> The former deregger has trouble letting go of, well, anything. While they tolerate the cleaner animals coming in and dealing with organic debris, their quarters are getting SO full of.....stuff... that it's getting hard to move around in there. Hoarding, sadly, is common with those with severe mental trauma. -- Anon Guest
Cleaners were initially a problem. They were genetically programmed to consume debris and break it down into stable compounds. "Debris" in this case, was defined as anything below a certain mass that was left on the floor.
Expatriate Deen had lost many of his clothing items at the beginning, until his therapist carefully explained how the Cleaners worked. Deen hung up or stored his clothes for two weeks, but...
Deen also invested in storage furniture. As well as the things to put in them or on them. Like most hoarders, he also spent some Time on cleaning equipment, but had little idea of how to start with it.
As objects accrued, it became harder to find anything. Replacements purchased soon got lost under other things, which necessitated more replacements to be purchased. Between one therapist's visit and the next, his domicile had gone from 'worrying' to 'dangerous'.
Therapist Saar looked at the teetering towers of tchotchkes and other brick-a-brac."I think it's time we started sorting this. Get things clean and organised."
"You're not going to steal anything?"
"You will make every decision about everything in here."
It was a long process, also involving the local Unty[1], Saar hirself, and one kind-eyed JOAT willing to announce everything she was doing. Including cycling clothing through the domestic cleanser.
They found an over-abundance of duplicate items within the first day. Deen decided on each and every one. Including considering the tax credits he would get for gifting them to the community.
One item was a tattered old set of coveralls. Almost worn to a whisper. "I want to frame this," decided Deen. "Hang it on my wall."
"It's almost rags," said Therapist Saar. "Why do you want to keep these ones?"
"They were what I was wearing when I got away from that soul-sucking gravity well. It'll remind me how far I've come."
They arranged for the frame.
[1] The gender-neutral variant of Aunt/Uncle. Also a job title involving the care and welfare of citizens in a certain area.
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