Let's Talk About Clutter!

The Potec Rentals' townhouses are two stories high plus full basement. They are large enough for a family of two or three children plus two parents to live comfortably. More than that and it starts to get crowded. The problem with being crowded is that the STUFF also accumulates. That stuff becomes a fire hazard when it is all over the floor causing not only a tripping hazard but, much more seriously, a fire hazard. Read article: https://hoardinghelpcentral.com/2020/08/07/the-danger-of-fire-incidents-in-hoarding-households/

Now imagine all those cloths, and other items, covering the floors, beds, and furniture catching fire.

It would make it much more difficult to get out of the house safely;
it would make it much more difficult to make sure you find everyone including all pets and bring everyone to safety;
it would make it much more difficult for the firefighters to get in and out of your house to rescue everyone;
it would make it much more difficult, if not completely impossible, for the firefighters to follow the walls in the house when it is so full of smoke they can't see in from of their face. Read: https://www.firefightingincanada.com/inside-hoarding-conditions-18346/

To determine if your house is cluttered, and how serious your house might be, in what category would it fall into if the fire department where to come and inspect your house today:

Hoarding Center International OCD Foundation

Clutter Image Rating Scale: Kitchen

Clutter Image Rating: Bedroom

Clutter Image Rating: Living Room

Pictures courtesy of: https://www.hoardingconnectioncc.org/Hoarding_cir.pdf.

Q and A

Q. What kind of problems can clutter cause?

A. Too much clutter, more commonly called hoarding, is cause for eviction. Read articles: https://hoardinghelpcentral.com/

Q. Why would someone get evicted from too much clutter or hoarding?

A. Because

it is a fire hazard, a fire would affect all other tenants in the block.
It is a health hazard, a health risk would affect all other tenants in the block if it is serious enough.
It is much more work for a landlord once the tenants leave, leaving behind all of their clutter. A rental requires tenants to completely remove ALL of their belongings when they move-out. If anything is left behind the landlord has every right to charge the tenants for the removal of any and all items left behind.
The more people living in the house, also called overcrowding, the easier it is for damages to occur.
Too much clutter makes it harder to keep the house in a good state of repairs.

Q. Not sure if you have a problem?

A. Download the quiz: https://www.hoarding.ca/

Q. Does my loved one have hoarding disorder?

A. check out the following post: https://hoarding.iocdf.org/for-families/does-my-loved-one-have-hoarding-disorder-hd/

Q. Is it hoarding disorder, clutter, collecting, or squalor?

A. Read: https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/is-it-hoarding-clutter-collecting-or-squalor/

Overwhelmed with stuff?

A great way to get rid of extras is to have a yearly yard sale. Winter is a good time to prepare for that. I used to do yard sales, but now I prefer to donate my unwanted items. Some people have difficulty parting with stuff, if that's you, ask a friend to sell your items for you or bring them to a consignment store:

Sort out what you want to keep from what you no longer need or want.
Mark the price you want to sell each items for, and put it in a box marked Yard Sale. Seal it and put it aside.
Doing a yard sale with your neighbours or friends or family is much easier and more pleasant than doing so on your own.
Decide on what date you will have your yard sale, prepare your postings and flyers ahead of time, and maybe an advertisement in your local newspaper or social media now days.
Make sure you have something to display your items on ready to take out on the morning of your yard sale.
Be sure to have small change on hand, maybe even bags (you can sell those also).
Post your advertisement a few days ahead of time, no more than three days – people forget.
The day before your yard sale, go put your flyers on neighbourhood poles – use something such as balloons to attract attention to them. Make sure your flyers are big enough, and clear enough, to be read from the road.
Don't bring what didn't sell back into your house, donate to second hand stores. Make room for everything you keep, and keep everything in it's rightful place.

If you need help clearing your space ask a friend or family member to help you. Someone with a truck would be helpful to bring STUFF to donation depots or even to the landfill. There are actually companies who will come and remove your unwanted items but for a price. In the past it cost me $50 to have two appliances remove from a rental, they most likely sold them for an extra profit. Even non-functional appliances can be sold for the metal.

Resources:

https://www.hoardingconnectioncc.org/Hoarding_cir.pdf

https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/home-action-response-team.aspx

https://www.ontario.ca/document/firefighter-guidance-notes/6-44-hoarding-conditions

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01

https://www.hoarding.ca/

https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/11937/conquer-clutter

https://www.amazon.ca/Stuff-Compulsive-Hoarding-Meaning-Things-ebook/dp/B003JAO0QI

https://www.cdnfirefighter.com/hoarding-101-for-firefighters/

https://hoarding.iocdf.org/for-families/

https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/is-it-hoarding-clutter-collecting-or-squalor/

https://hoardinghelpcentral.com/