Root cause of hoarding revealed by professional de-clutterer

A professional cleaner has revealed how to overcome the guilt of leaving things you no longer want.

Julia Williamson specializes in helping people declutter their spaces while also giving them a better understanding of why they tend to hold on to things they don’t need.

She has now shared how to remove all the feelings of obligation that come with keeping things in order to finally clear out your space.

Julia told Insider that “guilt” is the root of item hoarding and describes the surefire way to tidy up your space.

Gift galore… to some degree: how to throw away those presents you’ve been holding on to for years

The professional cleaner began by explaining that when you receive a gift from a loved one, you feel a sense of obligation to keep it forever.

You feel this way because you convince yourself that it is “rude” to donate or throw away these things.

However, Julia suggested that you remind yourself that you’ve probably given gifts to many people throughout your life and you don’t expect them to keep these gifts forever.

She added that often givers don’t even remember what gifts they gave you.

Julia notes that while you should be grateful that your loved ones took the time and effort to gift you something, don’t assume they want you to hold onto it until the end of time.

Regret the smashing purchase? Give it back and DON’T worry too much about your bad decision

Julia even revealed how to return those expensive items you’ve been holding onto just because you spent an eye-popping amount on them (stock image)

Julia even revealed how to return those expensive items you’ve been holding onto just because you spent an eye-popping amount on them.

If you’ve finally convinced yourself to give up your wallet to buy a pair of expensive shoes, only to find that they’re extremely uncomfortable, you’ll most likely send them back to the store.

However, Julia revealed that people often cling to the shoes because they spent so much money on them and don’t want to admit your “bad decision.”

She suggested that those struggling with this give themselves a break.

“There’s hardly anyone alive who hasn’t regretted a purchase,” she explained.

Julia notes that the best course of action is to take off the boots and move on.

Don’t hold on to the guilt! You have to let go of things that don’t make you happy, even if they belong to a loved one who has passed away

The professional cleaner revealed that many of her clients are “suddenly responsible for finding homes for family heirlooms” after the death of a loved one (stock image)

The professional cleaner revealed that many of her clients are “suddenly responsible for finding homes for family heirlooms” after the death of a loved one.

From photo albums to clothes, Julia explained that this experience could be an “emotional minefield.”

And it makes perfect sense why someone would want to keep something from someone they love who passed away.

Giving away or throwing away things that were important to you as a child can seem disrespectful.

But Julia explained that you shouldn’t save the “past for posterity.”

She advised her clients to think about whether they really want to keep these items or if they just feel obligated to.

Julia also said it might be worth thinking about whether or not future generations would want these heirlooms.

In general, the professional cleaner said that “guilt” can lead you to fill your basement with someone else’s stuff.

And the longer you hold on to it, the harder it will be to get rid of it.

She added, “If you feel bad looking at that object, get rid of it.” Life is too short. You deserve to be surrounded by things that make you happy. ‘