If you have a family member or friend, who may be struggling with hoarding, you know how heartbreaking it can be. It is an obsession that leads to magazines piled to the ceiling, hundreds of canned goods in cabinets, doorways made impassable because it is blocked by junk. In most cases, if the hoarder realizes they need to seek help, they only do it after masses of items have filled every room in the house, including the attic and the basement. If you are attempting to help your friend or relative dig out from the mess they created, then here are some suggestions on how to go about it.
First, if you are in the greater Omaha area, contact Dumpster Maxx and secure a roll off dumpster. We have helped countless customers just like you with dumpster rentals for everything from spring cleanouts, to back yard cleanouts, to renovations, to construction. When it comes to the amount of trash and junk that has been hoarded, we can advise you on what size waste container would best suit your needs and get it to you quickly.
A hoarder clean out is no usual home clean out, it is much more serious. All sorts of hidden dangers can be present among the stacks of boxes and piles of garbage. Safety should always come first when cleaning out a hoarder’s home. Wear thick clothing, sturdy shoes, safety goggles, and thick gloves when going into an area that has been occupied by a hoarder. If the air in the home is especially bad, an allergy or breathing mask may be required because of mold or gases from feces and dead animals. Remember if the house is too far gone demolition may be necessary, so don’t put yourself in danger if it can’t be salvaged.
Once you get inside the hoarder’s home, you need to assess the situation. How much time do you think it will take based on what you see or which room should you tackle first will all be part of the clean out plan you devise. All the garbage, trash, and junk may be too much for just one or two people to remove. You may want to hire a cleaning crew to come in and assist you in your clean out if it is a larger home.
Next, you should remove obstacles to doorways and clear pathways so that you can move around. When it comes to removing items from the hoarder’s home, things like teetering stacks of newspapers should be carefully removed first. Stacks of Newspapers and Magazines have been known to fall on hoarders a
nd trap them in their own homes, and they could fall on you as well. When you’ve removed all the junk that poses a risk of injuring you, you should set your sites on bio-waste. If the hoarder you are helping had blocked entry to bathrooms, there might be multiple buckets filled with feces and urine, these should be carefully removed. If the plumbing still works in the home, then they should be emptied into a toilet and flushed away. If the plumbing does not work, contact your local environmental regulatory agency for instructions. Rotting food should be removed from refrigerators and cabinets and double bagged before disposal; remember, these are potential bio-hazards so the utmost caution must be taken before placing them in the dumpster.
One of the sadder consequences of people hoarding is the loss of a pet which may have become trapped somewhere that junk or garbage prevented from escaping. In such cases, the hoarder may request the pet be buried, or you may feel the need to see it put to rest, but if you do dispose of it, make sure to enclose it in several thick plastic bags.
It may take days to remove all the trash and junk from a hoarder’s home, but once it’s done, one final step remains. In order for the home to be inhabited again, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Again, a cleaning crew would most likely be required for larger homes. Before the hoarder returns home, make sure that they have gotten the help they need. A mental health professional can help them to change their habits with counseling and/or medication.
We understand cleaning up after a hoarder is a monumental task, and we are here to help. Contact Dumpstermaxx for rates and availability on our dumpsters and waste receptacles. We care about your hoarder clean out.