Hi all, my mum is a very bad hoarder, to the point her house is dangerous. The rooms are so full of stuff (old clothes, furniture, boxes, magazines, ornaments etc) that none of the rooms are functional. The kitchen is full out out of date food, the carpets are threadbare, mouldy food gets left out for days, the house smells, it's in a state of disrepair. My poor FIL has tried to decorate but gets it in the ear if he throws anything out, so gives up.
The walls are half stripped and have been like that for years as she can't decide what wallpaper to buy. The cooker needs condemning but she won't buy a new one as "there's no point, as she is going to get an extension and new kitchen so a new one is a waste now"...
I once spent days off work helping her declutter the dining room, we went through everything, took to charity and sold on ebay with mum fully involved, and cleared it so you could sit and eat at the table. Months later, it was back to un-enterable.
I've stopped going round as I can't deal with it.
It's not like she doesn't know its an issue, have had many talks about it, she had cancer a few years back and even said she wanted to focus on the house to help get her through, but it never happened. Whenever I bring it up now she bats it off "yes, yes, I know I know."
The problem is, I'm now pregnant with my first. DH and I have agreed we wouldn't want our child there as its not safe nor clean. This saddens me as I'd like to think my parents can have their grandchild round. They can come to ours, no problem, but still.
Has anyone got any advice? Anyone had a successful declutter? Anyone know if psychological help can help and where to get it if she's willing?
Help ðŸ˜