What Do Hoarding Cleanup Services Do?

A hoarding cleanup service treats a hoarder with kindness and compassion while cleaning and organizing with the hoarder (teaching them how to clean and organize) to put them on the road to recovery with the help of a mental health professional to treat the hoarder psychologically. See our explanation below for what to look for when searching for a hoarding cleanup service!

What to Look for in a Hoarding Cleanup Service?

When searching for a hoarding cleanup company always make sure that they specialize in hoarding cleanup as a service. Through a hoarding cleanup project, the hoarder will be taught by a knowledgeable project manager at the company how to organize and keep their home clean, this is important to a full recovery for a hoarder. An example of a cleaning system that is taught to hoarders is The 3 Container Method, explained below.

The 3 Container Method:

The 3 container method, which we go into further depth on in our decluttering method article is a fantastic cleaning system to use for hoarding cleanup. The basics of The 3 Container Method are you take 3 containers, they could be plastic bins, trash bags, laundry baskets, or just 3 clean areas on the floor for piles.

The 3 Containers are:

• Trash 
• Donations
• Keepsakes

Take an object from the area you are cleaning and place it into one of the bins based on what you would like to do with that item. To break the project up you can perform this task once a day or more often as needed. This process teaches hoarders how to approach cleaning their homes after the hoarding cleanup process (as well as cleans) so that they do not continue hoarding in the future, along with psychological treatment by a mental health professional.

Make Sure the Company is Approaching the Project with Safety in Mind!

An often overlooked but very important aspect of the hoarding cleanup process is safety, which should be prioritized throughout the project. When choosing a hoarding cleanup company make sure to confirm that the aspects of the project below are being observed by the company you choose to ensure the safety of all involved in the project.

CERTIFICATION FOR HOARDING CLEANING:

Anyone can mention that they are a hoarding cleanup company but there are a few certifications that can verify knowledge and expertise in hoarding cleanup. There is a good certification by Cory Chalmers of A&E ‘Hoarders’ who trains companies and certifies them with a gold star once they have completed his course, certifying their competency in hoarding cleanup.

Workers Compensation Insurance for Employees & Liability Insurance for Your Property During the Project:

Before the company comes into your home you want to make sure that the employees are insured and bonded by the company, they are working for, to take liability for any potential injury that may happen to them during the project away from you with workers compensation insurance. Not having the proper insurance for employees is a cost cutting measure that adds to much risk for you, the customer, so avoid hoarding cleanup companies that do not have workers compensation insurance for their employees.

When cleaning and or renovating there is always the possibility of causing damage to a property. For this reason, it is important to make sure that the company you hire for hoarding cleanup has the correct liability insurance, releasing you from liability from damage caused to your property during the project.

Confirm that the hoarding cleanup company that you are using has both workers compensation insurance and liability insurance to protect you against liability during your hoarding cleanup project!

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

A reputable hoarding cleanup company should provide all involved in cleaning (including its workers) personal protective equipment (PPE) so all can be protected from any dangerous unknown substances that they may be exposed to during the project. Don’t risk having people work in your home without PPE by confirming with the company before they come into your home that they are using PPE for the project.

Disinfection of Surfaces & air (Deep Cleaning):

One of the most important steps of a hoarding cleanup project is often missed by hoarding cleanup companies, the disinfection of surfaces in the home to get rid of possible diseases and unhealthy substances on surfaces and the removal of pollutants in the air. Safe and effective disinfectants should be used on all surfaces of the home and air scrubbers should also be used to remove pollutants in the air. Disinfecting all surfaces and removing pollutants in the air ensure that the home is brought back to a safe and livable condition.

Our company Address Our Mess is trained and specializes in hoarding cleanup service. We help and teach hoarders to clean and organize, to put them on the road to recovery with the help of a mental health professional to treat the hoarder psychologically.