How To Clean A Hoarder's House

• What is hoarding disorder?
• The dangers of hoarder house cleaning
  • Unstable piles of possessions
  • Structural damage
  • Pest and rodent infestations
  • Fire hazards
  • Unsanitary conditions
• Why you should bring in professionals
• How do professionals clear a hoarder’s house?
• Contact us today to find out more

There are estimated to be around 1.2 million people in the UK that suffer from hoarding disorder. This is a serious mental health problem that requires specialist support before a hoarder can consider clearing out their property.

At ICE Cleaning, we provide our hoarding cleaning services nationwide. Our trained technicians can clear and dispose of any unwanted possessions, and then decontaminate the property. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and in an emergency can be on site in several hours.

Read on to find out the dangers of hoarder cleaning and how professionals clean a hoarder’s house.

What is hoarding disorder?

Hoarding disorder makes throwing things away difficult because of a perceived need to save them. Getting rid of possessions may cause a lot of distress, even if they have little or no monetary value. Overtime, hoarders tend to keep lots of possessions in a disorganised way.

As a result, this can lead to messy, cramped living conditions depending on the number of items in the property and where they are kept. Overtime, hoarding can have serious consequences including:

• Certain areas of the house can become impossible to enter and use, such as kitchens and bathrooms
• It can put people’s health at risk due to the presence of biohazards, fire hazards, structural problems, mould growth, pests, and tripping hazards
• The hoarder may become embarrassed of their living situation and isolate themselves, leading to strained relationships
• Hoarding can cause anxiety, stress, and depression, and as a result tends to get worse overtime

If one of your loved ones is hoarding, you might be tempted to clear out their home for them, but forced clean ups could actually make things worse. Removing their possessions will not solve the reason why they are hoarding and may damage their relationship with you.

Prioritise getting them help for their hoarding disorder first, and support them when they are finally ready to start clearing out their unwanted possessions. You can learn more about hoarding and getting help for yourself or a loved one on Mind’s website.

The dangers of hoarder house cleaning

Clearing out a hoarder’s house is a tough, labour-intensive, and dangerous process depending on how many possessions are in their property. Here are some of the dangers you may encounter when cleaning a hoarder’s home.

Unstable piles of possessions

Removing someone’s belongings can result in other items falling on top of you. This could result in injuries, or in extreme cases, you may get trapped by their possessions.

If they have left their things on the floor, it could also pose a tripping hazard, particularly if you are carrying out objects and cannot see where you are walking.

Structural damage

Some hoarders collect so many things that the sheer weight can affect their home’s structural integrity and cause parts of the property to collapse, like the flooring or walls. This could put you at risk of serious injuries.

Pest and rodent infestations

Hoarding usually provides the perfect conditions for infestations, particularly if there is rotting food in their home. There may be insects like maggots and cockroaches, as well as rats and mice, which carry disease.

When you clear out a hoarder’s home, you are at risk of coming in contact with these pests and rodents, and could put your health in danger.

Fire hazards

Some hoarders collect newspapers, books, and other debris which can provide fuel for a fire should one break out. Their possessions may also block exits so you might not be able to escape quickly if a fire starts.

Unsanitary conditions

The sheer volume of possessions may make regular cleaning of the property impossible, leading to a build up of dirt, grime, and mould. There may be rubbish, rotting food, and waste present which could enable harmful germs, bacteria, and microorganisms to thrive, too.

Why you should bring in professionals

Hoarder cleaners have the training, tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to clear out a hoarder’s property safely and efficiently. They know how to clean a hoarder’s house fast and safely, like deconstructing unstable piles correctly.

They may be able to provide additional cleaning services, like pest control and mould remediation. Not only will they take this difficult task off your to-do list, they can do it in a discreet and sensitive way that provides the support hoarders need during a clear out.

How do professionals clear a hoarder’s house?

First, they will assess the property and create a cleaning plan. Then, they will set up a staging area so the hoarder can choose which belongings they want to keep during the clear out if they choose to be present.

Next, the cleaners will clear the exits and walkways so they can safely and easily go through the property. Then, they will begin to remove possessions.

Once the property is free of the unwanted belongings, they will deep clean and decontaminate the building to ensure it is free of bacteria and viruses, and is safe to live in.

Throughout the process, specialist cleaners will work closely with the hoarder to make sure they are comfortable during what can be an overwhelming and distressing process.

Contact us today to find out more

Our comprehensive hoarding cleaning service can take the stress out of a challenging situation. Our technicians are accredited by a number of organisations including IPAF, BICSc, and SafeContractor so you can be sure they will quickly restore the property to how it was before.

Get in touch with our friendly team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk for a free site survey and no-obligation quote.