Ep 9. It's a Rat's Nest

As a professional cleaner with nearly 30 years of experience, Matt Paxton has seen some of the worst hoarding situations imaginable. In episode 9 of Hoarding: Buried Alive season 8, titled "It's a Rat's Nest," he takes on one of his most challenging cases to date.

The episode follows a woman named Sandra who has been living in a cluttered house with her husband and son for over 20 years. The family's hoarding has reached extreme levels, with piles of garbage and debris filling every room of the house. In addition to countless boxes, furniture, and other household items, the house is infested with rats that have made nests throughout the clutter.

Sandra's husband is at his wits' end and has given her an ultimatum – either clean up the house or he's leaving. Sandra knows she needs to make a change, but she's overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start. She decides to call in Matt and his team of professionals to help tackle the job.

Matt and his team arrive at the house and are immediately struck by the severity of the hoarding situation. They have to wear respirators and protective clothing to avoid breathing in the hazardous dust and debris. The team begins the cleaning process by removing all of the garbage and debris from the home. They start with the upstairs bedrooms and work their way down to the kitchen and living room.

As they dig deeper into the clutter, they discover that rats have made nests throughout the house. Matt and his team work carefully to remove the nests without disturbing the rats. They use humane traps to catch the rodents and release them outside. After several days of intense cleaning, the team is finally able to see the floors and walls of the house again.

Throughout the process, Sandra struggles to let go of her possessions. She becomes emotional as Matt and his team start throwing away boxes of old paperwork and other clutter. She worries that she's losing important memories and sentimental items. However, Matt helps her understand the importance of letting go of things that no longer serve her.

As the cleaning process nears completion, Sandra's husband visits the house to see the progress. He's skeptical at first, but he's amazed by the transformation. The house is clean and habitable for the first time in years. Sandra feels a sense of relief and accomplishment, and asks her husband to stay.

Overall, "It's a Rat's Nest" is a powerful episode that shows the difficult and emotional process of hoarding cleanup. Matt and his team demonstrate compassion and expertise as they help Sandra and her family reclaim their home. The episode is a reminder of the importance of addressing hoarding behavior and seeking professional help.