What Does It Cost To Clean Up A Hoarder House?

• What is hoarding? 
• Elements that can increase hoarder cleaning prices
  • Property size 
  • Number of specialists needed
  • Hazards and biohazards
• Dangers of cleaning a hoarder's home
• Hoarder's house clean up summary

If you’d like a quote for your hoarder clean, contact 0208 066 0360.

Cleaning a hoarder’s house can be a very sensitive situation, especially if the hoarder is still vacating the property. Each and every hoarding situation has a unique set of challenges with many different elements involved. In most cases, many rooms within the property will have lost their practical use and instead become a serious fire hazard.

What Is Hoarding? 

Hoarding is a mental disorder whereby an individual acquires an excessive number of items, rubbish and possibly even bodily fluids. These items will then be stored within the property in an unorganised, chaotic manner. Many of these items will have no monetary value. They may even be items as small as food wrapping that the hoarder simply cannot part with. This can result in the place becoming incredibly hazardous for all who live there.

"Hoarding disorders are challenging to treat because people who hoard frequently do not see it as a problem and have little awareness of how it’s affecting their life or the lives of others."

There are many factors involved when it comes to cleaning a hoarder house, from the size of the property to the severity of the problem. Subsequently, the price of cleaning the property can fluctuate enormously. Once realising the cost, many family members or friends often attempt to take matters into their own hands and clean the hoarder’s home themselves. However, this usually leads to a further expenses due to the work not being carried out properly. Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising a hoarder’s home can be overwhelming for an amateur, meaning professional assistance will be required to finish the job. 

Elements That Can Increase Hoarder Cleaning Prices

Below we have explored a range of features which may increase the cost of cleaning a hoarder’s house:

Property Size 

The size of the property can play a massive role in the financial side of hoarder cleaning. The larger the home, the more space available for the hoarder to fill. For example, a hoarder living in a 2-bedroom apartment will likely be charged less for their situation than a hoarder living in a 5-bedroom house. 

The bigger the property, the more likely the house will have large items in each room that will need to be disposed of, such as cupboards, furniture, floorboards, etc. This can be an expensive cost, however, in many cases, large objects allow harmful toxins to fester into their porous materials. Depending on the extent of hoarding, some items may be able to be saved, but only if they are adequately disinfected by a professional. Ultimately, this comes down to the severity of the hoarding and how long the items have been left without being cleaned. 

Number Of Specialists Needed 

The size of the property will contribute to the decision made to determine how many specialists are needed and the time spent within the house. Suppose you are looking to have a hoarder’s house cleaned in a specific time limit, for example. In that case, a 5-bedroom home within two days, the number of technicians that will be needed to effectively and thoroughly complete the job will be increased, and thus result in the final cost increasing. 

Hoarder cleaning specialists will have years of experience on the job, meaning they’re experts in their field. They’ll strategise before rushing into things to work out the most effective way of completing the tasks. Trained technicians will also adhere to health and safety regulations, protecting both themselves and their customers from any potential dangers.

Hazards And Biohazards

The severity of hoarding and the type of materials or objects kept will determine how hazardous the property is. We can use this information to decide which equipment would be most suitable for the job, as well as whether any additional services may be required.

Contact with bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, vomit or faeces, can cause major health issues. Contaminated particles can easily spread around the house, resulting in the entire property becoming a biohazard. Not only may there be a risk of blood pathogens from human bodily fluids, but also a high chance of rats and insects festering in the house under piles of rubbish that haven’t been touched for years. If this is the case, only a highly trained professional should be attempting the clean-up process. There are a variety of blood pathogens that live in bodily fluids for months. If you were to come into contact with any form of blood pathogen, it’s likely you’d become violently ill.

Specialist hoarder cleaning technicians will have the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when they arrive on-site. They will adequately dispose of the PPE at the end of the clean to ensure there is no risk of cross-contamination. An array of technologies, products and methods will all need to be used when it comes to biohazards within the house, which can result in the cost increasing. However, nothing can be spared when it comes to cleaning biohazards from a property; it is an absolute necessity. 

Dangers Of Cleaning A Hoarder's Home 

While it is heavily advised you do not attempt to clean a hoarder’s house unless you have the experience, if you feel like you are up for a challenge, we have written a list below to keep you safe:

• Protective equipment is crucial. You should wear a hard hat, mask, gloves and metal-toed boots, and have a first aid kit on site at all times.
• Industry cleaning supplies must be used to ensure all hazardous toxins have been eradicated from the air. 
• Work your way down. Start at the top of the house and finish at the bottom to avoid creating dirt or dust tracks.
• Prioritise your health over everything.
• Thoroughly assess and disinfect any objects you plan to keep.
• Start small. Cleaning a hoarder’s house can be incredibly overwhelming, so don’t jump straight in with the largest rooms in the house. 

If you are going to attempt to clean a hoarder’s house, ensure you are mentally and physically prepared and have all the relevant industry-standard cleaning products. The last thing you want to do is spend money on the wrong products to then have to call out a hoarder cleaning service to complete the job. 

If you believe the property is too tricky to attempt or you’d rather have the peace of mind that it’s been cleaned thoroughly, give ICE a call. Our support team will be more than happy to run you through the process and address any queries. If you have a floor map of each room that requires attention, along with images of the current property, our staff will be able to give you an accurate quote straight away.

Hoarder's House Clean Up Summary

Each hoarder case requires a personalised plan for cleaning and disinfecting the property. Risking the health of yourself and your loved ones is just not worth it. A professional cleaning service must be called to ensure there are no harmful toxins left in the property or on any belongings. 

If you find yourself in need of a professional hoarder cleaning service, give ICE Cleaning a call. We are a nationwide company and can be on-site within just 60 minutes of your call.