Compulsive spending made this garage UNUSABLE (until we stepped in!)

#autistic
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[@cperm1]

My Mom was a hoarder. She was a very neat and organized hoarder, but she kept everything! We had a four bedroom house. When she passed away, all four bedrooms were filled from floor to ceiling. She had one room that was nothing but empty boxes and shoe boxes filled with plastic bags that our newspaper came in. On top of that, she hid money in all sorts of crazy places. It took me and my 3 siblings a month to go through everything. We found almost $10,000 of stashed cash! She had thousands of books that we had to go through making sure there wasn’t any cash in between the pages. I swore I wouldn’t leave my kids with that burden. It was so bitter sweet to go through layers of her life. We were sad, shocked, pissed, devastated, entertained……every emotion a person can feel, we had it. I wish you had been around before we had to do that. I’ve learned so much from you about how to organize, where to start, how to clean….and so much more. Thank you for all you do for your community and for your YT family. 🥰❤️

[@karenc1733]

That’s amazing.

[@suewilkinson910]

My mum hoards plastic bags. Now she lives on our property I'm ruthless. I find a stash of bags I question it and will only let her keep a few. Can't even throw the bag away that held the toilet rolls when it's empty! I'm not having that. We built her a perfect compact home all on one level so that she would be safe and could enjoy her final years out of the 65 years of clutter and crap I'm still dealing with nearly 1 year on from her moving out of the old house.

[@Jendromeda]

@@suewilkinson910 i broke the plastic bag collecting with the help of them being banned in my area lol.....one day i got so fed up with the bags i had saved that i threw 80 pct of them away and used the other 20 pct. Never saved them again. HOWEVER, i have about 75 paper bags i save at a time....but i use them as fast as i get them for garbage/kitchen. I used to have a gift bag hoarding thing too....that's down to about 50.

[@duanagayle]

i feel you. i'm getting rid of everything i don't NEED to use on a daily or weekly basis. i don't want my kids to have to go thru anything either. i don't buy for "want", must be a dire "need".

[@suewilkinson910]

@@Jendromeda You obviously like bags! Paper bags are very handy for lining kitchen bins with.

[@mamat1213]

Your videos actually taught me that I’m a compulsive spender 😢 working on it now, my car is full to the brim with donations/returns and I’m putting my family on a spending freeze for at least 30 days!!!

[@erc1971erc1971]

That is awesome to hear. Not only will you find yourself living less cluttered...but saving money is going to be alot easier as well.

[@cindylouwho9348]

How wonderful! Good for you to recognize and want to change!

[@supremelotus6227]

You got this 🎉 keep going mama bear

[@DrofJustice]

Amazing what you can learn from watching Mack. Wow.

[@jimnelson9775]

It’s great that you’re wanting to make a change! I’m sure if you find the going difficult sometimes you’ll find encouragement and a cheering section here 😊

[@paulagraham5366]

When Jason finished breaking down all those boxes I said OH LOOK …. More boxes! 😂

[@joycepullen3918]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@gregpendrey6711]

What about that infernal apartment ironing board? " I'm an ironing board. Here I am. Look at me" HaHa😎

[@LaurelChinnRealEstate-Fairfax]

Thought same

[@jeannettewisnewski7854]

Crazy I kept noticing that thing too. I feel like on every video I see an object and watch it!

[@louisemitipelo5345]

Haha ...should be on a tee- shirt!!

[@Coffeecup.0110]

One thing I’ve learned about myself through watching your videos is I love to stock up on necessities. However, my kids are grown now, and I really don’t need so much anymore. I decided that when I get that urge, I’ll call a local shelter and see what necessities they need. I go shopping, and they get their necessities! It’s really worked out for me and for them. Thank you for all that you do. Stay safe and take care of yourself. ☮️♥️😊🌎

[@Coffeecup.0110]

@@sadjaxx Thanks! It’s fun.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

Great idea!

[@lurklingX]

wow that's a really cool idea!! it lets you do the urge but then not have the aftermath. i like doing something like that for friends. get organization stuff and set them up. (org is key when you have a lot of stuff, and i kind of have a "whatever it takes" spending on that. but obviously if you need a lot, you have too much.) but i just see all these blank areas, and stuff strewn about and like.... if they just had containers, this would be so FUNCTIONAL.

[@timetochange3002]

Odds are those tubs will never be opened again till their estate sale. Sad 😢

[@katiblue]

At the very least, it would make things MUCH easier for their children and grandchildren to go through. I know the children of hoarders have an ENORMOUS task and expense ahead of them.

[@needzzzzs]

My thoughts exactly @katiblue

[@Purdey921]

I wouldn’t be able to lift the boxes down. I used to have a three tote stacker. The bottom boxes didn’t see the light of day for years! I’m trying to figure out a way to put supplies by category and be able to reach them. I have two sturdy dresser like units. Now to fill them.

[@_Julie_Bee]

Well, it's part of the next step of decluttering. If they have no need or no use , and they never open them, they can be let go. So removing the tubs from the space is easier and less traumatic.

[@Kinypshun]

Not going into details as I commented in other videos about 10 years of grief over my sister's death, bringing me a wall to wall fire hazard basement of her things and mine. I listen to all of your tips. I used to "grid method" or Tetris method (played it at arcades in early 80s!) I worked just one 8x8 section and it felt so liberating. I just shut out the devastation in the rest of the 1500 sq feet of basement. Thank you. You inspire me.

[@marloespeters8404]

Ah you can do it 🍀🍀And grieving is hard. I am so sorry for the loss of your sister ❤

[@karenc1733]

Grief is so painful and so paralysing. It’s dreadful. So sorry you lost your sister. You did well by doing the 8x8.

[@Kinypshun]

@@marloespeters8404 thank you, you are so kind. 💙

[@Kinypshun]

@@karenc1733 Thank you so much. 💜You are so right. I was indeed paralyzed. I couldn't donate her clothes for 7 of the 10 years. I'd just go downstairs and bury my face in them. When I saw ladies at the domestic violence shelter crying over her beautiful clothes as they walked out, it helped me a lot.

[@marloespeters8404]

@@Kinypshun i am so proud of you for giving your sisters clothes a second life 💪❤️

[@sweetpickleinc]

4:33 “I’ve had many people ask me what Tetris is and it makes me feel ancient every time” is the most relatable commentary in the whole video. Same, Mack, SAME.

[@DrofJustice]

The thing is … they won’t really go looking for the stuff. They just want to know they have it. One day it will become someone else’s problem. 😢

[@ochervelvet9687]

Well, at least it will be organized rather than jumbled piles.

[@Dennise_Who]

Cardboard also has other disadvantages. They break down, aren't water resistant and critters are not deterred by them at all. Thanks for the video and rest your back. Congrats again on 300K subscribers!

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

Cockroaches love cardboard.

[@Dennise_Who]

@@Mrs.TJTaylor And silverfish!

[@LaLadybug2011]

Brown Recluse spiders love cardboard inside homes and garages. Outside, the love firewood piles and pieces of lumber.

[@kiwifire451]

Cardboard also turns really acidic (like how cruddy paperbacks or old newspapers get super yellow and “burn” the things next to them). Stuff can survive decently in cardboard, but a sturdy sealed tub will always be better as long as it doesn’t need airflow! Plus your tub won’t come unglued and fall apart. 😬

[@xXElleN816Xx]

Bedbugs also love cardboard 🥲🙃

[@jenniferwelch]

Fellow gen-xer, adhd, and now starting my own housekeeping business... you made me realize so much; about what brings me joy, sense of completion, being my own boss... I just wish it wasn't so difficult to do for myself... BUT the past few weeks I unhoarded my garage (2 cars can fit again!), and painted 2 rooms... was about to paint baseboards today but then got a lead on a cleaning job... it was so filthy and I loved it! Thanks so much Mack, you're awesome... and great job by you two!

[@destinyschild8515]

Time to start a KZbin channel 😊

[@ChristIsLord247]

Tetris is the game of life. It's how you organize and do everything from filling a dishwasher, to organizing your day, to organizing your garage. Everyone should take a class in the magical game of Tetris.

[@cindysmith9213]

The irony of ordering a t-shirt with "Look! More Laundry." or a mug with "Look! More dishes." is good for my soul.

[@TibiSum]

I was a hoarder. At points even a squalor hoarder. I come from significant trauma and my parents are 2 different types of hoarder. We are all also artists. After healing a ton and not being in perpetual mental health overwhelm, I ended up in a job where I cleaned/organized hoarded units. As I moved up, I ended up project managing building-wide hoarded units. The bulk of us are artists. I believe that art comes from a divergent way of seeing and seeing is not just like, "hey, there's a couch", "oh look, a potato". Seeing is categorizing: "so, I found this couch and it belongs in the living room, along with this remote control and box of cat toys". Also, "I found this potato and it can go in a basket of other potatoes, away from onions because storing those together is some kind of problem that I don't get, but has been talked about my whole life". As an artist I have a divergent way of sorting information and then expressing what I sorted. In day to day life, that used to be an impairment. Then I organized things to match my internal experience AND the functionality expected of me and now what is left is an artist brain that is kind of separate and devoted to expression related to my rich inner life, where function does not much belong. So a potato is collaged into a couch, which is leaping over some onions, spraying cat toys and this harms no one. Because I am an artist who uses things people don't want as art supplies, my one criterion for keeping my own hoarding at bay, is: Would I treat this for bed bugs? Would I bag it for 18 months? Would I set up my bed bug tent and then blast the appropriate level of heat, for the appropriate amount of time? Runn it through the washer, then dryer twice? If the answer is yes, it goes with similar shaped items, is boxed or hung on the wall and is kept tidy and clean. If the answer is no, then toss. I rarely pick up books now. Fabric must be special and boxed. I'm enjoying this show as a person who manages hoarding tendencies, a person who has helped numerous people with hoarded living spaces and as an artist. I like seeing people get their crafting nook or a nice space to work in their garage. Because of what I have managed to do in my life, I do have hopes people will go through these boxes of like items and select one to keep and sell the rest. You never know who is going to heal the shit out of themselves and fight to have an understanding of a functioning home and a less dented identity. Any hoarders watching, I fight the good fight daily!

[@colorjoybr]

Yours are the only cleaning videos I watch without putting them on mute. Great voice, great comments, great cleaning. 😊 Hugs from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@bicho.cosmico]

Hey, look, more Brazilians! 😂 🇧🇷

[@DBLG65]

I beg to differ. The constant talking stops me from subscribing.

[@werewolf1301]

​@@DBLG65Okay thanks for letting us know👌

[@HowImDoingIt]

I love the sassy conversation too.

[@katrinat7936]

As a foreigner I like the way you speak! Clear pronunciation. I enjoy not only the process of decluttering and cleaning but the voice and your English as well❤

[@hildaba-wu1499]

Same here! I can understand him very well!👍 🙋🏼‍♀️🇩🇪

[@laurieinmn6468]

My Dad labeled one box, Crap she wants. Gave me a good laugh when I was unpacking boxes. I agree that the last items are the hardest because there is no way to organize them. I reach that point and feel completely defeated.

[@sundoesshine8583]

Actually that's hilarious as well as a great thought. If we think of the person having to unbox our stuff labeled with that, it does make it seem rather dumb to keep the stuff. Might make myself oneathem labels and try it out.

[@pattyannbeaven9287]

I remember I heard a story about a man who was clearing out his Aunt’s house and he found a small tin labelled ‘Pieces of string too small to do anything with’ ! I guess she had a sense of humour 😂

[@wordgirl6267]

I would have put that tin in the garage with Camping Gear , and would have labeled the tin of string pieces : "Fire-Starting Cotton Segments" 👀

[@CaroleCanada]

I’m confident I will never develop a compulsive shopping habit because I couldn’t afford the buckets let alone the stuff to put in them!. I think you and Jason did a months worth of work in just one day. Wow that was exhausting to watch! And congratulations on 300,000 subscribers!

[@dearbh1736]

Same. Not blaming these people but I simply could never afford to get to this level of spending - BUT if I could I would 😂

[@thekingoffailure9967]

Wouldnt it be nice if I could buy new clothes once a YEAR let alone enough to pile past my knees

[@smilingjacks83]

I was a compulsive spender.. went into debt to fund it. Couldn't find a way to stop. Thankfully, I find solutions now adays. Like happiness of saving a bit or spending on young family members.

[@lurklingX]

man, i feel this. i love the idea of some of these channels, as inspiration or even body doubling or whatever.... but i don't like the talking. i guess it's a personality thing? but i LOVE this channel. i'd watch it even if i didn't NEED to.

[@happyyappyhome8034]

Nipples and purple flowers......THAT is a very unique puzzle. 😆 I have found that when I organize rooms in our home, I am allowed to be ruthless with MY belonging however when it comes to my husband's things I simply set them aside in a neat pile so HE can go through his stuff and edit. Because the last thing I need to hear is..."Why did you throw away my Buddha toe nail clippers?!!" By the way...I hope your back is feeling better, Mack.

[@sandymyers1182]

I’d do that to my husband’s stuff but it would still be there, with more added, in 10 years. He won’t even touch it, much less go through it

[@jimnelson9775]

Honestly, why would you toss Buddha toenail clippers?! Are you an anarchist?? (Lol!)

[@margaretanderson1750]

The resentful way the one empty box lands in the middle of the floor just as Jason takes away the flattened cardboard :D

[@mr.chipwhitley8770]

"All the tubs with yellow lids are filled with the souls of the damned. And one wolf. One live, barking, snapping wolf. I don't judge - I just stack." SPIT MY DRINK OUT 😂😂😂 Thank you for the continuous laughs, love your humor

[@Hippabellita1]

Your assertion/ suggestion to "just grab something and move it .... get it into motion" - that this will kick the overwhelm in its bud is sooooooooooooooooo true. I was indirectly taught by my perfectly organised mom that you had to do the cleaning up in a perfect and efficient manner; otherwise it was not done well, useless etc. ...... and that sets my feelings of guilt, being not good at cleaning up etc. immediately into high gear, when I am moving an item more than one time ..... And overcoming this in the last years/ months has been a game changer and has me experience exactly what you have expressed here in the video. Thanks! for sharing your reflections, observations and all the rest ;-))) Greetings from Zurich Switzerland

[@biteofdog]

My dad is a hoarder and my mom isn't, she would not allow him to fill up the house. He filled up the three-car garage where, there was no space to walk most of the time, and he buried his V88 Corvette in boxes, so you could barely see the orange paint job. He filled up his den with stacked boxes, and there was a tiny path to his computer desk. Fortunately, my sister and I are not hoarders, mostly because of how much we disliked the clutter, and we were always told to keep our rooms clean with no messes on the floor or surfaces. If Dad were to pass away, my sister and I have a plan where I take a 2-3 months off just to sell and donate his hoard.

[@diane621]

I go to Homegoods, I put impulse buys in the cart and stroll through the store. As I get closer to the cash register, I start discarding items asking myself, do I need this? Answer… no. I mostly leave the store empty handed. A successful shopping experience.

[@jimnelson9775]

I do the same with online shopping. 👍

[@hildaba-wu1499]

@diane621: Super👏🏻👍! Only that way we can stop having far too many things we do not need at all!

[@shelbysittig1047]

Works every time.

[@flowerflower1392]

I do the same. Is as good as really buying it and costing nothing and mot cluttering the house.

[@tihana13]

Wahahaha anazing strategy! I do that with online shopping. I need to apply the same in home decoration stores!

[@pattifromtexas]

I think cleaning and organizing a garage completely daunting. What a huge undertaking.!

[@andersdottir1111]

My mother (dec’d) had ocd and my son is a hoarder 😳- when I recently did his house (7 days x 5 hours a day) I started on his study/lounge room and removed the largest rubbish items first. Once this was done the cleaning/tidying was easy; just ‘like’ items together (board games, war hammer, computer related, etc. Great job on the garage - it looks amazing. Can’t wait for you to get your own helicopter 🚁!

[@sholbk]

I am not sure how I stumbled on your videos, but they have been eye opening to me. My home isn’t cluttered but I do have a fair amount of empty jars, and way too much fabric. I’ve started throwing out all the old jars and have gone through all my fabric. Any piece of fabric smaller than my hand got thrown out. I’ve started a new rule for me, no more fabric until I finish all of my projects. No more new tubs for me. Congrats on subscribers. Thank you!

[@sarah345]

When you talk about hoarders and how they feel about getting rid of stuff, I 100% understand what you mean. My apartment is not like these houses you clean but its definitely cluttered, and I have things in bins that I know I don't need. My dad is definitely a bit of a hoarder. Again, not on the scale of the houses you show, but I dunno, I think it might be genetic.... My mom was always really big on getting rid of useless junk, so I know how to do it, and I go through things and get rid of them once or twice a year but it always feels genuinely awful, and I feel like other people think I'm nuts when I tell them that. Like, I get a sinking feeling in my gut when I drop stuff off at good will, and if I pack a bin of stuff to donate it has to leave my house within a week or I will develop an irrational fear that something useful got mixed in with it and have to go through it again. And any time I've tried to sell things, cause people are like "don't donate it, its worth money" its like 50/50 on whether it will just stay in my apartment forever. So I prefer to just be rid of the stuff when I have the focus to do that, than risk keeping it around too long and just ending up putting it away. Luckily I don't have a compulsive spending problem or I think I'd get buried by it...except craft stores... but I just avoid those... it was an actual problem when I worked in one. Other than craft supplies, the worst stuff for me are things that are really worn out but still work. Cause I know no one else will want them but I feel horrible throwing them out...

[@nshively]

Tip for labeling bins: keep a white chalk marker in your pocket to label the black tubs. The chalk isn’t permanent and can be easily removed.

[@KerrieBerrie]

I was gonna say I used re-stickable labels in my basement storage, but I like your idea better :)

[@cathycoryell2351]

I use blue painters tape, and a sharpie marker. Cheap. Fast. And still durable, and removable. Blue painters tape is good for kids too. Who want to help. It does not ruin your walls. (Hide the sharpie!!)

[@XX-pl3tm]

I don't write directly on my tubs. It looks sloppy and harder to find where it is written, whereas labels are neat and easy to locate on the tub. A bit overkill, but I put a label on all sides of the tub, and one on the lid. Not the bottom--duh. That way you don't have to spin it around just to find out what is in it.

[@_Julie_Bee]

Smart!

[@ForbiddenChocolate]

​@XX-pl3tm I write directly on the tubs, but also label all sides and the lids. When my back got jacked up, leaving me reliant on my kids to bring things up and down the stairs for me, I was so glad I did that! I've done the same thing with boxes when I've had to move, which really makes it easier on anyone kind enough to help bring things into the new place.

[@theshepherds2846]

The sad thing is, some where down the road, someone is going to have to deal with this hoard. And they are probably going to throw the bulk of it in the dumpster. As someone who had to clean out my parents house and my husband’s garage when they passed, you just want it gone. It will be a huge burden to their children when the time comes. I know they can’t help themselves and they think that what they have is wonderful, but man what a mess this is going to be for someone.

[@dearbh1736]

Yes, you are correct, and it is the idea of this, more than anything that has started me chipping away at the clutter in my own home as it is just unthinkable that my daughter would have to tackle it in the future. Mack's videos have been incredibly helpful in terms of motivation and wrapping my head around it in small chunks - I'm getting there slowly but surely!

[@shelbysittig1047]

That’s why I agree with the Swedish death cleaning. The Swedes at age 40 start going through their stuff and get rid of it. That way when they pass then their loved ones don’t have as much stuff to go through. I believe in thrift stores so I give all the stuff we don’t want to them.

[@scully33]

Just FYI adult kids don't HAVE to deal with this "burden" they choose to do it so they can sell the house and profit. No one makes them. Seems so gross & insensitive people complain about a parent with a mental illness as if they chose it.

[@jaindeau772]

It’s amazing that books left in a garage weren’t ruined.

[@alinewright1093]

I have been going through my house for 3 years. I got rid of tons of stuff that I didn't use. I still have 1 more bedroom. Then another round in the garage. I am keeping a list of items that need to be replaced, so I only buy what is needed.

[@KaraKay]

Your observation/statement about the correlation of extremely creative artistic types, trauma and hoarding is spot on! I have been plagued/blessed with all three myself and yes it is a fact. I am an artist of multiple genre, have stored trauma and endured recent huge loss of loved ones, the heaviest hitting one being my two little kids lost their daddy, my husband. It sent everything into overwhelm. My pack rat lifestyle I have always maintained has turned to full fledged hoarding that I have been trying to combat everyday, but it feels like swimming in quick sand. I wish I could get help from you or someone like you. I am in the midwest also. I have looked for help and called several dozen cleaners, and professional organizers and no one will touch me without charging several thousand dollars to come throw everything away and thats not what we need nor can currently afford. It’s not at all a level 5 or anywhere near level 9. All our living areas are fully usable they are just cluttered and stressful and I want so much better for us. I keep plugging every day, but I feel like I am drowning. I’m learning a lot from your videos though. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@lizbuchanan1]

The most mesmerizing part of this video is watching Jason break down all those boxes starting at about 18 minutes. I literally did LOL @ 18:46 when Mack tossed another box into that empty space as soon as Jason took the box of boxes away. Jason says, "I'm going to be a trash compactor when I grow up." (This comes with love from someone whose trash cans are better organized than the rooms they're in.)

[@bmlawlis88]

I took your advice and cleaned one area at a time in my kitchen and bedroom and it helped me tremendously.

[@HeidiSue60]

Congratulations on hitting 300K! It's amazing how fast your channel is growing. You're doing something right, that's for sure

[@melissahawkins5120]

How do you stay so clean while doing these videos. I can't even do the dishes without getting soaking wet. Love your videos

[@timetochange3002]

Label it “things you can live without” 👍

[@lauramitchell6725]

The fifth(?)reason to transfer everything from cardboard boxes to plastic tubs is because the cardboard holds moisture which transfers to the items inside.Also,if you’re storing cardboard boxes in the basement with the dehumidifier running,half of the effort is just working on all of the boxes themselves.😖

[@lillianbarker4292]

And they attract roaches in my part of the world.

[@yigalordbanette8044]

Cardboard boxes attract PESTS . so if you can afford a plastic box that snaps shut absolutely 💯 get it to store anything. Then lable it of what is inside. Cardboard boxes are great for moving but NOT LONGTERM STORAGE . like I said it is a magnet for pests .all pests . Avoid it at all costs . I LOVE TETRIS ❤ 53 AND PROUD BORN AND RAISED PARK RIDGE ILLINOIS

[@lornamclemore4558]

It amazes me every time how you make chaos into usable order! You and Jason work so well together even if there's another dish or box. 😂

[@LaLadybug2011]

When he cleared the boxes and split second later another one comes flying through the air and lands---I died laughing!

[@sharonwalshthompson8185]

You did a great job making this a more usable space for these homeowners. Hopefully they take care of it.

[@SRumble810]

“I don’t judge I just stack.”So funny!

[@allan-mw7op]

My wife and I watch all of Your videos, we have been picking at thinning out " good stuff " from the house.I just finished cleaning out my garage,17 wheel barrow loads to the dumpster! I feel so much more calm and inspired when I go out to work in my garage now, feels like a huge weight has been lifted .Thank You for the inspiration and drive to get this done..

[@EdenP01]

My husband's grandma recently passed and we had to clean out her house. I wouldn't call her a hoarder, but she definitely was extremely crafty and had many collections and hobbies which led to the extreme mass of stuff that she had stored in every room. She loved her collections and her art, but definitely did not think about the fact that her family would have to deal with all of it when she passed.

[@dboyd1651]

I had the same obsession with puzzles, and it took me YEARS of therapy to realize that I had the hoarding gene on chromosome 14. One or both of the parent has the gene. I finally gave away most of the unopened puzzles and STOPPED buying new ones. I realized that maintaining the home and each of the rooms takes more time than playing with puzzles.

[@ninjasipad7924]

Doing a garage has to be hard because it’s usually full of “stuff” that won’t fit in the house anymore or things rarely used. I did ours last spring, nowhere near this amount and had a dumpster delivered and it went from the garage into that, the best $200 I ever spent (dumpster). Now if it’s not garden tools or things needed for outside (mower, gas can, etc) it doesn’t go in there. Great job!

[@kra13]

"Roughly square-shaped items, things that aren't red." More gems. :) Thanks again for a great video.

[@terrigirl]

I sleep with earbuds in listening to KZbin all night pretty much. I was listening to your channel- not sure what happened but I dreamed I knocked on your door and I was so tired you let me sleep on your gray leather couch after you removed some clutter. I took a selfie of us with my cracked tablet that never leaves the house. You and your wife and kids were all there along with 3 cats and Dakota. It was a fun time. Love your shows.

[@terrigirl]

I don’t have the selfie which made me realize it was not reality son😂

[@XX-pl3tm]

I really hate cardboard boxes. It I can never tell what's in it, they're never the same size, and they don't stack right. Cardboard boxes are for cats or moving, or moving cats.😂 I moved years ago and still have a few things in cardboard boxes that never got emptied......working on that now.

[@Purdey921]

Just be sure the wolf is gone when loading cats.

[@RescueJunkie815]

Hey Big Mack, as a wife of a “collector” I have a tip for you. Use clear bins and there’s no need to label them. You can find things without opening or unstacking the bins. We have lived in our house since 95 and have an 5 1/2 car tandem garage that we can’t park in. The majority of it is emotional attachment to inherited items. On another note, I learned something really cool today. Eminem has Asperger’s! Did you know that? I love him even more now if that’s possible. Gen X or bust baby!

[@karenlivingston6834]

Too declutter with unlimited bins!!! My dream!

[@edennis8578]

Honestly, I still need to label my see-through bins. For example, I have several bins of summer tops. They're labeled by size, color, and style. I have several bins of corduroy jeans, which are also labeled by size, color, and style. I wear one length for boots and another length for sneakers.

[@Purdey921]

See through bins are great, but not as sturdy as the opaque ones.

[@ArtamStudio]

What's helped me with the emotional attachment issue is perspective: this knit scarf my grandfather gave me decades ago is *a mass-produced item* - it is _not my grandfather_ . Once I had that epiphany, purging items (usually donated) became much easier.

[@SIC647]

Cool about Eminem, but I would like to add that Asperger's is not an official diagnosis anymore. Now Autism Spectrum Disorder is used for it all. And if needed, one will add "low/medium/high support level" or "with mental impairment".

[@dvet91]

It's hard to imagine that someone might not know what Tetris is. Although, in the early 2000's, I worked at a movie rental / pizza place. The owner's son (18 at the time) and I were talking about the movie Strangeland. I said "I LOVE Twisted Sister." His reply was "What the hell is a Twisted Sister??" That was the first time I experienced "Damn I'm old!!!!" but it most certainly wasn't the last. The most profound moment was when I realized I am older than Disney (world or land,...whichever just had its 50th anniversary.) I just barely made it back to the couch before my knees gave out that time. lol Mack, I hope you realize how much your work has helped everyone. Not only the owners of the houses you clean, but those of us watching your videos, too. Sharing your cleaning tips, humor, respect for and insights into the hoarder / compulsive spender mindset has helped me to recognize (and hopefully negate) the tendencies I've inherited from my dad. I've suggested that Mom, Dad, and I do the Swedish Death Cleaning thing only to be told that "When I'm gone, you can do whatever you want with all of it." When he said "All of it," he's talking about several school busses and tractor trailers full, a pole barn without walls, a warehouse and its half attic, a barn, and the house's basement and attic. The living areas of the house were kept spotless and clutter free by Mom, thankfully. I think I can tackle my own small home and hoard by myself, but Dad's will take an army, I'm afraid. I wish we lived in your neighborhood because I will be in DESPERATE need of your help in the (hopefully VERY) distant future. Thank YOU, Emily, Filth, and Thug for all that you do for all of us!

[@AG-yj1jv]

Note to new tub/tote users: Cheaper totes may crack/shatter if banged roughly in freezing cold weather. If you move frequently or are preliminary sorting a hoarde to move to storage units and are going with the cheap movers? Make sure everyone understands that if they slam a box down or drop it, evil spirits may emerge.

[@adirondackErin]

Yes! That darn miscellaneous stuff gets me every time I organize my craft room!

[@cathyprosser1050]

Y'all did a great job 👏 👍! So happy you've reached the over 300,000 mark😊 Wonderful! You've worked very hard for that and are just such an all around great guy and a wizard at cleaning and organizing ❤

[@kathyduer7108]

Mac...how can you go balls to the walls with your back hurting ???? You are a fricken SUPER HERO 🦸‍♂️😊

[@marie_84]

"My name is all of the Gilmore Girls"......u silly u....😂🤣😋😋😋

[@ColleenJousma]

When I'm out walking dogs I can't tell you how many garages I see filled to the brim.

[@jenniferbrezler3742]

I can not fathom having that much stuff! WOWZERS!!

[@emilyharrison1340]

I actually laughed out loud when you said “all the Gilmore girls” hahaha

[@theohiohousewife]

It’s not free cleaning but I was able to find an organizer who was recommended by Dorothy from A&Es Hoarders in my area. She was so sweet, she made my family member feel heard and understood before she touched a single thing. If you can afford them, they are out there.

[@MultiCatPass]

After watching Jason break down, fold up all those boxes and that lone box flies into the picture - hilarious! good job guys, love your videos!

[@CatLady502]

20:01 “just grab a small piece of nothing, like your mom..” 😂😂😂😂😂 Man I love a good “your mom” joke! Hope your back is doing better! Great job on this garage guys!

[@yvonnelewis4888]

I’ve been an RN for 36 years, if you aren’t already doing this, try Keeping your back straight and lifting your head UP toward the ceiling when you lift, it will save your back. Thank you so much for your kind, empathetic & caring heart, and for the hope that you bring to so many who would otherwise have none.

[@michelleriggs5999]

"Don't you ever question me"😂

[@kristimcgowandarkoscellard3126]

Life is so strange!! I’m in the process of cleaning and organizing my ex’s garage and I decided to take a break to watch my favorite cleaning channel on KZbin (obviously that’s your channel 😉). To my absolute delight your video is about organizing a garage 😱 Thank goodness because the garage I am working on is as bad as the one in your video 😤 Thank you so much for doing what you do!! 🙏 Cheers

[@valerief1231]

Maybe write a number on the tub, take 2 quick pics one with the number, and one with a top down photo. Email the whole album with the instruction that the numbered bin holds the items in the following picture. They can print those pics off even or make a file so if he gets anxious while trying to find something he can refer to those pics. But now that you’ve got the area workable, that might be a fun project for the husband to go and catalog the bins, I’d find that more relaxing than cleaning something else in my house.

[@LaLadybug2011]

Brilliant idea! It may be a good job for Jason-a way to make a little extra money. With all this free work they rec'd maybe they would buy a photo log/inventory.

[@cleopatracatra2097]

Great idea!

[@TazeniaLoZ]

I'm so glad you clacked the giant clothespin several times, satisfying 😂

[@williamharris8367]

I am reminded of my Grandfather and his neighbour: The neighbour had an immaculate garage with the necessary tools and equipment to maintain his old car, but no clutter or junk anywhere. My Grandfather, in contrast, collected tools. He did not use them as he had no defined workshop (nor really the skills). After his death, my Father and I could not even identify some of the specialized items (often still in the packaging).

[@richardeidemiller6739]

I go back further than Tetris so you're ancient and I'm deceased. 😊 Vicki

[@maryharper9321]

Everytime you picked up a bin my back hurt for you 😂 Congrats on 300k

[@gy2gy246]

I know he sped up the camera, but I've never seen anyone organize stuff so skillfully.

[@DharleneValeda]

GenX back safety tip: get yourself a folding table to be part of your kit. Then empty tubs can be filled without bending, and easier to lift when full.

[@kathleentroutman1777]

Another great video. Amazing transformation. I wish other videos were as helpful. By explaining what you're doing, describing the cleaning products and techniques, you offer so much help. Other videos are interesting and make astonishing transformations. They just aren't as loaded with info like yours. Plus, your narration is wonderfully unique.

[@Dormices]

Extremely interesting about hoarders and creativity. I suspect hoarding starts with seeing creative possibilities which spread out over several hobbies and interests means lots of things that might be useful one way or another and that is the foundations of my type of hoarding anyway. I remember the terrible result of chucking away 11.5 inches of curtain hook tape. I will never need that and chucked it out...then two weeks later I needed exactly that. Result: never throw anything away!

[@zerocasualteas]

Wow!!! You are doing a great service for this family & so many more! 😮

[@sabbys7750]

CONGRATS on the 300k mark!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 You, Emily, Filth and your entire team... Deserve everything and more!!

[@SweetUniverse]

I'm a clothes horse. I keep it manageable by keeping only clothes I can fit & that I wear - "no Some Day clothing. None."

[@ArtamStudio]

I'm doing another round of that right now!

[@metalkingtohorses]

I just love how you narrate it makes horrible cleaning so much simpler thank you for being YOU!

[@AccessoriesAddict5528]

"Don't you EVER question me!!" 🤣😂😅

[@jackieblack4422]

I'm sympathetic to your health ie back injury. We are dedicated to your cause and if you need to rest your back and skip a week or two. It's totally understandable. Take it from someone who has injured their back and neck. You have to rest it at times for the healing process otherwise it stays inflamed. Appreciate you and Jason once again.

[@DrofJustice]

Amazing garage transformation!!! My dad left behind a pretty organized but giant hoard. Some really amazing stuff but also the most impressive amount of cardboard ever. Never met a box that should be thrown out. Wowza! ❤

[@Kmc1316]

I find it somewhat fascinating about ppl with hoarding disorder and the artistic thing. I have also noticed this watching a lot of these types of videos on KZbin. I hoarded for many years, but am in a better place now (idk if one can fully recover from hoarding, but for me I have to constantly practice tools I learned coming out of it. Otherwise things will slowly start to pile up again). I also used to be very artistic, and loved doing various types of arts and crafts. Since coming out of hoarding, I no longer gravitate towards that or really even care to do them. Maybe that’s just me. I’m definitely weird, so maybe it’s just another weird thing about me. Lol. I do wonder about that connection though in this context as well.

[@jjacks50]

I would like to know who are these people that do not know what Tetris is, but apparently have access to the internet and search engines? Yes, I feel ancient too. Best game ever. I can absolutely explain the artist's desire to stockpile things. You never know if you are going to need it for whatever whatever, and that isn't just an egg carton. That's scales for a dinosaur costume, mini planters, storage for your rock collection, sound proofing for your office, you get the idea. You can't possibly let go of all that potential. Great video. You made a huge improvement. Congrats on the 300K.

[@ladyicondraco]

1 month ago I was like "Team Jason! It's so mean to call him filth!" Me now the moment Jason is mentioned: "Filth" ❤

[@hildaba-wu1499]

For me he is and remains „Jason“. For me it‘s a matter of respect to call him by his real name, a very beautiful one👍. If the name „Filth“ means humour I admit my total lack of that humour. 🙋🏼‍♀️🇩🇪

[@dearbh1736]

I have no issue whatsoever with the sense of humour Mack shares with his son - it's quite endearing actually. As to whether we, as an audience, choose to refer to Jason as 'Filth' is a personal choice. It is part of the MMC brand since it appears on Merch so I'm guessing Mack is fine with it. I like to elevate it a little and refer to him as Mr F.

[@ladyicondraco]

@@dearbh1736 Mr. F is good!

[@toddylu6869]

Ditto

[@SweetUniverse]

My mother would've loved to own a house like that. I'm proud to be the polar opposite of her.

[@diogocarvalho3481]

Man if it wasn´t for that thing of the separation between continents I would love to fly over there and help out in one of these missions. Still fighting hoardness mydelf, I´´m learning and doing a lot since watching your videos. Warm regards from Portugal and keep up the good work.

[@cassben8608]

Interesting, I wonder how that would work..a hoarder helping a fellow hoarder Mac there’s an idea for cleaning content Im Curious, wonder if the hoarder that is helping w the cleaning will be affected as if it were his/her own stuff

[@diogocarvalho3481]

@@cassben8608 I´ll give you an idea. Do you know what AA are, right? Those fellas are all drunks, yet they help each other. I found out it works for me as well.

[@kg6801]

​@@cassben8608People with hoarding issues can sometimes find that they don't have the same difficulties with organising, decision making, categorising and prioritising etc when it's another hoarder's stuff because they don't have the same attachments and associations with the items, and haven't continually replayed and reinforced the reasons they need to keep or avoid making decisions about particular items. It'd depend on a person's circumstances and history with it and where they're at with their own issues. I know that up until fairly recently I would have really struggled with the feeling that I needed to either "rescue" or "dispose of in the best way" particular things that people might tend to accumulate as well as the sensitivity to general overwhelm when looking at a large volume of disorganised stuff, but I'd still have a bit less difficulty with someone else's stuff than my own, even if it was the same items. Perhaps because I'm responsible for my items so the focus is on me doing "the right thing" by utilising, intending to recycle "properly" despite that being to overwhelming to manage at the time etc, but if you're helping another person your priority is their wellbeing, not the "best thing" for the stuff, which is what you can't seem to do for yourself because you don't feel worthy of that (at least that's how it feels to me, and from what I've learned about hoarding that's common). In the same way, it's possible for someone with hoarding issues to have a complete mess at home but their office at work or some other area they spend a lot of time in might be under control, because the associations and other pressures/issues may not be the same there and the patterns behind hoarding haven't begun to influence behaviours in that space. Alongside people or proffessionals who know the psychology of it and related issues, it can also be really helpful talking to someone who knows the kind of thoughts and feelings you have from their own experience, and if they've made progress it kind of shows you on a deep level that their is hope that you can improve. As diogocarvalho said, it's like AA, and there are groups where people with experience of hoarding disorder help others and it's beneficial for both for many reasons. I, personally, want to continue to get my stuff sorted to the point I can do something like that, because I think one thing people with hoarding issues really need to know is out there is more people who can help who understand what it's like and won't automatically judge them or treat them like a different and lesser species of human, I think that's what stops a lot of people getting help sooner, and I think that situation can improve.

[@AuntieJaderade]

'They call me Helicopter Johnny in Mobile." As a resident of Mobile, AL, I can vouch for this wholeheartedly. 🤪

[@cathyjackson5959]

I’d Love for you to talk about spouses if hoarders!! My husband is Hoarder of cats, then he’s been gone for 2 1/2 yrs. He does come back for 3 nights & 2 days!! Got his 50 cats down to about 30. My living room furniture is ruined. So is the flooring, etc. The kitchen is a constant struggle to keep clean. Now, I’ve become a hoarder!! In 2 rooms. My bedroom and sunroom/garden room/sitting room that used to be formal dining room!! Those are no cat zones!! Just got 2 antique doors past Wednesday to clean, sand & hang as barn doors. Right now I have chicken wire stapled to keep them out. It’s a wide opening. Got a big round trash can with big black bags and going thru stuff. Saving money for a dumpster!! Anyways, I appreciate you & your method of going thru things!! I haul that big trash can all over & in tighter spots, get my small trash can, fill up and load into the bigger bags!! ❤

[@liz8913]

My husband is a hoarder also, he has filled an entire quonset hut and a couple storage sheds! Now he’s trying to bring stuff into the house. It’s really hard living with someone like that because you are constantly swimming upstream!!!

[@lindawilson4625]

I like how you remind people that while putting away is important being able to find it later is also important in order to fix the problem. All your videos are very helpful :-) THANKS!

[@Nisan7012]

Mann, that job would have definitely given me a panic attack. You guys did a phenomenal job! I love how you and Jason work together so well 👏 ❤

[@tjdacatlady1920]

Congratulations on the 300K! That is so amazing and so well-deserved. You and your team do miraculous cleanings/sortings, etc. I adore your channel and have started watching some of the older videos too. Im so glad you were able to help this couple out. Do most married hoarders find similar traits in the person they choose to marry? Thanks for the video. Please take care of your back. ❤😃

[@alzorama2876]

"It's my geek thing." I can totally relate. I am never happier when someone lets me loose in their disorganized mess and says, "Have at it" and then they leave me alone.

[@tropezando]

I sometimes look at the thumbnails of the places you clean and think, "Oh, that's not too bad, looks doable." I don't know if that makes me optimistic or delusional. 😅 Either way, good work!

[@adirondackErin]

😂😂😂😂

[@MoonstarGem1]

I honestly thought it wasn't that bad because all I could think of was my parent's garage. The before on this is what they would consider clean. 😥

[@shannonmccann3814]

A hoarder's heart is a great example of a Hoarder in recovery and watching how far she has come has been amazing. Great job on the garage 😊.

[@silverygit]

So many tubs...and I felt cluttered with 2. LOL Thank you for these vids. They help me relax and declutter slowly.

[@Beverly2020]

The older I get, the less I want. I’m in the process of downsizing my belongings. I’ve slowed the impulse buying drastically. I’m trying to find organizations/people who want something I own rather than leaving this task to my only child when I’m gone. I have a lot of craft/art/sewing supplies and I’m busily completing projects for various charities who want them. I am getting the same rush purging that I got acquiring the stuff.

[@Wishful---Thinking]

It looks like this guy with his business needed to do what you plan to do: get a brick and mortar site AWAY from his home in which to store all these things related to the business! Good job to you and Jason and I wish you all the success you so richly deserve!

[@willworkforyarn4893]

Congrats on your milestone!! You deserve that gold!!

[@meggriffith4412]

Jason’s box breaking down skills are epic. You raised him right ❤

[@ShellBellShow]

RN here with back issues.. Set yourself up a lightweight table. Put the totes on it and work from there. It will SAVE. YOUR. BACK. Trust me on this, anything waist height or higher is ideal for us old people with creaky backs. 😊😂