Hoarding Behaviours

Hoarding behaviours may look like difficulty letting go of items, collecting “just in case” things, or
allowing clutter to build up until it feels overwhelming. These behaviours are not unusual—many
people hang onto belongings for emotional reasons, fear of waste, or because decision-making
feels exhausting.
The ICD emphasizes that hoarding behaviours on their own are not the same as a mental
health disorder. For some, the challenge comes from life transitions, stress, or patterns of
disorganization that have built up over time. With guidance, support, and new systems, these
behaviours can often be managed.

Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding Disorder, on the other hand, is a recognized mental health condition listed in both
the DSM-5 and the ICD-11. It involves:
● Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value.
● Living spaces that become unusable due to clutter.
● Significant distress or impairment in daily life.

Hoarding Disorder is not simply about being messy or disorganized—it is a complex condition
that often requires therapeutic support, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), in addition
to hands-on organizing help.

Why the Difference Matters

Recognizing whether someone is dealing with behaviours or a disorder is important because it
guides the type of support that will be most effective. While hoarding behaviours may respond
well to coaching and organizing strategies, Hoarding Disorder often requires a combination of
mental health treatment and organizing assistance.
The ICD has created practical tools like the Clutter–Hoarding Scale, which helps professionals
gauge the severity of clutter in a home. This scale is not a diagnostic tool but can provide a
clearer picture of when additional help may be needed.

Moving Forward with Compassion

If you or someone you love is struggling, remember that shame is not the answer. Hoarding
behaviours and Hoarding Disorder both benefit from compassionate support and practical
strategies. At Just In Time Solutions, we draw on ICD training and resources to help people
move forward—one step at a time.
You are not alone, and help is available.

Why does Just In Time Solutions subscribe to the Institute for Challenging
Disorganization (ICD)? Many people are surprised to learn that professional
organizing has a strong educational foundation. While the organizing
industry itself is unregulated—meaning anyone can call themselves a
professional organizer—there are organizations that establish education
standards and offer certification. One of the most respected is the Institute for
Challenging Disorganization (ICD).
The ICD’s mission is to provide education, research, and strategies to benefit
people affected by chronic disorganization, with a vision of being the premier
resource in this field. For professional organizers, like ourselves, who work
with clients whose struggles go beyond “too much stuff,” ICD resources offer
critical insight. Training in this area goes far deeper than bins and labels—it
prepares organizers to approach clients with empathy, to recognize (*but not
diagnose) when mental health or cognitive challenges are influencing clutter,
and to offer tailored strategies that support long-term success.
The link between clutter and mental health is well established. For some
individuals, disorganization stems directly from a diagnosed mental illness,
brain injury, or aging. For others, it may appear to be “just” a lack of time,
space, or support. Often, the two are interconnected. Regardless of the cause,
clutter can become overwhelming and affect daily functioning, self-esteem,
and overall well-being. Research consistently shows that cluttered
environments can heighten stress, increase anxiety, and even exacerbate
existing health conditions.
The process of organizing is not about achieving perfection; it’s about
creating a supportive environment where people can thrive. For example, one
client with a basement full of inherited belongings didn’t realize how heavy
the emotional burden was until the space was cleared. Only then did they feel
the release of stress that clutter had imposed.
Organizing also requires a realistic, step-by-step approach. Just as no one
runs a marathon on their first day of training, no one transforms a cluttered
home overnight. Progress is built through small, sustainable changes: letting
go of items that no longer serve a purpose, creating simple systems that
reflect a person’s natural thinking style, and building new habits over time.
Importantly, letting go is often the hardest part, as it may stir up feelings of
guilt, grief, or shame. Our training through ICD allows us to understand these
emotional layers and become skilled at guiding our clients through them
with compassion.

Ultimately, clearing physical clutter often leads to clearing mental clutter. A
more organized home can reduce stress, restore a sense of control, and
provide renewed energy for life. By drawing on the research and training
provided by the ICD, we are better equipped to support not only our clients’
spaces, but also their overall mental health.

Resources:
https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/
https://form.jotform.com/50614991787165

Over the years at Get R Gone, my team and I have encountered just about every type of cleanout imaginable. Whether it’s downsizing seniors who’ve lived in their family home for decades or clearing out spaces affected by hoarding behaviors, we’ve learned that sometimes efficiency alone isn’t enough. Some situations require something special—expertise, empathy, and patience—qualities that professional organizers like Just-In-Time Solutions bring to the table.

That’s why I’m excited to share this post with you, highlighting how combining our strengths makes complex cleanouts smoother, safer, and less overwhelming for everyone involved.

The Limits of Junk Removal Alone

At Get R Gone, we take pride in approaching every job with compassion and efficiency. We’re experts in quick sorting, identifying what can be donated or recycled, and responsibly disposing of the rest. But even with our careful approach, sometimes the job requires more than sorting, lifting and hauling.

Junk removal is fundamentally an efficiency-driven service. We’re there to handle the heavy lifting, clear cluttered spaces swiftly, and manage the logistics of recycling, disposal and donation. Yet, when deep emotional connections or complicated decisions about belongings come into play, efficiency alone can’t always solve the deeper issues involved.

That’s exactly why teaming up with professional organizers can make all the difference.

Why Professional Organizers are Essential

Professional organizers, like Pauline Hoffman and her skilled team at Just-In-Time Solutions, specialize in helping people deal not just with their belongings, but with the emotions behind them. They’re coaches, counselors, and practical problem-solvers who understand how deeply connected people can be to their possessions.

Organizers offer emotional support to clients, guiding them through decisions that may feel overwhelming or impossible. They create customized strategies, whether it’s navigating through sentimental keepsakes, sorting important documents, or managing the complex feelings associated with major life transitions. Professional organizers are trained in recognizing and addressing different types of attachments people have to belongings—emotional, financial, or practical.

Their specialized expertise is particularly invaluable in situations like hoarding cleanouts or senior downsizing, where compassion and patience go a long way.

A Special Collaboration in Old North

One of our most memorable and very first collaborations with Just-In-Time Solutions happened at an estate in London’s Old North. The homeowner was something of a renaissance man, known for repairing organs and collecting unique and valuable items, including high-end stereo equipment. There was even a significant piece that I believe ended up in a museum. 

Pauline’s team at Just-In-Time Solutions recognized the hidden value within the home’s collection, researching and contacting outside experts. They arranged an estate auction, recovering considerable costs for the homeowner, but also ensuring that these unique, cherished items found new homes with collectors and enthusiasts who truly appreciated them. Without the help of Just In Time Solutions, this task would have likely been too overwhelming and emotional for the client, amongst all the other steps in dealing with an estate. 

Once Just-In-Time had finished their careful work, our team at Get R Gone stepped in, quickly and efficiently removing the remaining items, ensuring the home was completely cleared. It was a seamless collaboration, allowing the homeowner to experience not just a practical solution, but a deeply compassionate one that was tailored to their individual needs.

Hoarding Cleanouts: Why Professional Support Matters

Hoarding situations can be challenging and highly emotional, not just for the individuals involved but also for friends and family members who genuinely want to help. It’s important to understand that hoarding is not simply about clutter—it’s a mental health condition called Hoarding Disorder that requires compassionate, specialized support.

Professional organizers are trained to handle these sensitive situations gently, using techniques like motivational interviewing to help clients slowly process their belongings. While our team at Get R Gone provides logistical and physical assistance, professional organizers provide the emotional support that helps individuals work through their attachment and anxiety about letting things go.

Having a professional organizer present in these cleanouts isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for creating long-lasting, positive changes.

Senior Downsizing: Navigating a Lifetime of Belongings

Similarly, transitioning seniors into smaller living spaces—such as assisted living or retirement homes—is another area where professional organizers shine. I’ve personally seen how challenging these moments can be. Often, seniors must downsize from large family homes into significantly smaller apartments, needing to part with decades of accumulated belongings.

Just-In-Time Solutions expertly helps seniors categorize items according to practical need, sentimental value, or financial worth. They patiently walk clients through tough decisions, identifying items to keep, donate, sell, or discard. Meanwhile, our team at Get R Gone ensures items intended for donation or recycling find their right homes, easing the burden on families and seniors alike.

This combined approach significantly reduces stress, ensuring seniors feel respected and supported throughout the entire transition process.

Why the Collaborative Model Works

The truth is, the strengths of professional organizers perfectly complement what we do at Get R Gone. Organizers bring emotional clarity and decision-making skills, while we provide the logistics, muscle, and practical handling. As Pauline Hoffman said in an article she recently wrote for us, “You’ve done the deciding, the sorting, the organizing. Now what? That’s where our partner Get R Gone comes in. Mike and his crew help us weekly by transporting large items for donation and responsibly sorting recycling and garbage — minimizing what ends up in the landfill.”

Did You Know?

Did you know nearly 6% of people in North America meet clinical criteria for Hoarding Disorder? Understanding that hoarding isn’t merely about clutter but a real and treatable condition can help family and friends approach these situations with compassion, patience, and informed support. (Source: Wikipedia)

Practical Tips for Families Facing Difficult Cleanouts

From my experience working side-by-side with professional organizers like Just-In-Time Solutions, here are a few practical tips to make sensitive cleanouts smoother:

• Consult with a professional organizer first: Assess emotional readiness and plan a compassionate strategy.
  
• Schedule manageable sessions: Avoid overwhelming the individual; take it step-by-step.
  
• Sort strategically: Use clear categories (Keep, Donate, Sell, Discard) to make decisions easier.
  
• Protect important documents: Keep vital documents separate and secure.
  
• Choose compassionate professionals: Work with experts that prioritizes responsible disposal and donation.
  

Working with companies like Just-In-Time Solutions and Get R Gone means clients receive not only logistical support but emotional guidance and reassurance throughout the entire process.

Wrapping Up: Compassion, Respect, & Results

After years in junk removal, I’ve learned there’s more to cleanouts than simply hauling junk away. It’s about compassion, respect, and understanding. Collaborating with professional organizers like Just-In-Time Solutions has deepened my appreciation for the emotional side of our work.

Together, we’re helping people transition smoothly, safely, and respectfully into new phases of their lives. If you or someone you care about is facing a difficult cleanout, I encourage you to contact Just-In-Time Solutions and our team at Get R Gone Junk Removal. Together, we’ll ensure your experience is compassionate, efficient, and supportive—every step of the way.

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• Meta Title: Compassion Meets Efficiency: Organizers & Junk Removal Teamwork
  
• Meta Description: Mike Metcalfe from Get R Gone explains why teaming up with professional organizers like Just-In-Time Solutions transforms sensitive cleanouts into compassionate, manageable experiences.
  

After you are done checking out the beauty and skin care products, take a look in the medicine cabinet. Do you have bottles in there that could be considered collectible? How long have you had that Tylenol? Does it matter? The answer is yes…and no. Yes, medications do have expiry dates. Those dates represent “the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication”.  Like food, there are different factors to be considered (other than the expiry date) to consider when determining whether you should keep or toss. Most over the counter medications have been proven to keep their effectiveness long past the ‘expiry date’ if they have been stored properly.  Proper storage may surprise you a bit. According to several resources, including the National Library of Medicine  you should store your medicines in a cool, dry place. For example, store it in your dresser drawer or a kitchen cabinet away from the stove, sink, and any hot appliances. You can also store medicine in a storage box, on a shelf, in a closet. You should not store it in the bathroom, as the heat and moisture from your shower, bath, and sink may damage your medicine. Your medicines can become less potent, or they may go bad before the expiration date. Also, always make sure the bottles are closed properly. It is important to note that some medications MUST be discarded once they reach their expiry date.  Medications such as liquid antibiotics, eye drops (last 4 weeks from opening), nitro-glycerine, insulin, Epipens, birth control and tetracycline.  Unused prescription meds should also be discarded. Remember, don’t just toss expired medications or vitamins into the garbage. Return them to a pharmacy or household hazardous waste depot. When it comes to any of the 3 topics discussed (food, cosmetics or medications) always remember “If in doubt, throw it out!” 

Another area of the home that often gets cluttered with items we don’t use or discard “expired” items from is the bathroom. Whether it is a collection of soaps and lotions you received as gifts or your favourite beauty product, we often forget these items have limited use times before they can become harmful.  Like food, how do we know when to discard these items? What happens if we use them past these dates?  With any skin care products, whether for hair, face or body, we have to remember that using older products can be dangerous. They can cause skin and eye irritations, rashes, or infections. All bath and beauty products are made with the actual opening date of the product unknown, so oftentimes the life expectancy of the product only starts when the item is opened. How do you remember when you opened it? One way is to get a small label or piece of masking tape and write the month and year on it and stick it to the container. You could also make a special list on your phone or a list in a drawer in the bathroom. Be honest with yourself. Oftentimes you know if you have had a product sitting around for a long time.  You also know if you have those “gifts” that you will never use. If any items are unopened, again, consider donating to the food bank, shelters or offering on FaceBook groups. If they are opened, it is safest to throw them out. While you are in the bathroom, don’t forget to check the make up brushes and sponge applicators and give them a good wash (should be washed every 2 weeks) or consider replacing them. Click this link How long do my beauty products last for out cheat sheet on how long make up and other body products last once opened.  

A good place to start when organizing your kitchen is with the edible items.  Easy enough…right? Well, not always.  Yes, getting rid of that box of crackers that has been open since last Christmas or the box of cereal with nothing but dust left might be a no brainer, but what about those items that have never been opened or you only need 1 tbs of? Sure, you can check expiry dates or best before dates…BUT what do they really mean? Do you have to throw them out? First, what is the difference between a “ Best Before Date” and an “Expiry Date”? The Canadian Institute of Food Safety says a Best Before Date is defined as a date that; “states when the durable life period of the food ends”. Durable life is “the anticipated amount of time that an unopened food product, when stored under appropriate conditions, will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value, or any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer” A best before date is also not applicable once the package has been opened. Best before dates do not guarantee that a food product is safe to eat. So, what is an Expiry Date? First, an expiry date is required on any foods that have a specific nutritional composition that could falter after the determined expiration date. Examples of such foods are formulated liquid diets, foods sold by pharmacists, meal replacements, nutritional supplements and infant formula.  The Canadian Food Inspection agency advises that if food has passed its expiration date it should be discarded. 

Whether we are physically helping you with your kitchen organization or you are taking on the challenge yourself, the best before dates and the expiry dates are always a good place to start. However, don’t forget to ask yourself “is anybody really going to eat this?” If the dates are still good, consider donating it to the food banks or offering it on FaceBook groups that have people in need or cook. 

See below for our “cheat sheet” on how long spices are good for and what to look for freshness

Topic One: Food – Best Before vs Expiry Dates…What’s the difference?

A good place to start when organizing your kitchen is with the edible items.  Easy enough…right? Well, not always.  Yes, getting rid of that box of crackers that has been open since last Christmas or the box of cereal with nothing but dust left might be a no brainer, but what about those items that have never been opened or you only need 1 tbs of? Sure, you can check expiry dates or best before dates…BUT what do they really mean? Do you have to throw them out? First, what is the difference between a “ Best Before Date” and an “Expiry Date”? The Canadian Institute of Food Safety says a Best Before Date is defined as a date that; “states when the durable life period of the food ends”. Durable life is “the anticipated amount of time that an unopened food product, when stored under appropriate conditions, will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value, or any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer” A best before date is also not applicable once the package has been opened. Best before dates do not guarantee that a food product is safe to eat. So, what is an Expiry Date? First, an expiry date is required on any foods that have a specific nutritional composition that could falter after the determined expiration date. Examples of such foods are formulated liquid diets, foods sold by pharmacists, meal replacements, nutritional supplements and infant formula.  The Canadian Food Inspection agency advises that if food has passed its expiration date it should be discarded. 

Whether we are physically helping you with your kitchen organization or you are taking on the challenge yourself, the best before dates and the expiry dates are always a good place to start. However, don’t forget to ask yourself “is anybody really going to eat this?” If the dates are still good, consider donating it to the food banks or offering it on FaceBook groups that have people in need or cook. 

See below for our “cheat sheet” on how long spices are good for and what to look for freshness;

Spices Freshness Guideline 

Ground Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, tumeric): 2 – 3 yrs Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley): 1 – 3 yrs 

Seasoning Blends: 1 – 2 yrs 

Whole Spices (cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks): 4 yrs Seeds: 4 yrs (except for poppy seeds and sesame seeds 2 yrs)  Extracts 4 yrs (except vanilla, which will last forever) 

If unsure of age, look at colour and smell. Pale in colour or poor aroma  likely means old and should discard.

Surprisingly, most people will automatically assume they do not have enough space in their home and not even consider it isn’t the square footage of the home, its actually the possessions in the home or even the organization (or lack of) that is the real issue.  If you have been considering a renovation to your home because you “need more space” consider hiring a Professional Organizer (PO) before you start knocking down or adding walls! Why? It’s really a win win situation. First, the PO will help you sort through your items and determine if there is anything you just don’t need or want anymore. No sense packing up and storing items to go into your new space if you don’t really want them. Second, the PO can discuss your renovation plans and help you determine some key items to consider including in your renovation to maximize efficiency and organization. After decluttering and determining solutions to the deficiencies in the current space, you may realize, it wasn’t really a lack of space, it was just a space lacking proper organization and too much unneeded stuff.  What you spend for the PO’s time and expertise could actually save you thousands of dollars in an unnecessary renovation.  Or, after working with the PO, you still feel the renovation is needed, then you are left with only the items you want, fresh ideas for making your new space organized and useable and ready for the renovations to begin. Win, win!