When dealing with the mess left by a hoarder, where do you even begin? It’s a big job and one that can also be dangerous. The tips below can help someone clean up the home of a hoarder.
Cleaning up the home of a hoarder is one of the most time consuming and challenging jobs a person can take on. There is more to hoarding cleanup than simply organizing and cleaning. In fact, many hoarder houses are infested with rats, mice, roaches, and other animals and are breeding grounds for mold and bacteria. These 4 tips can help you through the cleanup process:
Come prepared with gloves and face masks. Cleaning up a hoarder site can expose you to biohazards such as Staph, E.coli, Hantavirus, and Histoplasmosis. Protecting yourself with personal protective equipment should be your highest priority through all phases of cleanup.
Separate items into 3 categories. Items to Keep, items to donate, and items to trash. As a general rule, items that have not been used in a year or more, or items that are broken should be put into the trash category.
Remember that hoarding stems from a mental disorder. “Hoarding may be present on its own or as a symptom of another disorder. Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression,” according to ADAA.
Understand that you may have to ask for help. A lot goes into hoarder cleanup. Sometimes, the individual who suffers from hoarding disorder is unable to part from their items without first seeking counseling from a professional. Additionally, some cleanups will require the manpower and expertise of a biohazard cleanup company. Examples of these situations include a person who is an animal hoarder, or a hoarding situation that involves an unattended death.
At CK Commercial Cleaning we Specialize in Cleaning, Disinfecting & Sanitizing. For more information please give us a call 716-906-7730 or fill out the form below.
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