Estimated read time: 3-4 mins
We first connected with Jose Ruiz (@josecleanup) on Instagram as he shared the deeply relatable journey of helping his parents declutter. His honesty about growing up around clutter—and the emotional weight of letting go—instantly resonated, gaining millions of views. Seeing his story, we knew we had to step in and help his family experience the relief of a truly fresh start.
We recently chatted with Jose to learn more about why he decided to share his family’s story on social media, what he’s learned along the way, and what he’s looking forward to once all the clutter is gone.
Navigating a lifetime of family clutter with Jose Ruiz
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: Why did you decide to start your Instagram account and share the story of your decluttering journey?
Jose: I started sharing my decluttering journey because I noticed there weren't many BIPOC creators talking openly about what it's like to grow up with clutter and hoarding in the family. After losing my job, I moved back in with my parents and decided to document the process. My first video reached over a million views in just two days, which showed me there was a real need for these conversations.
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: What surprised you most about the community you have built there?
Jose: The account was brand new, yet the videos reached millions of people, including Cardi B, who commented on one of my videos. What surprised me even more was how supportive the community became. People didn't just watch; they donated, shared their own stories, and genuinely became part of my family's healing journey. It helped my parents realize this wasn't just a social media experiment; it was helping real people.
The emotional weight of letting go of generational clutter
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: What have been the hardest items to let go of?
Jose: My dad's clothing. He has accumulated piles of it over the years, and clothing can be very emotional because it represents memories, identity, and who we used to be. It was one of the areas where I received the most pushback, which made it especially challenging.
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: Clearing out clutter can be challenging, both emotionally and physically. What keeps you going on days you want to just give up?
Jose: The community keeps me going. Every day, I receive messages from people telling me that my story has inspired them to start decluttering their own homes or have difficult conversations with their families. Knowing that our journey is helping other people gives me the motivation to keep going, even on the hard days.
Finding relief and making space for peace
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: How was your experience working with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
Jose: I loved working with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. The process was incredibly smooth from the initial calls to the pickup day. The biggest surprise was seeing just how much clutter we had accumulated; we filled an entire truck. The team was supportive and professional, and made what felt like an overwhelming task much more manageable. I also learned that they can remove individual items, which I'll definitely keep in mind for future projects.
1-800-GOT-JUNK?: What has your decluttering journey helped you make space for?
Jose: More than anything, it will make space for peace. I want to be able to sit anywhere in my apartment, enjoy an agua fresca, and simply relax without feeling overwhelmed by clutter. I'd love to finally host friends and family, but what I'm really looking forward to is having a home that feels calm and functional.
