How to Tell if You’re a Hoarder

At Spartan Junk Removal, we’ve committed our lives to helping people get rid of their junk. What an interesting problem to have, no? While there are surely people in the world who can’t imagine the idea of having so many things that you literally have problems getting rid of all of them, it’s a legitimate problem for many people in the world, and we love seeing the smiles on clients’ faces when we help them to finally declutter.

In our many years of serving Maryland clients, we’ve noticed that there are generally two kinds of people — legitimate hoarders, and people that are just disorganized.

Hoarding has become a well-known condition to the American people, with TV shows and media showing the homes of people who have this disorder (which is, indeed, medically classified as a real disorder on par with other conditions such as OCD). A lot of people wonder if they have a hoarding problem when they start to accumulate junk.

Fortunately, in most cases, hoarding isn’t the main problem — it’s just being disorganized, lazy, or lacking the time to properly dispose of your stuff. This is a problem that can easily be amended by calling local junk removal services, while hoarding is a problem that often sticks with people for life. Want to know the signs of a true hoarder? Keep an eye out for the following things that distinguish hoarders from the average population:

An Inability to Part With Things That Have No Value

This is the first thing that people think of when they think of hoarders, and for good reason — this trait is at the foundation of a hoarder’s nature.

We’ve heard a lot of people refer to themselves as “hoarders” because they have a hard time getting rid of old possessions,or perhaps they have a tendency to collect more than they should. In reality, hoarders have problems getting rid of almost anything, including items that have zero value, such as garbage.

It’s hard for anybody to get rid of certain possessions. But until you start saving all your trash, leaving food in your fridge while it goes bad, and keeping every piece of scrap and junk in your vicinity, you probably aren’t a hoarder — you might just be human.

Your Collection Renders Your Home Unusable

Most typical Americans have a whole lot of junk (trust us, we know). But for the average person, that junk finds a space somewhere in the home where it shares company with a bunch of other junk, isolated in its own space away from living areas. Sure, a lot of people have a storage closet or a garage that looks like a wreck, but that doesn’t mean you’re a hoarder — it means that you’ve just accumulated a bunch of junk and you’re putting it in the most logical place where it could go.

Hoarding disorder is usually characterized by a living space that is so messy it defies comprehension. Rooms are no longer usable, furniture is no longer functional, and activities are no longer practical due to the pervasive presence of junk, anywhere and everywhere.

Is your junk collection starting to legitimately hinder your life? If it’s reaching a scale where it’s becoming a problem unto itself, you might be a hoarder. But if it’s just a bunch of junk that has accumulated because you haven’t found the time or energy to take care of it, you might just need to dial your local junk removal service and call it a day.

Your Junk Poses Health Risks

One of the most unpleasant things about true hoarding disorders is how unsanitary an area can get. Remember, hoarding often involves an inability to get rid of trash and bad food. Additionally, it can fill up your living spaces and render important areas of your house unusable, such as the kitchen. If there is so much junk piling up that you can’t even be bothered to remove it to do the dishes, you can bet that things are going to get nasty pretty quick.

Tragically, many hoarders live in homes that are plagued with all manner of unsanitary conditions. Not only does their disorder cause these problems in the first place, even a well-intentioned hoarder can end up becoming psychologically disheartened by the state of their home. Just think — how much less motivated would you be to clean up if you knew it wasn’t even going to make a dent in the overall mess? It’s a vicious cycle, and a lot of hoarders get stuck in a vicious downward spiral.

Spartan Junk Removal Junk Removal Baltimore

Junk Removal Services Can Help

While sometimes our services are nothing more than a pleasant convenience, junk removal services can, in fact, be life-changing, and we take our job seriously. We love seeing the smiles on people’s faces as their living space is completely transformed when they finally get rid of their junk and clutter.

Do you have the problems that are listed above in your life? Do you know somebody else who does? One of the best possible things you can do is call a junk removal service. If you’re in or around the Maryland area, Spartan Junk Removal would be happy to serve you. We have locations in Laurel and Towson, and we serve all the surrounding regions. Whether you’re a hoarder or someone who’s just overly disorganized, our services can help. Contact us today!

The Hidden Dangers of DIY Junk Removal (And How to Avoid Them)

By Christopher Weir | November 13, 2024
Read More

Declutter Like a Pro: 7 Junk Removal Secrets That Will Save You Time and Money

By Christopher Weir | November 11, 2024
Read More

10 Things You Didn’t Know Junk Removal Companies Could Do for You

By Christopher Weir | November 8, 2024
Read More

Get Spooky & Winter-Ready: DIY Halloween Ideas & Winter Home Prep Checklist

By Amanda Paternoster | October 2, 2024
Read More

Declutter Your Home and Spark Joy This Autumn with Marie Kondo

By Amanda Paternoster | September 11, 2024
Read More

Back to School Decluttering: Tips for Your Home and Finances

By Amanda Paternoster | August 14, 2024
Read More

Embracing Eco-Friendly Junk Removal

By Amanda Paternoster | July 31, 2024
Read More

Stay Safe This Summer with Leonidas’ Tire Pressure Tips!

By Amanda Paternoster | July 17, 2024
Read More

Top Tips for Hiring a Professional Organizer

By Christopher Weir | July 4, 2024
Read More

Leonidas’ Wildest Junk Removal Adventure Yet!

By Amanda Paternoster | July 3, 2024
Read More

Spartan’s Guide to Junk Removal Silver Spring Maryland Services

By Christopher Weir | July 1, 2024
Read More

Roaring into Autumn: Leonidas’ Tips for a Balanced and Decluttered Season

By Christopher Weir | September 13, 2023
Read More

The Dos and Don’ts of Preparing for Your Junk Removal Appointment

By FBM | August 30, 2023
Read More

The Lion’s Roar: The Mysterious Case of the Globe-Trotting Reporter

By Christopher Weir | August 2, 2023
Read More

Say Goodbye to Clutter: How a Junk Removal Company Can Help

By Christopher Weir | July 24, 2023
Read More

The Lion’s Roar: How Orange Peels Can Revive a Forest

By Christopher Weir | July 19, 2023
Read More

The Benefits of Professional Junk Removal Services

By Christopher Weir | July 10, 2023
Read More

Spring Cleaning Made Simple with Expert Junk Removal

By Christopher Weir | July 3, 2023
Read More

How a Professional Junk Removal Service Enhances Home Staging for Sale

By Christopher Weir | June 30, 2023
Read More

The Lion’s Roar: How Your Junk Can Power a City

By Christopher Weir | June 29, 2023
Read More