Hoarding Cleanup Services in Zephyrhills, FL

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.

The Challenge

Hoarding is a condition that, if left unaddressed, may lead to extremely dire results for those involved. It’s not at all abnormal for hoarders to close themselves off, stay home indefinitely, and turn away friends, family, and even those who genuinely want to lend a hand. PuroClean can not only help with the actual cleanup, but also can be of assistance in helping hoarders deal with the shame and guilt that often comes with hoarding.

According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of hoarding may include:

  • Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there is no space,
  • Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value,
  • Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them,
  • Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable,
  • Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing

Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items result in:

  • Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books, or sentimental items,
  • 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,
  • Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels,
  • Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home,
  • Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home,
  • Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter.

Hoarding – A Hazardous Situation

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.

  • Health hazards
  • Trip hazards
  • Hazardous to Those That Help
  • Fire hazards
  • Access and egress in case of emergency
  • Putrid odors
  • Deferred maintenance
  • Obscured damage
  • Cleaning Hazards

Excessive contents can hide serious problems such as:

  • Water losses,
  • Roof leaks,
  • Exterior moisture penetration,
  • Cause extensive and long-term damage,
  • Structural integrity risks and failure issues.

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: In order for your home to be classified as safe and sanitary, light clutter can be present, there is clear access to all doors and stairways, three or less locations with animal waste exist, and there are no noticeable smells.

Hoarding Level 2: Dirty food prep surfaces, noticeable pet waste on the floors, garbage bins that are overflowing, signs of mildew in kitchens and bathrooms, light smells, 2 or more rooms inhabited by clutter, over 6 months of a malfunctioning healing, cooling or ventilation system, and at least one blocked exit.

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 Solution

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.

The Cleaning Process – The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

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.

How Hoarding Can Affect Insurance Claims

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 (813) 528-4060.

Providing Hoarding Cleanup Solutions Calls for Empathy and Compassion

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.

PuroClean of Zephyrhills, FL approach to hoarding cleanup:

Initial inspection – 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.

Safety – 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.

Giving all the cleaning supplies – Many unique cleaning supplies and equipment are used throughout the entire project. All PuroClean response vehicles are fully equipped with the necessary materials, equipment, cleaning supplies, PPE, and other tools necessary to complete each and every step of the project.

Staging a dumpster – When working on a hoarding cleanup project, dumpsters are a necessity. PuroClean will coordinate with the responsible party and agree upon an open area location for a dumpster to be placed. This location should be in as safe a position as possible to minimize any damage from placement and removal. Our technicians will work in a timely manner, placing all contents into the dumpsters that are to be discarded.

Decluttering – It takes time to complete the decluttering process for each and every area of the property. Gradually, the progress becomes noticeable and inspires the individuals to keep going. Once the communication with all parties is in place and clear, removing all the clutter from each area becomes an easy procedure.

Sorting the contents – Items that require special handling may need to be checked against local laws and regulations. Local laws and guidance are followed with all trash and debris that is bagged up and discarded. Items that are deemed salvageable are separated into two piles – one pile is for “keep” and one pile is for “donation”.

Repairing and cleaning the house – When the entire house is clutter-free, remediation and repairs are started if needed. These can include:

  • Restoration services (after fire, water, mold, or biohazard damage),
  • Forensic cleaning with application of disinfectant that includes the house and any salvageable items and contents.
  • Surface prep and repainting,
  • Re-carpeting.

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.

"Victor and his staff are very professional and reliable.....our recent experience has been positive and very helpful. he has the knowledge and equipment to handle any disaster and the response is [...]

CHARLES V.

"Puroclean did a fantastic job cleaning the mold. They explained the entire process and educated me on how to keep the mold out of my room. I ask them to come back weeks after to check that the mold [...]

CHRISTY B.

FAQ

What is Biohazard?

Biohazards are any biological contaminants such as those found in sewage, mold, or any viral or bacterial contamination such as MRSA. Biohazards also include toxins found in decaying organisms, as well as [...]

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It is not recommended to attempt biohazard cleanup yourself, as it can be extremely dangerous. Biohazardous materials may contain infectious agents or toxins that pose health risks. Professional biohazard cleanup [...]

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Insurance policies have many variables, while Crime Scene or Biohazard cleanup is often covered, you must consult your insurance broker or agent to determine your specific coverages. [...]

What does BBP mean?

Bloodborne pathogens (BBPs), as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens [...]

What Is Biohazard Cleanup?

Biohazard cleanup is the process of safely and professionally removing and decontaminating hazardous materials, such as blood, bodily fluids, chemicals, or infectious waste, from a location. This specialized cleaning is [...]