My early 50s Filipino Parents are hoarders. How do I change/stop them?
Problem/Goal:
My parents are hoarders and our house is extremely cluttered. I recently moved back in, and the situation is seriously affecting my mood and mental health. I want to know how I can deal with this and whether it’s possible to get them to change.
Context:
I left home before due to sobrang daming gamit na kalat-kalat and distance from school reasons. Recently, I moved back in with my parents. Weeks before moving in, I already asked them to remove unnecessary things—old clothes, shoes, and furniture na mas matanda pa sakin at sira-sira na.
Pero nung actual moving-in day ko, doon pa lang kami naglinis. In the end, parang around 5% lang yung nabawas sa hoard nila, tapos nadagdagan pa ng mga gamit ko (I'm currently sleeping beside my clean folded clothes dahil wala na space sa room ko). Right now, the house feels like a junkshop. Paglabas pa lang ng kwarto ko, sobrang dami pa ring gamit. Ayaw kong ilabas kahit sapatos ko kasi baka mawala. Even yung fridge puno ng half-consumed goodies at expired food.
For context, tatlo lang kami sa isang 250 sqm na 3-bedroom house. I’m not a minimalist, pero organized and malinis akong tao. Lahat ng gamit ko nasa room ko lang—clothes, bed, PC, sapatos, tools, pati dirty laundry. Sobrang nakakabigat sa mood every time lumalabas ako ng kwarto dahil sa sobrang kalat.
Previous Attempts:
Lagi ko silang ine-encourage na maglinis kami, pero lagi nilang sinasabi na wala raw silang time. Nakaka-frustrate kasi I see them doing recreational activities like marathons, getting new pets, doom-scrolling sa TikTok, or picking up new hobbies, pero never cleaning.
Ayaw rin talaga nilang mag-let go ng things kahit sira na or may bago na mas maayos. Minsan nagtatapon ako ng gamit without their knowledge, pero nagagalit sila. Ngayon iniisip ko kung dapat ko bang itigil yun at kung therapy is an option for them. I can't really move out dahil first job ko palang and my salary is just enough.
Any advice would really help. Thank you.
Posted Dec 1, 2025, 2:58 AM UTC