When a home has filled up over many years, picking up the phone to ask for help can be the hardest part. It is easy to put it off for months, worried about what someone will think when the door opens.
If that sounds familiar, this post explains how hoarder cleaning works with Ellia, what a visit looks like, and why we always go at your pace.
Why it can be so hard to ask for help
Possessions build up for all sorts of reasons. A busy few years, a change in health, a bereavement, or simply finding it hard to let things go. Before long a spare room is full, then the hallway, and the whole job feels too big to start.
Some people have already tried to get help and been turned away. We are often asked to help in homes where possessions have built up over many years, sometimes after other cleaners have said no. We know how disheartening that is, and we don't want anyone to feel that way again.
Asking for help is not a sign that you have failed. It is a practical step, the same as asking someone to help move a wardrobe or sort out the garden.
One helper, working at your pace
Every Ellia client has one regular helper who gets to know their home. For hoarder cleaning this matters a great deal. You won't have a crew of strangers turning up with a skip and a checklist. You will have one calm, kind person who comes back each time and understands what you are trying to do.
Your helper works alongside you and follows your lead. Nothing is thrown away without your say so. If you want to keep something, it stays. If you need a break, you take one. Some days a lot gets done. Other days it is one shelf and a cup of tea, and that is fine too.
There is no judgement. Our helpers are there to make your home feel like yours again, not to tell you how to live. You can read more about this on our hoarder cleaning page.
One room at a time
Trying to tackle a whole house at once is overwhelming for anyone. We usually start by agreeing on one area together. Often that is the kitchen, the bathroom or a clear path through the hallway, because those make the biggest difference to everyday life.
A typical visit might look something like this:
Agreeing what you would like to focus on today
Sorting things into keep, donate, recycle and rubbish, with you making the decisions
Bagging up and moving items so surfaces and floors can be reached
Cleaning the space that has been cleared
Talking about what to look at next time
Once one room is clear, it shows what is possible, and the next room often feels easier to face. Over time the visits become a routine, and your helper can keep on top of the cleaning so things stay manageable.
If your home is more cluttered than hoarded, and you mainly want help sorting a spare room or a loft, our decluttering service may suit you better. The approach is the same: steady, practical and led by you.
What it costs and how visits work
Every Ellia service is £25 an hour, and each visit lasts at least two hours. Some people like one longer visit a week. Others prefer two shorter visits so it doesn't feel like too much in one go. We will talk it through with you and agree what suits.
Once the clearing is done, many people like to keep their helper on for regular cleaning. If you would like to work out how many hours you would need for that, our cleaning time calculator gives a quick estimate.
We help households in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Tewkesbury, Berkeley and Dursley, Thornbury, Cirencester and the GL7 villages, Malmesbury, and Swindon with Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton, Cricklade, Wroughton and Highworth.
It is worth saying clearly that our helpers do not provide personal care or medical support. What we offer is practical help around the home, from someone you can get to know and trust.
Questions people ask
Will you make me throw things away?
No. You decide what stays and what goes. Your helper can offer suggestions if you would like them, but the decisions are always yours.
Can you help if another cleaner has turned the job down?
Yes. We are often asked to help in exactly those homes. Get in touch and tell us a little about the situation. There is no pressure and no judgement.
Can I arrange this for a family member?
Yes, you are welcome to make the first call for them. It works best when the person who lives there feels involved from the start, so it helps to talk it over with them first.
If your home has got on top of you, we would be glad to help, gently and in your own time. Call us on 01452 447 109 or get a free quote and tell us a little about your home.
