If your loved one has a problem with hoarding, you might not know where to begin when it comes to cleaning and organizing their home. Hoarding is a serious mental health disorder, so it’s important to seek professional help for your family member or friend first. When the time comes to move forward, you can start helping them clean up their home. When hoarding has been going on for a long time, it can create a dangerous environment, so you may need to enlist the help of a professional biohazard cleanup service.

4 Tips for Cleaning a Hoarder’s Home

1. Develop a Plan

The idea of cleaning up a hoarder’s home may seem overwhelming, so it’s helpful to write down a clear plan. Determine all the work that needs to be done, approximately how long it will take and which rooms you’ll start with first. For example, it may be best to start with the bathroom because it’s small and there probably aren’t any valuables in there. Once you’ve started, you can build momentum.

2. Protect Yourself

When cleaning out a hoarder’s home, you might not know what’s under all those different piles. Wear gloves, a dust mask, and goggles to protect yourself against dust, mold, and other harmful contaminants. You should also wear sturdy shoes and a hard hat, if necessary. Always keep in mind that biohazard cleanup is a serious matter—the environment may be unsafe after so much time.

3. Organize Salvageable Items

Once you’ve gotten rid of all the garbage from the home, you should sort out the items that can still be used. Determine which items should be kept and which ones should be donated. For example, you may want to keep family heirlooms and artwork and donate books and clothes.

4. Deep-Clean the Home

When you’ve cleared all the clutter from the home, it’s time to clean and sanitize it. If the home requires repairs, you should take care of this beforehand to avoid having to clean twice. 

Cleaning up a hoarder’s home isn’t just a long and involved process. It can also be dangerous. If animal waste, fire hazards, or other dangers are present, it’s important to hire professional experts. If you’re looking for biohazard cleanup services in Tarrant County, TX, turn to the professionals at PuroClean of Northwest Fort Worth. The company has helped many home and business owners with their disaster recovery needs and are known for their prompt and thorough services. They have the skills and equipment to handle fire and water damage restoration and various biohazard cleanup situations, including sewage sanitation and crime scene cleanup. For more information about their services, call (817) 953-5151 or visit their website.