'Clean House' is like the cheery version of hoarders

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'Clean House' is like the cheery version of hoarders

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Started 2 years ago by lumpster82
Latest reply from suzjazz
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lumpster82
Member

Since Season 1 of Hoarders started I've noticed some startling similarities between the show and 'Clean House.' Of course on CH, they use a spunky host, campy gimmicks, and a cheery soundtrack to make it more of a traditional home improvement show. But the truth is that a lot of folks on CH can't overcome the same obstacles that are face by the subjects of 'Hoarders:" They are crippled by fear of letting their clutter go.

I don't want to diminish the psychological causes of hoarding disorder, but I think that many of the folks I've seen on CH are more than messy, they have a problem.

Posted 2 years ago #
EraserGirl
Member

the BBC show How Clean Is Your House, doesn't seem to run into the folks who can't part with their clutter. the contestants seem happy as all get out to have their houses emptied. i wonder what vetting they have to do, to get past the people with hoarding disorder.

Posted 2 years ago #
lumpster82
Member

That's true Eraser, the BBC show isn't really about clutter. But just like on Hoarders, the subjects of HCiYH don't know how to change, and have learned to live with the dirtiness. Basically I think all of these things, hoarding, hanging onto clutter, living in a dirty home, show how remarkable adaptable we all are, even though we're adapting to unhealthy behaviors.

Anybody else out there find themselves adapting to personal behaviors they know are not good?

Posted 2 years ago #
MellieTX
Member

I watch shows like those mentioned above exactly for the purpose of reminding myself not to adapt to clutter and dirtiness! Amazing how after watching a few minutes I'm up and cleaning or organizing something.

Posted 2 years ago #
bethanyboo
Member

I disagree with that. Clean House doesn't really have hoarders on the show. There's a huge difference between hoarding and your run-of-the-mill cluttered person.

The people on Hoarders have serious problems, and the hoarding is so bad that it really disrupts their lives (children at risk of being taken away, health risks, etc.)

On Clean House, the people are much like anyone else I know who's afraid to throw anything away. It's not disrupting their lives by much but it does make their house very unwelcoming!

Posted 2 years ago #
suzjazz
Member

On CH, the people can eventually (if not right away) be persuaded to part with most of their stuff.

In a way, it's even more scary than Hoarders because it's more common--ordinary non-mental people who can't cope with their accumulated possessions. To be on the show, they have to accept an intervention and are motivated by the reward of new furniture, decorating, etc. from the proceeds of their yard sale. On Hoarders, even with the help of a psychologist who specializes in hoarding disorder, people are so agitated that they have meltdowns and panic attacks at the prospect of losing their rotting food, dog hair, empty containers, etc. But even these people are deeply ashamed of their compulsions and most of them seem to want to change. I believe that it's not that difficult to go over the edge from ordinary clutter into becoming a hoarder. The CH people get to people before that happens.

Posted 1 year ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

I constantly wonder what pushes people over the edge from being messy shopaholics or junk collectors into a horder. A lot of the people on Clean House and on the hording shows got to the point they did following a traumatic event in their lives. One similarity that sort of rattles me is that everyone finds some sort of comfort from massing their clutter.

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahJ
Member

Clean House "I don't want to part with that hideous old rocking chair! I nursed my babies in it!"
Hoarders "I can't get rid of that hideous old rocking chair! I nursed my babies in it, and if I get rid of it, something bad will happen to my children!"

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahJ
Member

(Plus, they make it look pretty afterward on Clean House. At the end of Hoarders, the house pretty much still looks awful.)

Posted 1 year ago #
Sky
Member

Are we being pushed too hard about recycling? It seems to me that every person on the Hoarders show has a problem with the trash and what to do with every scrap of paper, etc. They all seem like sensitive people that want to do the right thing.
I'm all for recycling but it can be ridiculous sometimes.

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

I know what you mean, Sky. I recycle, but it has become a habit that I keep up with pretty well. When the containers are full, they go to the recycling center. I always feel good when I take them, because I feel like I'm helping a little.

However, if someone is having trouble making those choices, they probably need to choose the trash can. So, I think you are right.

Posted 1 year ago #
bandicoot
Member

sky, i dunno.
i think people can also use "recycling" as an excuse to wallow, kwim?
i know that may sound a bit harsh.

Posted 1 year ago #
badkitti
Member

I'm quite pasionate about recycling, and a lucky that the local council collects paper, card glass, tin, garden waste and some plastics and each household has a leaflet saying what to put out on each day. I love not toting the glass to the local glass bank as I never did it regularly. Next weekend 'm geting a compost bin to take the garden leavings, food waste and scrap paper. All I need is a neighbour with old rabbit bedding and poo!

Maybe hoarders are using recycling as another reason not to do anything 9aren't we all experts on those reasons one way or another!) or just don't have a convienient local scheme. I just wish my local place ook more plastics or there were places to fill up using old containers.

Posted 1 year ago #
chacha1
Member

Our prosperous area was so noncompliant about recycling that the city gave up on segregated bins. Now they hire a crew to sort at the sanitation collection facility instead. Stupid, eh? But at least some people are getting jobs out of it.

I would hazard a guess that for hoarders, "I'm saving it to recycle" is just one of the many rationalizations they use to dodge the fact of their fear. SarahJ's distinction is right on target - hoarders save not because of sentimental associations, but because of a fear trigger associated with the sentiment.

Posted 1 year ago #
lumpster82
Member

In my house we have a problem with a different kind of recycling item. Our old, broken, de-humidifyer contains CFC's, so we cannot throw it out on the bulk trash collection day. But we can't find a hazmat recycling center that will take it.

We're trying, but nevertheless it's taking up space in the basement while we say "we're going to recycle it!"

Posted 1 year ago #
chacha1
Member

lumpster82, check with your local college or university. many of them collect electronics and home hazardous waste.

Posted 1 year ago #
suzjazz
Member

The U.S. lags way behind Europe in providing convenient recycling. Some communities
(like mine) have provided people with a blue trash bin and a green recycling bin, and we're allowed to combine paper, cardboard, plastic and glass in the green bin. There are many other things like used propane tanks, broken air conditioners, fluorescent tubes, etc. which can't be recycled at curbside. They have to be taken to a recycling facility. I suspect that most communities in this country do not provide any easy means to recycle stuff. It's no wonder that many well-intentioned hoarders are frustrated. I sympathize with their desire to recycle, which is actually healthy. We all have to demand better recycling programs.

Posted 1 year ago #
chacha1
Member

Unfortunately, recycling programs are expensive to operate. I think what it would take to achieve nationwide compliance would be a federal tax on *new* glass, plastic, and metal packaging - to get the prices over those of recycled products. Then all the new-packaging manufacturers would be falling all over themselves to get the used material back.

We also need an end-use tax on appliances etc with toxic components. But new taxes are really unpopular, even if they end up creating an economy that's more efficient and an environment that's cleaner. We can't even get a federal gasoline tax that's more than a token amount.

Boy, we kind of went off topic here, didn't we? And by "we" I mean "I." :-)

Posted 1 year ago #
suzjazz
Member

Great ideas chacha, I totally agree.

Posted 1 year ago #

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