on this project is such a gift to this gentleman.❤ I hope this gentleman does ask you back to help him further when he is ready to take the next steps in confronting his situation. God Bless
I watch a tv show called the yorkshire auction house, which involves a lot of people getting rid of all sorts of their own, or a deceased loved one's, collections. I thought I'd seen it all until I watched this and saw the quintessential american version of collecting: guns and knives 😅
Its a relief watching this after watching a recently posted video by Aurikatarina where she literally threw this elderly ladies stuff away just because the daughter said to! Like all of it! Including, but not limited to, cast iron pans, usable items, and what was probably home videos. 🥴 She was talking about how the lady came back from her friends house, and just spent so much time going through old clothes and couldnt decide on whether or not to throw an old jacket with large holes in it away. I was like... Well Mack could tell you that was her way of breaking down, she's in flight mode turning a blind eye to everything Auri was throwing away that she now had no control over. I literally felt so upset and sad after watching that. Also, Southeast Oklahoma resident here and huge fan of Lawncare Juggernaut. I am a 33 year old cancer patient with 2 overgrown acres and a hoarded 3 bedroom mobile home. Y'all should do a collab and come help me 😂😅
If the apocalypse happens; we're all meeting at that guys house!😂😂 I had to laugh about this one. Though I've really come to understand the hoarding- problem. My late ex-husband was like this. I tried to help but , as you said, he got angry. Eventually he passed away in the midst of all he had collected and we , my daughters and I, had to enter that house later on in order to find papers for the counceler . Later on we all had to go in therapy; we couldn't get rid of what we saw, smelled and felt... Now, with the help of your explanation I understand that there was not only something wrong with him, but that he couldn't help himself in any way, though he never accepted any help( ftom neighbors for example). It's really a disorder and people should get help proffesionally. Anyway; thank you Mac for making us understand, taking the burden of it( for me and perhaps for many more here) and helping out as you do. You're a good person. Bless you! Betty
Once again, thank you so much for resetting someone's home after their bout with hoarding! Now on to doing a full clean-out of my bathroom and closet (that's been on the back burner for a few years now)
Thank you, Mack and Jason. You sure picked a tough one to get your groove back with. Beautiful job as always, completed without judgement and with sensitivity to the disorder involved. ❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉
I am so glad you and Jason are back cleaning hoarded houses. I love how you explain their stories. I have learned a lot from you and Hoarded Heart. You guys are amazing!!
One of the things I love about your videos is believing that if the homeowners or their family ever decided to watch, it wouldn't be an upsetting experience. I've seen videos of people holding their noses and shoveling stuff into trash bags. It's nice to see somebody not just respecting the homeowner, but respecting the stuff while organizing. I just want to imagine the comfort and trust that that could bring to somebody.
You are amazing, and so kind. I wish I knew someone like you in real life! I swear, everyone in my area of Tennessee is just cranky and mean all the time. You remind me of my oldest sister who lives in Dallas. She is so intelligent and kind. She’s my favorite person in the world.
I love Jamie Chaotic! It's funny that you see her as your sarcastic aunt since she's younger than us. At 50, I have no plans to give up my jeans & t-shirts! Had to laugh at the picture of Liz/Beth aka Feral Tradwife at the end and on your shirt.
We need more people like you to keep this movement going. Disorders are taken as lazy, and it's so far from the truth. Go, Mack !!, you're making a difference in this world.
Mack pin this comment:
I’m taking names of those of you who are supporting the t-shirt nonsense. You will rue the day!!!! RUE THE DAY
@@feraltradwife 🤣
He actually pinned it 😂 x
😂😂😂
I was waiting for your response Liz 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂 brilliant definitely made me laugh 😂
My mom died last year and I finally dominated the kitchen. The rest of the house is still piles, but I'm happy to say the kitchen is staying clean. Mom was a hoarder and thaught me to save everything of value, I've learned to value the space more than the stuff, but it's hard to change.
It's definitely not instant but a "life path" to conquer the tendencies!
Change for your own health, in so many ways 🙂
I learned the hard way that taking photos of the meaningful items before letting them go helps memoralize the item.❤
So sorry for your loss, my mom passed in october, not sure which is harder missing near or dealing with all her stuff. Trying to deal with things that were in my grandparents home (so many memories). Helped when I found a group that helps formerly homeless and women escaping domestic violence set up their new homes. All the furniture, kitchen stuff, linens etc that were still useful found a new home. There are things I am finding it difficult to let go of stored in my garage. Made it a point to tell my girls please don't feel you have to keep something you don't have room for or don't love, get rid of it I won't be mad😁
@@secondgarwogg isn't it nice to know that people who need things can use some of it.
Your education about the hoarding disorders is so absolutely helpful, and eclipses the value of your instruction on extreme cleaning.
The psychological/neurological angles have helped me out immensely, and I don't even have hoarding disorder. (I DO have depression and anxiety, and some of the routes his commentary leads me down have taught me things I didn't understand about my own brain wiring.)
Well said 👍
Hearing more that items are emotionally charged but still can be ignored helps me a bit. If you recall, I'm trying to move my mother to assisted living and she is reluctant to picture not being surrounded by her, I guess you can say, invisible shield. It has made it hard for her to select items to take without quitting and going to watch TV with a big tub of ice cream.
The education you provide has meant the world to my 40 year marriage. I let my husband have a space for his hoarding. He has been told that his trauma is PTSD from his childhood. When he says I can throw something away, I never ask twice. Most of the time I ask what is instead of asking if it's trash. That sets off fire alarms in his head.
When my husband passed away unexpectedly last Father’s Day, he had just purchased two canned coffees that morning. One for him, one for me. They sat in the fridge for six weeks. About the time his favorite cheese got green. It was really green, but his favorite! But, I finally had to toss it. That was when I decided I had to drink the coffee as well and clean out the fridge.
A lot of crying and napping (coffee/adhd; if you know you know) later I did decide to keep those two cleaned out cans… They are on a shelf next to our pictures. They serve me as a reminder of all the small lovely kind things he always did for me. But that was also the time I began to sort and start letting go of the things that wouldn’t serve, we’re unhealthy to keep, or where mementos of him the kids wanted to have!
I know I have hoarding disorder, partially in my case, it was a learned trait. My grandmother who lived through the WW2 depression era, and saved everything, passed the trait to my father and I learned from both of them!
I LOVE these videos, because they trigger my motivation in such a positive way! They help remind me that healing involves letting go… which helps me rewire my brain into a better perspective.
I really feel for these people who’ve lost their loved ones and I wish them well and all the best. I don’t judge them, because I may not have been in their exact spot, but I’ve lived in close conditions at times. Everyone processes grief in their own way, and I’m thankful to this gentleman for sharing and letting you guys help him; because it also helps me in so many ways! So thank you all!
@sandranadeau6937 could almost be my story but it was nine years ago last week my husband past. keep up the good work you are doing for you and in honoring him. It is so true that everyone experiences grief differently and not every loss/grief is dealt with in the same way. I also learn through learning of other' experiences - and Mack's videos have helped me learn more about myself and others which I hope I can pass along in some way. May you be surrounded in a gentle comfort as you continue your journey.
Glad you threw the cheese away!
❤❤❤
Hugs to you and sorry for the loss of your husband! I know I would have a hard time throwing my husband's things out. Thankfully I'm pretty sure I'll be going first!! 😂
So sorry for your sad loss of your husband take care x
Thank you so much for the shout out brother! You are awesome. Onceuponaplaythrough sounds really cool. I started out on harvest moon as a kid and stardew valley just took it to another level. I dont really play games anymore but I put a lot of hours into Stardew valley.
I'm about to go play some Stardew right now!
I got all excited like a little kid when he mentioned your channel.🤣
I've been a subscriber for a while now, and I just stumbled upon Mack's channel recently.
You gentlemen are really walking the walk to really show how decent and kind human beings can be.
The values that you promote are amazing, and I just wanted to say that we appreciate you both so very much.
LOVE your Boring Channel also. Have been watching you and subscribed to both of your channels.
With all those saddles in the living room, there's got to be a horse under the stuff somewhere! Keep cleaning!!!
🤠
Perhaps those are moose saddles.
💯😁🤣😂🤣
It's for the moose
😂😂keep cleaning!😂
I feel like your videos cover so many different topics.
-the psychology behind hoarding,
-the causes of hoarding,
-the call to have compassion for those with the disorder,
-the what NOT to do’s,
-and cleaning product promotions and best practices for how to tackle a hoarded room when throwing away is not an option.
And you keep everything very light and humorous with your positive energy
Your videos really help me come to terms with all the 'stuff' I have accumulated. It's been difficult because I inherited a lot of that 'stuff' from my mother and father. Thankfully I have a daughter that is patient and helps me let go. She is right there to help me purge and doesn't judge. Slowly the house that I have inherited is getting cleaned out. We spend a dedicated hour each week in one room and do what we can in that hour. It isn't fast, but there is clear progress that I can handle. Thank you.
You’re wise to take it in one-hour chunks. Eat the watermelon one bite at a time!
What an awesome daughter you have. The silver lining (bc there always is one) is the close relationship you two are able to nurture. ❤
I’m so happy for you! It is easy over the years to accumulate. I’m finding myself going through a lot of my notebooks and papers and I think I’m gonna get rid of a lot of books. I’m going to be 72 years old and it might be getting close to time to make a big life change. Maybe a move to a smaller place. Maybe some travel. I consider what I threw away today to be a huge accomplishment, and I patted myself on the back for that today. I usually don’t give myself credit for the things I do accomplish. Mine is more I would like to get rid of collectibles and things like that that my ex-husband had that are boxed away in the storage area. Also, a few bookcases that were his. But definitely watching this guy has made me reconsider disposing of some of my books and you gotta start somewhere! The rest of the house belongs to the cleaning lady. I have a clean house. I love a clean house, but I don’t like to clean that house. I keep the house picked up and tidy for her to come and clean the big stuff! I have ADHD and it is hard for me to stay focused on one task for very long. I certainly can’t plan ahead. I have to do it just as the mood strikes me. So just know you’re doing a good thing and your daughter is wonderful to be patient and supportive in doing so. Give yourself a big pat on the back. 👏👏👏🎈🎈🎈🥳🥳🥳🙏🏻💜🙏🏻
You’d be surprised what you can accomplish in an hour and those hours will add up quickly. It’s great to take your time in this way and I’m sure you’re seeing a good amount of progress along the way.
It's so wonderful to hear this! I am currently trying to be that daughter for my father who has asked me to help him deal with his hoard. I am doing my best to let him set the pace and tone. I never challenge him on what he wants to keep, only that it isn't dangerous health-wise. You deserve to be proud, it's a hard road!
As a single mom about 15 years ago me and my two special kids were homeless. We finally got on our feet and i managed a nonprofit thrift store. A recipe for hoarding. Everything was saveable, useable and cheap. Clothes which at one point we barely had enough of, began filling up chest of drawers. Two or yhree chest per bedroom. Kitchen everything and so much more. The i began crafting again during stay at home yime and before i knew it, i had craft supplies by the droves. I ended up with goat trails. I somehow in my adhd brain with a touch of autism got fed up with the trails and was ready to through everything out the front door because i could not tolerate being in my home. That luckily started my decluttering path. It was slow and painful and i luckily now can to see when things are getting cluttered and my declutter kicks in. It was a decade process to get this point. I will never be cured but i am managing to keep things clean (most of the time).
I just really need to say this... If you did audio book readings, I would be the happiest camper. You've got that kind of voice and rhythm that would be perfect across many genres.
So true.. there is nothing irritating about his voice for me, and I have misophonia, so things get on my nerves super quick and can totally ruin a book
@firecracker187 really though! There are plenty of creators that I have to mute because I can literally hear the wetness of their mouth and it makes me so annoyed borderline angry.
@52cardsFacedown O MG YES... AAAH or whistling s
Yes, like James Patterson's Alex Cross series !! I can hear it in my head right now. 😊
I've thought the same thing. His articulation is distinct and clean with great cadence. He'd have to leave out the "suck it" comments. Lol
I lost my partner of 44 years two years ago; I'm still on an emotional rollercoaster. I hope this man finds peace and realizes things won't fill the emotional hole in his heart.
You and Jason did a spectacular job clearing a space for him to heal.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your partner 😢
@@bluehippo5 Dementia it's a horrible decease. I'm just glad he didn't get violent until the very end, by the time he was admitted to a hospital he didn't even recognize me.
@@AZHITW That sounds awful :( I hope you have lots of happy memories to bring you comfort. 44 years, he must have been a heck of a guy!
@@AZHITW Yep. Physical stuff can't fill a void like that. I hope this guy and others in a similar situation can find the right people and support, and also develop a healthy relationship with physical belongings. A collecting hobby can bring a lot of joy, and give the mind somewhere nice to go.
@@AZHITW awwweeee,im so sorry.
I continue to be in awe of your intelligence and compassion.
Where was the compassion in that "your mom" joke? 😭
I’m so proud of him for being willing to throw some stuff away, especially those hand-canned sauces!
I’m fairly sure I have hoarding disorder. My dad keeps everything, and his parents did too. When he was cleaning out their house (house was being sold to fund assisted living) he found a phone book from a city they hadn’t lived in for over 20 years (and were almost completely across the country from) and package after package of things like lightbulbs and dish detergent. I have been able to keep things more or less in check for myself by putting things I’m still attached to but don’t have room for in storage, and eventually I heard the Marie Kondo idea of thanking the object for its service and that has helped me let go of a lot. I collect a lot of things (I was very excited to see this gentleman’s Breyer horse collection!) and I keep that under control by the sheer lack of space on my shelves and also being disabled and unemployed.
Where I really get bad is keeping things clean. I also have adhd and there’s so much I don’t see and forget about and let things pile up. I’m extremely embarrassed about it, and also sensory overload makes everything worse. The way my mom helped me was by phrasing it like this:
“Would it help if I did the dishes for you?”
Sometimes I can ask for help but sometimes she comes over and notices something and she just asks if her cleaning it would help me. It’s a lot easier for me to say yes and thank her for doing it than it is for me to ask for help outright. Also what helps is she celebrates the small things with me- I can text her “I got BOTH litter boxes clean!” and she’s just as excited for me as I am.
@@Inky1313Starlight Your mom sounds like a wonderful person. ❤️
Your mom is a gem!!
The only thing I left behind at my parents' house when I moved out at age 25 was MY Breyer horse collection. (Boxed up and on a closet shelf in a bedroom.) Several years later, my parents moved out of state, and my roommate and I moved into my parents' house. We rented it for a year while my parents decided whether to remain in their new state. They did, and sold the house, and my brother and I cleaned out what was left in the garage and various rooms. I was a bit shocked at first, when I discovered that my parents had gotten rid of my horse collection. Now, of course, I think they did me a favor, in doing that.
I'd like to recognize it takes an especially kind person to hear "Yeah my dad has a hoard full of guns, ammo and knives" and still come to clean it anyways. Most organizers, even for hoarding disorder, would've backed out hearing that.
The knives alone would have given me pause….🤔
How American though…
It didn't even occur to me to think that intimidating. I was more focused on thinking about wanting to see them, maybe imagining them displayed instead of put in tubs
Bless you for helping this man dig out of his grief!!
I'm really glad that you recognize those steps he took, they are extremely important. Each baby step he takes will build on the previous. As he sees progress, it may increase.
One idea to consider if this person is struggling to get rid of his wife’s old clothes would be to get in contact with a quilt maker and they could turn those items into a quilt for his bed or something. It might help him part with the bulk of it if he can keep some of it as a functional item that still respects the wife’s legacy and memory on his bed or something like that. Obviously I don’t know the full situation and what works for each person is gunna be different, but figured I’d throw the idea out there
Love that idea
Just respect the quilter's time, money, and expertise. I have only done a couple quilting pieces, but the yardage for backing fabric, the quilting interior padding, the thread, the machine rental (if using a store's long arm)... their expenses would rack up pretty quickly. Don't assume they'll do it for free! 😊
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 THIS!!! That stuff is EXPENSIVE because it ends up being nickels and dimes!!! Plus, the quilter's time, it's not a 30 minute project to make these! It's going to be 200+ hours on the overall and no one wants to work for table scraps, they need to earn a living!
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 I don't doubt that, should they pursue that option, Mack would ensure that the quilter is fairly compensated.
That is a wonderful idea!!! ❤
MACK
IS BACK
AND HE'S RIGHT ON TRACK
Super proud of that man actually taking initiative and being able to have the motivation to help with some of the cleaning and organizing. Absolutely amazing to hear
Seems like he wanted to do that all along, but felt powerless until Mack showed up
So glad to see the dynamic duo back in action! Also thanks for the moose humor! You are such a blessing to those in need!
Moose shirt.😂
You’re the only person who I would 100% trust to help me clean. The way you speak with empathy and understanding, and the way you recognize that it’s not just stuff to people comes through in every video. I learn from this channel, and I appreciate the safety you offer people as much as the service.
Thank you Mack for changing the world one hoard at a time. You’re making a difference in so many ways. 💜🥰💜
❤️❤️🫎
I love the way you balance having fun and being silly with the gentleness and dignity with the way you help people
@@girl.dude.1 Amen 🙏
Very well put!
Smart ass aunt here 😂 Thanks so much for the shout out man! That was a great surprise to wake up to this morning.
And incidentally this video was particularly interesting to me because my “real” job is a vintage reselling business. So I’m experienced in dealing with vintage and antiques. I have been in more hoarded “collectors” estate sales than I can count. It’s usually after the collector has passed away or needed to move into assisted living. The adult children not only don’t want these items, but are now completely burdened by them. That’s why they need an estate sale company to come in and organize and sell it all for them - for a hefty fee, rightly so. In other parts of the country they do auction style sales which is basically the same idea.
Like you said, they’re getting pennies on the dollar for these “collectibles” because they’re selling the stuff to people like me, who then clean it, research it, photograph it, and list it on eBay or elsewhere to sell it to the actual collector who wants it. And then we still have to ship it. That’s only a profitable job if we can get the item for dirt cheap because of all the labor involved, fees, and shipping supplies we have to purchase.
So the idea that “I’m saving these valuable things so my kids can sell them after I die and make a fortune” is absolutely not a reasonable idea.
Here’s the only way I’ve seen it work: some collectors have committed to selling their collections later in life as a “retirement job” and doing the work themselves to clean, research, photograph, list and ship the items. They learn how to use eBay or get a booth in a local antique mall and basically become vintage/antiques sellers themselves and slowly sell the stuff as a hobby/project/side hustle to make the money while they are alive to do it themselves. They use it to supplement a fixed income or save the money for their children’s inheritance, whatever. That way it isn’t the children’s burden. But it is a LOT of work and unless they know what to expect going in, it can be too much for a lot of people.
Even as a person who has acquired my own hoard of vintage things with the intention of selling it all, it quickly got out of hand because in the beginning of starting this business, I was buying inventory faster than I was selling. Because let’s be honest, that’s way more fun. Then I put it in a storage unit and shit really got out of hand 😂
So that’s where I’m at now - I have been focusing on selling and not acquiring more inventory until what I already have is dealt with. I got rid of my storage unit and brought everything back to my house so I couldn’t just ignore the problem. It caused a major chain reaction in my house because of all the “inventory” spread everywhere plus all the work I was doing to sell things and eliminate my storage unit gave me no time to deal with cleaning or decluttering my own home. My office is still hoarded like crazy because of it, but during my Vlogmas series in December I got the rest of the house more or less under control.
So I guess the point of all this is to say it’s a really slippery slope with being a “collector” even with the best of intentions. Throw trauma and/or hoarding disorder into the mix and here we are in this video. Based on houses I’ve been in and just being in the vintage reselling world, I think it’s WAY more common than people even realize.
I was happy to hear this gentleman was keeping it somewhat tidy and making progress after you helped him out. That seems like a less common outcome. I’m looking forward to the next time you go to his house as a part 2! 🫎
Yessss!! When my grandma passed, we hired a company to sell all of her lovely collections (after the family had chosen what they wanted) and we made enough from the sale to cover the cost of the estate sale company plus an extra $60. 😮 It was a lot of work for very little money made.
@ Thats so common and can be a big shock to the family. And a pain in the butt too. Sometimes it’s easier to just donate everything. Thankfully my grandma had us take what we wanted or put our name on the bottoms of things and then she donated most the rest of her possessions when she was still alive. Her house was super minimal. Sort of like Swedish Death Cleaning if you’ve heard of that before. I thought that was a really great way to do it and after she passed everything was taken care of within a couple days. It was just a matter of donating her clothes and a few things, and she already told us who she wanted it donated to (a veterans organization). It was a blessing to have all that sorted out since we were grieving so hard and making decisions in that state is very difficult.
Love you and your channel, Jamie! ❤❤❤
I remember that show American Pickers and it really did show how common this stuff is
Also probably encouraged some of it, but that's besides the point
Oh boy, yet another reseller complaining about having too much inventory 🙄🙄 I'll gladly take some
Humor, compassion, education… you provide so much while being entertaining. Thank you for all you do.
What a generous, compassionate, understanding heart. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this so eloquently and with such kindness.
Well said💟✌👍🏼
And the doses of his Hilarious Wit with "Character Voices" is the "Cherry on Top!!!"🎯💯🫡🤩💕🤣😂🤣🫎
Have you seen how he handles the wild moose? You give him too much credit. 😂 On a serious note you are so right.
Have you seen how he handles the wild moose? You give him too much credit. 😂 On a serious note you are so right.
As always Mack, your respect and care is clearly noticed. The hoarding community in your area is lucky to have your assistance. ❤
Excited for another hoarder house! I had to clean a house this week that had a drug/trafficking situation going on and it was emotionally brutal and physically taxing, but I did it because you inspired me to help others when they need it. The family of the person was blown away by my willingness to help for free without judgement. You taught me well.
Your channel is as much educational as cleaning. Every one of your videos has taught me something...usually more than one thing. I lost my only child this past April after a slow and painful illness. He was 41 and near the end I knew I had to start getting rid of his things because I know me and I knew that after he was gone I would say oops...I can't get rid of that...Daniel touched it. Oh, I can't throw that notepad away...Daniel wrote in it. But you explained things in a way that made such perfect sense. Thank you. I am sending you all of the love that I have in my heart.
I did the same thing when my husband was terminal. Had a manic panic week and took a couple of car loads to the thrift store because I knew I wouldn't be able to after. Five years later, I still have a lot. I go through it as I can handle, it's a process.
@ShellyWest-d8x it is. I try to be selective about what I keep but I am still BatCrap crazy. I have a bottle of soda that I won't let anyone drink because it is his...and I like seeing it when I open the fridge. I'm sorry for your loss. Praying for you.
❤❤❤@@eunicel5964
@ 🙏
Nice to see y'all back working your magic. Thanks for all you do. 😊
This reminded me of my dad's house. Every box, jar and tub have to be inspected, there is ammo in everything, every drawer and box. So many knives. I had a crew of bikers help me (for two weekends) empty his garage and it's still a third full. My sister moved into his house and lives amongst the parts that I didn't clean out. We haven't gotten to his dozens of CB radios, his HAM equipment and all of that. He died over a year and a half ago.
Sorry for your loss. I bet that HAM radio is very cool to have.
My dad was also a radio guy, HAM and 2-meter. I have his call sign as my license plate. When he died, we dug out all his equipment, lined it up, and let a couple of his radio buddies come take what they wanted. They were thrilled to have it and we were thrilled to have it gone. They all declared the remainder to be trash so we could toss it with a happy heart. Thanks for listening to my trip down memory lane.
I never even thought about how shifting the hoard could break the structure. Good point. Great job guys. I think I'll start calling Jason "Moostachio"😂
10/10 so glad to see you back & healthy & compassionately cleaning a hoard, what a wholesome video
My mom is a hoarder and filled two houses with stuff and junk, starting in 1972. When my dad started living in "dad's house" full-time, he spent the last 8 years of his life decluttering the 40+ years of stuff and junk from that house. My mom now thinks *I* stole all her stuff. At least she is now living in the house that had been properly maintained, instead of the one that would be condemned if anyone did an inspection
My bestie married a hoarder. It is unbelievable. He is an alcoholic also. It finally killed our friendship. I didn’t understand it but viewing your videos makes me realize how common it is. I remain kind of stunned. Thanks for helping them.
Watching your channel has helped me more than anything to get my house into order. I have both ADHD and autism traits, topped off with PTSD from events in 2009, 2016 and 2020. Found your channel in december I think, and have my house in the best order it has been in a long time. I am using my autistic traits + understanding and empathy with my other problems, and it has helped tremensously! Thank you!
I can't tell you how important these videos are. Besides the incredible service you are providing these people, the education you are providing the general public is far and away even more important. I recently watched an episode of Hoarders and there is no education in those shows. It is pure voyeuristic entertainment and does nothing to give people a sense of compassion or understanding for this particular type of mental illness. You are a treasure.
Yes it is exploitative
I can't watch that show any more because they don't really help people
I’m sure his wife would be so proud of him and pleased he’s getting help. ❤
Despite my ongoing depression, I always feel so good when I convince myself to wash all my piled up dishes. It may take 3 sessions, but well worth it.
Yes, me too.
I absolutely love his countertops. I was so relieved to see that the cup stains weren't permanent.
I was the same with the basin in the bathroom its just so pretty with its flowers
thrilled to see another upload! i love how your thumbnails and titles arent sensationalized, and the way you talk about the people is incredibly human and compassionate.
That one room definitely had a theme for the clutter. That's the cowboy hoard.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I saw a pretty nice collection of walking sticks in the dining room too
Yippee Kai Yay mf😂
That’s a cowboy hoard alright - that’s the most American hoard I’ve ever seen! I’m British 🇬🇧 and that would be illegal over here because of the safety issue - even if you have a license the guns and ammo would have to be in a locked cabinet. It’s a good job there was no kids around!
My mother was this gentleman's female hoarding equivalent. I can't tell you how cathartic it is to hear you state all the things I heard from her., and put it all in context. 25 years after her passing, I still feel frustrated, and you help make me feel less alone. Thank you!
Good to see the OG team back at it! I'm a psychology major and love how you break down hoarding. You understand everything beneath it well.
The way you keep compassion and empathy as your North star to these people is what sets this channel apart. All the beautiful wood in that kitchen, that lovely dining table and chairs, and the floors, are like a physical manifestation of the true person underneath the maladaptive coping mechanism that caused the pile-up.
Let me tell ya. Mack your editing and production of your videos is spot on . I've seen other cleaners and you are the absolute best of all of them.❤❤❤
Great job Mac and Jason. I have a family member who’s cleaning out a hoard as we speak. The person who passed away was a gun collector. Problem is there were loaded guns under, around, and in the middle of the hoard-so everyone had to be extremely careful when cleaning. This person was a Vietnam Vet and I suspect he had PTSD from the experience
I catch myself saying in my own home-"Oh look, more dishes!" But in this video it's like-"Oh look-more knives!" Thank you for helping him.
I have at least four sets of dishes. As a teenager I worked in the china department of a department store. It was a thing 50 years ago.
@@ShannonKauffman-g8h I have many, seasonal dishes, glass sets, and inherited china. I love them all! I love changing things out with seasons and holidays. I am an organized hoarder. Thanks for the reply :)
This was an amazing start. Thank you for respecting this man. I know an unfinished project can be frustrating but you are giving him a chance to process, grieve and move at his own speed. It sounds like he’s already started.
*What an incredible act of kindness! Turning a house buried in a hoard into a livable space again is not just cleaning-it’s giving someone a fresh start and a new chance at life. Hats off to your dedication and compassion!* 💯💯💯❤❤❤
Trauma is the lock-compassion is the key.
You are a GIFT, Mack ❤❤❤
I'm 5'3" and can't see the top of the fridge.
You just reached over the top of it and sprayed and cleaned.
Added to note~ You do such a good job!!!🎉❤🎉
I feel you. I have to stand on a chair to reach the top two shelves of all my cabinets, and have a huge stepladder with rails for changing lightbulbs/cleaning (5'1")
Us tall fellows must always clean the fridge, top shelves, and reach for things for you. It is the duty of you all short fellows to use the sink and save our backs from bending too long. We are symbiotic.
have you tried being 6'4'' instead? it might help 🤷
I’m was 4’10” in my 20s. My sister and BIL (who’s 6’4) came to visit me and several weeks (months?) later I found “Dirty” and the date in the dust on my vent hood. No, he wasn’t being rude; he’s a card!
I’m always amazed when I see him do tall people stuff, like paint a ceiling with a short roller! I’m only 5’2 and I’m always climbing on chairs and ladders for everything!
He's taking baby steps, but any steps are a step in the right direction. I'm so happy you were able to help him a little.
I met my now husband shortly after his dad had passed away very suddenly. He had moved in with his mom, who was just completely out of it with grief. He and his siblings took it upon themselves to start going through, dividing up, donating, organizing and clearing out all of their dads' belongings and had to help their mom re-learn how to do everything for herself; his dad had paid all the bills, organized and planned most aspects of their life and managed their finances. Her kids even managed her house sale and downsizing. It was really amazing to start and see her become more independent and self-reliant over the years but it took years of hard work, healing from grief and dedication by her children, and they still help her considerably.
I was happy to hear this gentleman was making progress after you helped him out.
That's a really great home. So sorry for their heartbreak. It's great they participated and were ready for your help. Good job.
I would wear that Moose shirt if it said Midwest Magic Cleaning somewhere on it. ❤️
@@GrannyLinn I second that!
Every time I watch you do one of these houses, I can’t help but feel that you are my favorite person in the whole world!❤👍
😊🫠🤗💞
Looking forward to this, just got into bed with a warm of cup of tea and now I'm going to binge watch all my faves, it's been a long day x
❤️❤️🫎
Love both of you ladies of Fife! ❤❤❤
@OldGreyMare60 thanks Laurie 🥰 x
You always explain things so well, Mack! The sorting into tubs is a great idea! Love and hugs to you both! ❤❤
My mother was raised during the Great Depression & then WW2…That generation was taught to save everything, even the margarine tubs…it’s a difficult mindset to adjust. Looking forward to round 2. I hope the gentleman is willing to make further changes, he will feel so much better & so will his family.
My dad grew up during the depression but he didn't save everything like that
Always look forward to a Hallmark video on hoarding disorder featuring moose high fashion. But seriously, I’m grateful for the education you provide about the cause/effect of hoarding. I have loved ones on various places on the hoarding spectrum.
Thank you for accurately pronouncing the word "exacerbate"! Few people do. 😅
I hope that man felt relief after you made such a difference to his house am sure his son felt better it was safe for him to walk around. Glad he has started doing some things on his own to help people can change. Love Jamie Chaotic is great she is a reseller & has a channel on her reselling for a few years but the Jamie Chaotic channel has been awesome!
Thank you for doing this for him! I had a similar situation with a dear friend. Am still not finished dispersing all his collections. You explained it exactly. He has every bit of what you said. He has PTSD, too.
I wasn't looking at the screen, just had the video playing, and holy hell, the vacuum scared the hell out of me. "Why the hell is there a panicking pony in that house???"
I was looking laying in bed and was a bit sleepy, it made me wake up instantly and contemplate my life choices🤣 it was a fun sound but never in my life i would assign it to a vacuum!
That sound ...I thought it was a moose chased by a wolf 😬
My puppy was alarmed 😂
I was cleaning and almost died.
I had to fast forward! He’s gonna have to put a silencer on that thing! Lol
Oh, Mack... so much of this hits home. Thank you. Your insight and intelligence, your willingness to share, are invaluable. Thank you.
My parents did not like to get rid of anything. Dad was brought up in a time when everything could be reused. Mom, it was about control. Clearing out the house was an adventure.
This made me smile. I’ve always used that saying with my kids. When things go wrong in life I call it an adventure 😊
@@Chrissyhappy Yes! 😆 Optimists live longer.
An adventure and an opportunity to grow ✨
😂I always say I'm "off to my next adventure!"
@@jamiemikkelson3583 🥰 I like to buy and sell my clothing used. I always think of it as giving the items a new adventure. I love the idea of applying that to my own life as well.
"It's why I never brush my moose around people that are on oxygen..." Omg first time I laughed today. Love the Moose shirt too!
You and Beth’s beef with each other is so funny. We all know you like each other really 😅😂
Great job on this man’s house.
Is this the lady in the photo at the end of the video and printed on his tee?😅
@ yes. She called Beth and her channel is Feral Tradeife. She is fab and she calls him Mike!
@@johughes2331 haha! Hilarious, thank you! :)
(Below is a classic example of ADHD oversharing AND the need to connect with the storyteller to show empathy. IRL this comes across as being a know-it-all AND making it all about oneself. I consider this a safe place to be myself though, so here is my post.)
I have ADHD. Your explanation of how a hording disordered person's brain works was the clearest description of how my brain works. I also have hoarding tendencies. In the house I bought in 2023 -- complete blank slate as I moved across country in a U-Haul -- I can match items purchased/collected/hoarded during high-stress times versus genuinely needed items purchased with deliberation and intention. The first category has far more items and I'm still debating over a floor cleaner system I should have bought last year.
Thanks again, Mac, for being your amazing self, and being so compassionate with both the homeowner and being patient with your audience, those who may not understand how this situation came to be.
Enjoyed seeing you back at organizing, looks great! ❤
When I last moved, I packed books in paper grocery bags, taped shut when partly full to form a bale. These were easy to stack in the car, and the size kept them from getting too heavy.
I would not be able to lift one of those big tubs if it was full of books.
Props to the owner for keeping up the kitchen once you got it clean. Step by step!
Extra points for "crapalanche"!! Again, wonderful narration and insights into the hoarder's mindset.
I don’t know what it was about this particular house, but it reminded me of my grandmother‘s house, even though her house was always extremely neat and organized and clean. Thinking back, I wonder if she had hoarding disorder. She had an unbelievable amount of belongings tucked away in places that her guests couldn’t see. None of us knew how much she had until after she died. She had an entire walk-in closet filled with dance costumes that she had sewn for her three girls through several years of dance recitals. She had so much stuff, they had to rent a moving truck to take things to the Goodwill, and after several trips, they finally gave up and just started throwing things away. I don’t remember how many dumpsters worth of items they threw away, but it made me sad thinking of everything she had accumulated over the years that must’ve meant something to her, that ended up being thrown away. Everything was well cared for, and everything was organized, but the amount of items she was able to store away in that big house, it was mind blowing. Much of it was only valuable to her. Her husband had died of a heart attack when I was a baby, and several years later, she got remarried. She eventually divorced him, and lived many years alone in that big house. It makes me wonder if she felt like her belongings were all she had to connect her to her past. What’s interesting is that my mom went to the other extreme, she doesn’t like to keep anything. She would often throw away or give away things that me, my dad and my brother wanted to keep. She would do it without telling us because she knew we would fight her on it. For many years into my adulthood, I didn’t like to get rid of things, probably because of the way my mom was, but after my grandma died, and I saw how much work it was for my family to go through her belongings, I have tried to let go of that intense connection to inanimate objects. I’ve done quite a lot of decluttering in the past few years, and your channel helps motivate me to do even more. Thank you for that, and thank you for everything that you do for people who are struggling with hoarding disorder.
I'm so excited to see you and Jason back working together to do what you do to make the lives of other people better. Immensely proud of the homeowner for the steps taken to participate in what will improve his home and health (referring to the black mold situation). I always enjoy your "longish" videos and I do hope you'll get to do a follow-up on this home 😊 Wishing the homeowner all the absolute best as he moves forward. It's not easy what he's been through or is currently going through. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Mack. Been waiting to see this all weekend myself. 🙌 ❤
So glad to see you back doing hoarder house for free,with your empathy and deep understanding of this condition. Thank you I have learnt so much about hoarding. ❤
Wow! Great comeback video of a hoarder clean!
I’m wondering how many moose to support so many sets of your wings. You continue to be such an inspiration with your deep compassion and commitment to alleviate suffering. Blessings. 🇬🇧
Thanks Mack for this discussion on hoarding.Wonderful you have the patience to do this.I have cleaned and organized for hoarders also and you're right on point.
Mack & Jason, your compassion and patience is such a wonderful gift. Not many people can spend the amount of time dealing with these situations. Your taking on this project is such a gift to this gentleman.❤
I hope this gentleman does ask you back to help him further when he is ready to take the next steps in confronting his situation.
God Bless
I watch a tv show called the yorkshire auction house, which involves a lot of people getting rid of all sorts of their own, or a deceased loved one's, collections. I thought I'd seen it all until I watched this and saw the quintessential american version of collecting: guns and knives 😅
yup. only in America- the police would have been called for someone having this many weapons in their house in the UK!
Not easy to collect guns in the UK!!
Its a relief watching this after watching a recently posted video by Aurikatarina where she literally threw this elderly ladies stuff away just because the daughter said to! Like all of it! Including, but not limited to, cast iron pans, usable items, and what was probably home videos. 🥴 She was talking about how the lady came back from her friends house, and just spent so much time going through old clothes and couldnt decide on whether or not to throw an old jacket with large holes in it away. I was like... Well Mack could tell you that was her way of breaking down, she's in flight mode turning a blind eye to everything Auri was throwing away that she now had no control over. I literally felt so upset and sad after watching that. Also, Southeast Oklahoma resident here and huge fan of Lawncare Juggernaut. I am a 33 year old cancer patient with 2 overgrown acres and a hoarded 3 bedroom mobile home. Y'all should do a collab and come help me 😂😅
So nice to see Liz ( Beth) helping you. 😅 ❤🇨🇦
If the apocalypse happens; we're all meeting at that guys house!😂😂 I had to laugh about this one.
Though I've really come to understand the hoarding- problem. My late ex-husband was like this. I tried to help but , as you said, he got angry.
Eventually he passed away in the midst of all he had collected and we , my daughters and I, had to enter that house later on in order to find papers for the counceler . Later on we all had to go in therapy; we couldn't get rid of what we saw, smelled and felt...
Now, with the help of your explanation I understand that there was not only something wrong with him, but that he couldn't help himself in any way, though he never accepted any help( ftom neighbors for example).
It's really a disorder and people should get help proffesionally.
Anyway; thank you Mac for making us understand, taking the burden of it( for me and perhaps for many more here) and helping out as you do. You're a good person. Bless you!
Betty
Once again, thank you so much for resetting someone's home after their bout with hoarding!
Now on to doing a full clean-out of my bathroom and closet (that's been on the back burner for a few years now)
Good luck!
I am so thrilled with todays video. I live with a hoarder and have ideas to make our home more livable. Thank you
Thank you, Mack and Jason. You sure picked a tough one to get your groove back with. Beautiful job as always, completed without judgement and with sensitivity to the disorder involved. ❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉
Wow. Amazing. Good to see Jason too😊
I am so glad you and Jason are back cleaning hoarded houses. I love how you explain their stories. I have learned a lot from you and Hoarded Heart. You guys are amazing!!
100% Agree.
One of the things I love about your videos is believing that if the homeowners or their family ever decided to watch, it wouldn't be an upsetting experience. I've seen videos of people holding their noses and shoveling stuff into trash bags. It's nice to see somebody not just respecting the homeowner, but respecting the stuff while organizing. I just want to imagine the comfort and trust that that could bring to somebody.
You explain hoarding so carefully, Mack. I appreciate your videos.
I always enjoy hearing you talk about the psychology of the hoarder’s thinking process and also your thinking process and cleaning. Very interesting.
This is not a particularly easy time for me, and watching your video is helping me to have a peaceful afternoon. Thank you for what you do.
I hope things get better for you!
You are amazing, and so kind. I wish I knew someone like you in real life! I swear, everyone in my area of Tennessee is just cranky and mean all the time. You remind me of my oldest sister who lives in Dallas. She is so intelligent and kind. She’s my favorite person in the world.
Not to sound frivolous: I must have a moose t-shirt. Thank you. Okay, back to watching your heartwarming video❣️
yes love it but prefer dark green background 🙂
love it, but would prefer a dark green background 🙂
I love Jamie Chaotic! It's funny that you see her as your sarcastic aunt since she's younger than us. At 50, I have no plans to give up my jeans & t-shirts!
Had to laugh at the picture of Liz/Beth aka Feral Tradwife at the end and on your shirt.
We need more people like you to keep this movement going. Disorders are taken as lazy, and it's so far from the truth. Go, Mack !!, you're making a difference in this world.
Hello Mac. Thank you for the education. Awareness and compassion are always welcome as far as I'm concerned and I'm always willing to learn .
your channel is always a joy to watch, dont apologize for being silly, that is part of who you are. good job.