Mr. Clutter Cleaner is Helping Hoarders

Matt Paxton is the master of mistakes.

Although he is best known as an extreme cleaning specialist on A&E’s Emmy-nominated hit-show “Hoarders,” it wasn't long ago when Paxton hit rock bottom.

A 1997 graduate of University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Paxton told his story Wednesday night at Monroe Hall.

“I’m the guy on ‘Hoarders’ who cleans up a lot of poop,” is how Paxton introduced himself to more than 200 students and faculty. “I clean the messiest homes in the world.”

Paxton said he reached success only because he hit rock bottom after a bookie beat him up for a $40,000 gambling debt. He was betting $100 hands at Blackjack tables, loved drugs, gambling, women, beer (still does) and just about anything else bad that he could get his hands on. He graduated and got a job at the Federal Reserve, and within two weeks he knew he was in the wrong place. This was the beginning of a 14-year trek of failures.

“I failed at every single thing I did,” Paxton said.

His father died when Paxton was 25 and Paxton’s life started spiraling out of control. He lost six different jobs, his gambling addiction grew out of control. Paxton felt like he was on a never-ending bender.

“I was a pretty awful man when I think about it,” he said.

Paxton got stuck in Hawaii chasing a UMW girl and his life started—slowly—to turn around. Then he went to Comfort Zone Camp for troubled kids who lost their fathers and he started to realize that he was putting the grief he had about the death of his own father in all of the wrong places.

“I got re-addicted to the good at Comfort Zone Camp,” he said. “This is where I placed a seed. This is where I met my wife.”

On a large projector behind him, Paxton flashed a photograph of himself holding his first-born son, Cooper, who is now 2. Then he flashed a second photograph of his newest son, Jud, who is 4 months old. At this point, you could see Paxton’s face turn serious—his children, his wife and his good friends from college that he remains close with today are why he is here safe and sound.

Before "Hoarders," Paxton started several businesses—Paxton’s Sandal Saver, Xterra Wetsuits, Presliced Limes and Bling-Bling Pizza—but they all failed. He then took a job as a marketing consultant, still owing the $40,000, sleeping on his friend’s couch, when he came up with the idea of clearing out people’s attics for money. From this idea came his current business, Clutter Cleaner, that catapulted him to “Hoarders.” All of his failures put Paxton in a place where he can understand hoarders. He’s more compassionate, he doesn't judge anyone, and now he is able to make a difference in someone’s life.

“If I hadn’t failed for 14 years I wouldn’t be the best trash man in the world,” he said.

Hoarders is on at 9 p.m. every Monday on A&E.

Paxton’s tips to success:

• Go in the other direction
• Work harder than anyone else. “I dare you to outwork me. Nobody can beat me.”
• It’s OK to have three girlfriends until you get married, is what Paxton’s father once told him. Paxton said that means you will need two or three businesses to get by and don’t put all of your effort into trying to make one business work.
• Suffering is awesome. “You’ve got to get a little twisted.”
• Don’t be afraid of rock bottom. “Rock bottom is awesome. It gives you opportunities in life and I love it.
• Embrace others who are falling
• Trust that great will come out of bad. “My dad died. It was awful. My dad dying gave me incredible opportunities in my life.”
• There is opportunity in everything