Hoarding is a complex psychological disorder that can cause immense physical and emotional discomfort to the hoarder and their family. Hoarding disorder is often characterized by the accumulation of a massive amount of belongings, to the point where this clutter interferes with normal life.
Hoarding is a severe issue, and many hoarders may feel embarrassed and overwhelmed, making it difficult to seek help or even clean up their homes. Fortunately, hoarding cleanup companies can help hoarders come to grips with their condition and clean up their living space in a safe and effective manner.
But what exactly do hoarding cleanup companies do and how can they help you? Let’s break it down.
What do hoarding cleanup companies do?
- Evaluate and Assess the Situation: Hoarding cleanup companies usually start by assessing the hoarder’s living situation and creating a specific plan on addressing the extent of the hoarding issue. The assessment includes analyzing the items accumulated, determining the priority of the items, the amount of time required for cleanup, and estimated cost.
- Safety Protocol: Hoarding cleanup companies are equipped with the necessary tools and products required to clean up hoarder’s homes, including cleaning materials, masks, gloves, and protective clothing. Since hoarding cleanup often involves dealing with biohazards such as mold, dead animals, or waste, hoarding experts have to follow safety measures while carrying out the cleaning process to avoid exposure to health risks.
- Cleaning and Disinfecting: Hoarding cleanup experts begin by sorting out the items with the hoarders and discarding any harmful or hazardous items and then deep cleaning and disinfecting the living space thoroughly. This usually includes not only removing the piles of accumulated belongings but also disinfecting and cleaning the floors, walls, ceilings, and any other surfaces in the living space.
- Organizing and Rebuilding: Once the cleaning and disinfection process is complete, a hoarding cleanup expert will help you organize and rebuild closet space, drawers, and cabinets so that it complements your new lifestyle and needs. This is not only essential in transforming your living space to be clean but also decluttered.
- Follow-ups: Hoarding cleanup professionals usually recognize that hoarding is a condition that requires continuous support. Therefore, these experts may sometimes offer follow-up support to hoarders, including check-ins and monitoring the cleanliness and organization of the living space.
Hoarding is not a condition that you can ignore or solve independently. Hoarding cleanup professionals can reduce the mental and emotional discomfort and physical hazards caused by hoarding disorder. Thus, if you or someone you know is struggling with this debilitating condition, there is no better time than now to hire a hoarding cleanup company. They will evaluate and assess the situation, follow safety protocols, clean and disinfect, encourage new organizing and rebuilding habits, and offer follow-up support. With help, the path to recovery is within reach.
