Ep 11. Theresa / Karen

Theresa has been hoarding for over twenty years. It all started after her husband passed away and she was left alone to raise their son. Instead of dealing with the pain and grief, Theresa coped by buying things and accumulating clutter in her home. The clutter has taken over her house, making it difficult for her to live a normal life. Her son, who still lives with her, wants nothing more than to reclaim their home and make it livable.

Karen is a teacher who has been hoarding for over fifteen years. Her house is so cluttered that it's become a danger to her and her three cats. The cats have taken over the home and use it as their personal litter box. Karen is in danger of losing her cats if she doesn't clean up her act. Her sister and niece have come to help her clear out the clutter before it's too late.

The episode opens with Theresa sitting in her cluttered living room, surrounded by boxes and piles of stuff. She admits that she has a problem and needs help. Her son, who is away at college, has come home to help her clean up the house. The two of them haven't seen each other in a while, and it's clear that their relationship has suffered because of Theresa's hoarding. They begin by going through a pile of clothes that Theresa has been collecting for years. Theresa has kept clothes that no longer fit her or are out of style. Her son tries to reason with her, telling her that she doesn't need all of these clothes. He encourages her to donate them to charity, but Theresa is reluctant to let go.

The scene then shifts to Karen's home, which is in even worse condition than Theresa's. The cats have taken over the house, and it's difficult to move around without tripping over something. Karen's sister and niece have arrived to help her clean up. They start by emptying out one of the bedrooms, which is completely filled with junk. Karen is overwhelmed by the mess and admits that she doesn't know where to start.

Back at Theresa's house, her son has had enough of the clutter and decides to take drastic action. He tells his mother that he's going to call a cleaning crew to come in and help them. Theresa is hesitant at first, but eventually agrees. The cleaning crew arrives the next day and begins the daunting task of clearing out the clutter. They fill up several dumpsters with trash and donate a large portion of Theresa's belongings to charity.

Meanwhile, Karen's sister and niece have made some progress in clearing out her home. They've removed a lot of junk and are making headway in the living room. However, Karen is still struggling to let go of some of her possessions. Her sister tries to reason with her, telling her that the cats' health is at risk if they don't clean up the home. Karen eventually agrees to let some things go but still struggles with the idea of getting rid of her belongings.

The episode ends with Theresa's house looking almost unrecognizable. The piles of clutter have been replaced with clean floors and open spaces. Theresa's son is pleased with the progress they've made and hopes that his mother can maintain the clean house. Karen's home still has a lot of work to be done, but her sister and niece are determined to help her through the process. Karen is emotional but hopeful that she can turn things around before it's too late.