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.
PuroClean can help with the shame and guilt that may accompany hoarding. It’s not unusual for hoarders and their families to stay in their homes, not invite guests in, and try to conceal the condition from friends, relatives, and well-wishers who really are concerned and actually care. If hoarding goes unaddressed, it could lead to a very unpleasant outcome.
According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of hoarding may include:
Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items result in:
For many people, over a period of time, hoarding can slowly grow out of control and become impossible to manage. For most individuals, it can be quite hazardous cleaning up and restoring a hoarder’s premises. Hoarders have a very difficult time parting from their belongings. Furthermore, dealing with materially interested caring people, as well as family members, can create arguments and burn bridges that may last for years.
Hoarding presents a high level of danger and risk to property and more importantly life.
Excessive contents can hide serious problems such as:
Statistics show that hoarding affects “as many as 1 in every 20” 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’s 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:
Hoarding Level 1: The following conditions are considered safe and sanitary: All doors and stairways accessible, light clutter, no smells, and no more than three locations with animal waste.
Hoarding Level 2: At least one blocked exit, clear signs of malfunctioning heating, cooling, or ventilation system for at least half a year, clutter is ensconced in 2 or more rooms, slight smells, signs of mildew in kitchens and bathrooms, garbage bins spilling over, visible pet waste on the floors, and unclean food prep surfaces.
Hoarding Level 3: At hoarding level 3 rooms become completely impossible to use. Also, there exists various major structural problems and damage along with clutter becoming a problem inside and outside of the property.
Hoarding Level 4: A number of rooms are barely livable, mold and mildew are noticeably present throughout the home, animal waste is in many places on the floor, kitchens and bathrooms are almost unusable, and sewer issues along with other extreme problems are apparent. Also, social problems become very noticeable at level 4 hoarding.
Hoarding Level 5: 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.
The approach to cleaning up a hoarder’s home or building can be daunting for many reasons. Calling PuroClean is a good start. Our professional teams will work with compassion and empathy in developing a plan and executing the plan with you, family members, or caregivers as well as any other materially interested parties that want to provide the best care. As part of our services, PuroClean will ensure that no clutter is left behind for sentimental reasons, that everything is cleared, bagged properly, transported, and disposed of in a specialized manner, befitting the hazardous material it may be. PuroClean’s top priority is to ensure that their highly trained employees, the occupants, other materially interested parties, and the environment are properly protected.
Hoarding cleanup is another division of PuroClean’s 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PuroClean’s biohazard remediation services are available near you and around the clock 24/7. Call PuroClean anytime at (772) 763-1313.
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.
Initial inspection – Every hoarding situation is isolated and different, as is the method for creating a strong working schedule that helps the project flow smoothly through completion. All cleanups begin with a first inspection and estimation to focus on Health and Safety and establish it as top priority. Following this, PuroClean will arrange a complete scope of cleaning, remediation, repair, and cleanup according to the project’s requirements.
Safety – It is vital to worry about protection when remediating and restoring a house. PuroClean will use the proper personal protective equipment for our techs. As part of our response, we will help implement emergency solutions to situations that can develop, such as having readily available fire extinguishers, first aid kits, insect repellants or control solutions, flashlights, and more.
Giving all the cleaning supplies – PuroClean’s response vehicles are fully stocked with the necessary PPE, materials, equipment, and cleaning supplies along with all other tools that may be needed to complete the daily tasks of the project. There are many unique supplies used for cleaning as well as specialized equipment used for the entire project.
Staging a dumpster – Dumpsters are very important while conducting a hoarding cleanup, and PuroClean will consult the property’s responsible party for assistance in locating an open area for a dumpster to be placed safely. This will also be done in an effort to minimize any possible damage resulting from placement and removal. Dumpsters allow the PuroClean technicians to place all “to be disposed of” contents from the property fast and efficiently.
Decluttering – 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.
Sorting the contents – Two piles are created for all salvageable items: one pile is “keep” and the other is “donate”. Local laws, rules and regulations must be checked for any items that may require special handling. Guidance from local laws are followed when bagging up and throwing away all trash and debris.
Repairing and cleaning the house – When the entire house is clutter-free, remediation and repairs are started if needed. These can include:
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.
*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 1-800-775-7876 to connect with the closest PuroClean Franchise near you.
'They showed up on time & was very helpful in determining the most cost-effective way to clean carpet in the entire office. Very friendly staff!'
METZER SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS, INC.
Karen has been cleaning our facility since April 5th. I can’t say enough about the quality of their work. I would highly recommend them.
MICHELLE P.
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