Organizing your home can be tough if your home constantly creates more clutter afterward. It can be especially harder if your significant other is a hoarder—someone who collects things obsessively while having no real rhyme or reason on how to store their things in an organized manner. Fortunately, there are steps you can take so that you can both enjoy your space and have harmony in your home.

Tips for Decluttering With a Hoarder

Have an Open Conversation

People hoard for different reasons. Some of it can be a trauma-based response, or it can simply be a reflection of unrefined decluttering skills. “It’s essential to have an honest conversation with your partner and set clear boundaries,” Diane Quintana, a professional organizer, told Homes & Gardens. “Explain why it’s important to declutter and that you need their support.”

Start Small

One of the ways to declutter your home with a hoarder is to tackle small spaces and rooms one at a time. When you are organizing with a hoarder, you do not want to overwhelm them with large tasks of organization because that can do more harm than good. It’s important that your partner wants to continue to improve as time goes on.

Have Patience

Understand that organizing with a hoarder requires a lot of patience. Don’t expect your partner to be able to clean and understand the system you are introducing to them right away. Lead with kindness and ask permission when it comes to their items, too. You don’t want to appear frustrated with your partner. By asking permission to move and sort their items, your decluttering process will look more like teamwork.

Don’t Forget To Take Breaks

Additionally, take breaks. Give your partner time to digest their new surroundings. Let them soak everything in. Again, it’s important that you make this an educational process. It also helps if you recognize that hoarding is a behavior that can be tied to mental health, so it can be beneficial to give your partner time to adjust.