Hoarding is an incredibly serious health condition; not only does it create a physical health hazard in affected homes, but it can also lead to feelings of shame and panic for those who suffer from the condition. When dealing with hoarding, it’s important to consider safety first; whether you decide to tackle the job yourself or hire professionals, remain aware that there may be dangerous items or waste present that require special handling. Taking care of your own safety—and that of those around you—is crucial when removing items from a home where hoarding behavior has been occurring.

In most cases, hiring professionals for hoarder cleanup makes sense due to the time clearing such a home requires. Additionally, specific disposal regulations for hoarded materials, such as the sheer volume of “stuff” being removed and the presence of hazardous materials, mean that these cases are best handled by professionals. Whichever option you choose, remember that sensitivity, safety, and disposal compliance should always come first when dealing with any kind of hoarding situation.

What is Hoarding?

Hoarding disorder is a mental health problem that a doctor can diagnose. Hoarding is condition of having so many items that you are unable to manage the volume in your home by simply organizing or throwing things out. This leads to a huge buildup of clutter in a space, whether a person collects newspapers, animals, craft materials, old food, or new clothes. Such homes become impossible to keep clean and can be physically dangerous to their occupants.

If you hoard, you might:

• Feel the need to get more things, even if you have a lot already
• Feel very upset or anxious at the thought of throwing or giving things away
• Find it very hard to decide what to keep or get rid of
• Have so many things that you can't use parts of the place you live in – like not sleeping on the bed or using the sink
• Have lots of disagreements with the people close to you about your things

DIY Hoarder Cleanup

DIY cleanup may be cheaper than professional services, but it can be arduous. Many hoarders are emotionally attached to their possessions, so it can be difficult for them to part with items they consider precious even when they understand intellectually that doing so is necessary for their health and safety. Furthermore, DIY hoarder cleanups can take months or even years if the hoarder is unable to make significant progress due to mental or physical limitations brought on by age or disability.

Professional Hoarder Cleanup

Professional hoarder cleanups are more expensive than DIY options but offer several advantages. Experts in the field will be better equipped than family members or friends to handle difficult conversations about why various items must be discarded. Professional hoarder cleanup crews also have experience in safely disposing of hazardous materials such as expired food and chemicals that could cause harm if not disposed of correctly. Additionally, professional teams will have access to specialized tools and equipment such as industrial vacuums and dumpsters that are not available for DIY projects.

With a professional team, you will also benefit from having a team leader who has experience dealing with different types of hoarding situations and knows how best to handle each scenario while keeping everyone involved safe. Professionals can also work faster than DIY hoarder cleanup projects. Pro hoarder cleanup teams have multiple trained personnel working at once, rather than just a few volunteers.

Use Thoughtful Professionals for Hoarder Cleanup

Hoarding is a serious issue that can profoundly impact the people living in dirty homes. Extreme hoarding is best handled by professional hoarder cleanup services. When you are looking for help cleaning out a hoarder’s home, contact Absolute Hauling & Services for professional assistance to make the job as safe and easy as possible.