'I have 300,000 books in my house – it's mum's fault for giving my toys away when I was 4' – The Mirror
David knew that he desperately needed help to clean his 15-bedroom property, so asked for the help of Glen, who said he’d rather not eat than have a messy kitchen
Did you know that 73% of Brits admit that they hide things behind the sofa when they get a visitor? But many more are much muckier, and that's why 30-year-old payroll administrator Glen from Watford, who spends 16 hours per week cleaning his one-bedroom flat, went to help a man who shockingly hadn't cleaned his 15-bedroom house for 15 years.
Glen said that when he moved into the rental property, he had to "scrub everything" until his "fingers bled", saying that cleaning gives him a "buzz" and makes him feel "in control." He cleans the kitchen hob even when he's not used it, and said: "I would rather have an immaculate kitchen than something to eat." Glen also admitted that his need to clean is "irrational", sharing that he knows it "doesn't make sense", but he's "not hurting anybody."
In the episode of Channel 4's Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, which aired in 2013, viewers were then introduced to Glen's polar opposite – 48-year-old David from Shankley, who lived in a 15-bedroom ex-hotel. And he'd filled every single room with eclectic clutter he'd gathered throughout the years from his unconventional life.
"I'm a collector. I've collected since I was about four years old and I'm interested in most things", he told the camera. He shared that he has 300,000 books in his property, candidly sharing the reason why he thought he had so many things. He said: "I think the collecting side of it stems from when I was four, or thereabouts, and my mother gave away some of my toys and I was so upset that my father ended up going to the fête and buying them all back again – but I've collected things ever since. I am a collector, not a hoarder", he emphasised.
He shared that the property had last been cleaned around 10 years ago, but he needed some "order to the chaos" as he was struggling with health issues and was finding it "harder and harder to cope" with the space he was in.
When Glen entered the property, he looked less than impressed to be there, as he said: "There are more items and objects than I've got in my entire home." Glen also said that he "struggled to get across the room" as there was so much stuff – and he felt "overwhelmed" by it all, so needed to take a break for some fresh air. Once outside, he described the property as "rancid", saying that he knew he'd got his work cut out.
Once back in the house, Glen decided to show David some photos of his home, and David likened it to a "hotel room" as it was so neat. David then described his home, saying: "It's slightly eccentric, slightly weird, and shows all I've done in my life."
The pair were then tasked with sorting three of the 15 rooms in the house, with Glen keen to throw stuff away – but David was reluctant to part with even the most random of items – such as a bread sauce from 2008. When cleaning the fridge, Glen was gagging as he said the stuff was "rotten, dirty, and mouldy", and he was shocked by the "lack of shame" that David seemed to have about his uncleanliness.
Glen decided that the fridge was beyond repair, so hired some workmen to come and get rid of it. When they came, the stench was so bad that one of them threw up in the garden.
The next day, David admitted to Glen that the reaction Glen had to his fridge made him "upset" and "embarrassed", to which Glen responded curtly: "I should think so!" They then got to work for the day – but David didn't seem as though he was focused on the task. "I just can't be a**ed to do this [cleaning]. I've got other things to do", he fumed. Glen then referred to him as lazy and the pair butt heads with David raging: "I've actually got a life."
When Glen challenged him about how seriously he was taking the situation, David said: "It'll get done, just relax. Don't worry about it." He then proceeded to refer to Glen as "uptight." And when it came to the room full of David's relics, he didn't want to get rid of anything. Glen urged him to take "armfuls" of stuff and put it in the skip, but he was finding excuse after excuse to keep hold of it all. "You don't seem like you care", Glen accused.
Somehow the tasks were completed and two of the three rooms were cleared out. David's friend Mary went to see the results and she said it looked like a "totally different space." Commenting on the kitchen, specifically the fridge, she said: "The smell is definitely not there anymore."
The hotel bar was also made into a feature, rather than just clutter, and David's favourite items were put on display. "It's a real, liveable space", Mary gushed, and David said: "I'm speechless, thank you so much Glen." Glen hesitantly accepted the praise, and the pair shook hands, but outside Glen blew a sigh of relief and said that he's learned that he's "got grit", and has realised he can do anything.
Do you have a story to share? Email: danielle.wroe@mirror.co.uk
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