{"id":460,"date":"2021-01-12T13:18:31","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T13:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/biohazard-cleanup\/hoarding\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T15:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:18:09","slug":"hoarding","status":"publish","type":"service","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/services\/biohazard-cleanup\/hoarding\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoarding Cleanup Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Hoarding Cleanup Services in Buffalo, NY<\/h2>\n<p>PuroClean provides you the hoarding help that you have a need for without being ashamed or embarrassed. Homes that may seem daunting and overwhelming due to the amount of clutter, trash, and abundance of personal belongings is one of our many areas of specialty.<\/p>\n<h3>The Challenge<\/h3>\n<p>Although shame and guilt may come with this condition, PuroClean can help. Hoarders and their families tend to stay at home, not invite people in, and hide the condition from relatives and well-wishers and others that have concern and care. If hoarding is not dealt with, it can lead to very dire consequences.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of hoarding may include:<\/p>\n<ul><li>Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there is no space,<\/li><li>Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value,<\/li><li>Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them,<\/li><li>Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable,<\/li><li>Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p>Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items result in:<\/p>\n<ul><li>Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books, or sentimental items,<\/li><li>Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe,<\/li><li>Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels,<\/li><li>Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home,<\/li><li>Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home,<\/li><li>Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h2>Hoarding \u2013 A Hazardous Situation<\/h2>\n<p>Hoarding can slowly develop into a situation that is quite troublesome to control for many of those who suffer from the condition. It can also prove a very hazardous chore to clean up and remediate a hoarder\u2019s property. Parting with their possessions is very difficult for hoarders, specifically while trying to cooperate with family or other caring materially curious parties. Unfortunately, this interaction between the hoarder and those closely involved can cause long lasting disputes and divisions.<\/p>\n<h3>High-Level Risks<\/h3>\n<p>Hoarding presents a high level of danger and risk to property and, more importantly, life.<\/p>\n\n<table>\n  <tr>\n    <td>\n      <strong>Health and Safety Hazards<\/strong>\n      <ul>\n        <li>Health hazards<\/li>\n        <li>Trip hazards<\/li>\n        <li>Fire hazards<\/li>\n        <li>Putrid odors<\/li>\n        <li>Access and egress in case of emergency<\/li>\n        <li>Hazardous to Those That Help<\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/td>\n    <td>\n      <strong>Structural and Hidden Damage<\/strong>\n      <ul>\n        <li>Deferred maintenance<\/li>\n        <li>Obscured damage<\/li>\n        <li>Cleaning hazards<\/li>\n        <li>Water losses, roof leaks, exterior moisture penetration<\/li>\n        <li>Extensive and long-term damage<\/li>\n        <li>Structural integrity risks and failure issues<\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/td>\n  <\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n<p><strong>Excessive contents can hide serious problems such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul><li>Water losses, <\/li><li>Roof leaks,<\/li><li>Exterior moisture penetration,<\/li><li>Cause extensive and long-term damage,<\/li><li>Structural integrity risks and failure issues.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p>Statistics show that hoarding affects \u201cas many as 1 in every 20\u201d individuals and is more common in older age groups, increasing with age. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), up to 5 percent of the world\u2019s population display traits of clinically diagnosable hoarding. The National Study Group on Compulsive Disorganization guideline for comprehending the level of hoarding and its impact on a house:<\/p>\n<h2>The Five Levels of Hoarding<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Hoarding Level 1:<\/strong> Light clutter, all doors, and stairways accessible, no more than three locations with animal waste throughout the house, no smells, and the house is considered safe and sanitary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hoarding Level 2:<\/strong> Hoarding level 2 is classified as at least one exit that is blocked, six months of a malfunctioning HVAC system, 2 or more rooms inhabited by clutter, light smells, kitchens or bathrooms with light mold, garbage bins overflowing, obvious pet waste on the floor, and food prep surfaces that are dirty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hoarding Level 3:<\/strong> It has reached hoarding level 3 when the inside and outside of the home becomes inundated with clutter. Major problems exist, including structural damages, very pungent odors, and rooms that have become impossible to use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hoarding Level 4:<\/strong> Social problems become much more noticeable at level 4 of hoarding. There are major problems such as sewer backup, nearly impossible to use kitchen and bathrooms, animal waste laying around the floor, and more. Mold and mildew are easy to spot throughout every inch of the house, and there are a few rooms close to not being livable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hoarding Level 5:<\/strong> The most extreme level of hoarding, Level 5 includes the following: Basic necessities like electrical, plumbing, and running water are non-existent. Extremely obvious signs of structural damage throughout the property, rampant odors, noticeable pests present, and garbage presents a challenge when trying to access various areas of the home. The entire premises are in need of severe restoration to again become liveable.<\/p>\n<h2>The Solution<\/h2>\n<p>The top priority of PuroClean is to make sure our trained and certified professionals, all involved occupants, other materially interested parties, and our environment are properly protected. During the entire process, our certified technicians will compassionately and empathetically develop and execute a plan, while including you, your family, caregivers, and any other materially interested individuals. We will clean and clear out, properly bag, move, and dispose of all items in the required, specialized manner befitting the hazardous material it may be.<\/p>\n<p>Hoarding cleanup is another division of PuroClean\u2019s biohazard remediation services, and involves a high level of forensic restoration and cleaning services in which our PuroClean franchises* have been specifically trained in. We know how to bring back a house and make it appear as great as before, even after hoarding problems.<\/p>\n<h2>The Cleaning Process \u2013 The PuroClean RapidDefense\u2122 Program &trade; Program<\/h2>\n<p>Forensic cleaning is defined as the removal of biological contaminants to prepare surfaces, both vertical and horizontal, for professional disinfecting. There are two phases to the forensic cleaning process. First, all surfaces are dry cleaned with disposable microfiber pads to reduce both the bio load and the soil load to prepare them for wet cleaning.<\/p>\n<p>Next, wet cleaning process involves the application of an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant\/cleaner dispensed through a foaming unit and manipulated via mechanical action using disposable microfiber pads.<\/p>\n<p>As we are not cleaning for appearance but for health, all surfaces may be clean to the eye, however, testing the surfaces is an essential step to ensuring we have accomplished our goal, that we have cleaned for health.<\/p>\n<a href=\"tel:716-662-0188\">\n  <button style=\"background-color: #0d2c4b;color: white;padding: 15px 32px;text-align: center;text-decoration: none;font-size: 16px;margin: 4px 2px;cursor: pointer;margin-bottom: 2em\">Call for Hoarding Cleanup Services<\/button>\n<\/a>\n<h2>How Hoarding Can Affect Insurance Claims<\/h2>\n<p>Homes that are in poor condition after hoarding problems can be susceptible to insurance coverage issues due to lack of maintenance and degradation that occurs in these environments. Some insurance carriers, brokers, and agents will provide a list of concerns and issues detailing what safety and maintenance fixes to retain policy coverage. Failure to address these issues can lead to a loss in  insurance coverage.<\/p>\n<p>While calling in professionals like PuroClean and their expert crews to assist in sorting through a house and providing cleanup services may not be easy, it may be required to help with the daunting tasks related to the cleanup and remediation.<\/p>\n<p>PuroClean\u2019s biohazard remediation services are available near you and around the clock 24\/7. Call PuroClean anytime  at <a href=\"tel:7166620188\">(716) 662-0188<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Providing Hoarding Cleanup Solutions Calls for Empathy and Compassion<\/h2>\n<p>The goal with any new project that PuroClean is hired for, is to make sure that everything is addressed according to the needs of the client and return the property over in a healthy and safe manner. Our technicians are careful, empathic, and compassionate for all those involved with the project, while helping all who are coming to terms with this problem. PuroClean wants to ensure open communication and while showing concern and empathy for all materially interested individuals dealing with these sensitive and concerning scenarios.<\/p>\n<h2>PuroClean of Buffalo, NY approach to hoarding cleanup:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Initial inspection<\/strong> \u2013  As every hoarding project is different and unique, so also is the requirement to create an intricate and powerful working plan that helps move the project forward fast and efficiently. Every job starts with a first inspection and assessment to establish Health and Safety as the main priority. Next, our professionals will establish a full schedule of remediation, repair, and cleanup according to your specific needs.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Safety<\/strong> \u2013 Concern about protection is very important when working on a cleanup and remediation project. PuroClean makes it part of our responsibility to implement first aid kits, insect repellants or control solutions, flashlights, and fire extinguishers so that they are easily ready and accessible. We will also use the proper personal protective equipment for all of our employees.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Giving all the cleaning supplies<\/strong> \u2013 During the entire cleaning process, PuroClean uses various equipment and cleaning supplies. Our company response vehicles are equipped with all required items, equipment, PPE, cleaning solutions, and all other tools that may be needed to tackle the daily tasks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Staging a dumpster<\/strong> \u2013 Dumpsters play a vital role in hoarding cleanup. An open and safe area will be designated and agreed upon by the property owner and technicians, in an attempt to both make access and discardment expeditious, but minimize potential damage from placing and removing the dumpster.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Decluttering<\/strong> \u2013 The removal of clutter from each area can be easy once all parties are on the same page and communication is open. Slowly but surely individuals will notice the ongoing progress and normally become inspired to keep moving forward. However, it takes time to complete the decluttering procedure for every part of the home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sorting the contents<\/strong> \u2013 Local laws and regulations should be followed when managing  items that require special handling. All debris and garbage is bagged up and disposed of following guidance from local laws. Salvageable items are split into two separate piles: one is items to keep and the other is items to donate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Repairing and cleaning the house<\/strong> \u2013 When the entire house is clutter-free, remediation and repairs are started if needed. These can include:<\/p>\n<ul><li>Restoration services (after fire, water, mold, or biohazard damage),<\/li><li>Forensic cleaning with application of disinfectant that includes the house and any salvageable items and contents.<\/li><li>Surface prep and repainting,<\/li><li>Re-carpeting.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p>Hiring PuroClean brings the best highly trained team and cleaning services focusing on top-quality care for all. We have the highest quality of services, and our speed and compassion during the remediation and cleaning are unrivaled. No matter how challenging a cleanup might appear, we are willing to put in the work to keep our customers happy.<\/p>\n<p>\n  *It is crucial to know that not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard restoration solutions. If there is a need for a cleanup for a hoarding problem, take time to contact the main office at \n  <a href=\"tel:18007757876\">1-800-775-7876<\/a> \n  to connect with the closest PuroClean Franchise near you.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":2,"template":"","class_list":["post-460","service","type-service","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services\/460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/service"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/orchard-park-ny-puroclean-property-damage-restoration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}