All you need to know about junk hoarding cleanup

Hoarding is a psychological problem in which people preserve various items like clothes, mail, or even junk. Some people do it to cope with the loss of a loved one, while others do it because they’re struggling economically. No matter the reason, cleaning up a hoarder’s space can be a challenging and labor-intensive task. Here, we’ll discuss the basic things about hoarding, cleaning up, as well as tips to help a hoarder.

Cleanup services offered
The standard services offered by hoarder cleanup companies include:

• Decluttering
  Sometimes, homeowners may require to clean and declutter one or many rooms of their house. Many hoarder companies provide this service. They maintain the owner’s privacy and help them organize the home or room.
• Removing junk
  In this service, the company brings a pick-up truck and takes away junk that a person does not want any more. This includes big and small items, such as furniture, old equipment, and machinery.
• Hoarding cleanup
  The company sends skilled workers trained to handle everything from small items to toxic and hazardous waste. They help customers keep, throw, and even recycle any item in this service.
• Deep cleaning
  After decluttering or cleaning up a hoarded space, one might also need deep cleaning. Several companies provide these aids as well as similar services like sanitization and heavy-duty cleaning.
• Animal hoarding cleanup
  Urine and feces of animals can be dangerous to humans, especially when accumulated and left ignored for days. So the hoarder-cleanup company sends skilled workers to clean up the waste and dispose of it safely.

Cost
The cost usually depends on the size and area of the house or yard. If there’s a requirement for heavy lifting, too much junk, or relatively severe cleaning, companies charge extra. Customers are also charged very high rates when a biohazard risk is involved. Besides, some companies demand a certain amount if the building or house has staircases.

Generally speaking, hoarder cleanups usually cost around $.75 to $2 per square foot, depending on the work. Some organizations charge between $25 to $150 an hour, and some even charge by the day (usually around $1000).

Tips to help a hoarder or tackle hoarder cleanup by oneself

• Be kind
  Hoarding usually sprouts from an underlying mental disorder. As a helper, one must be very empathetic and kind towards the hoarder and be patient with their feelings.
• Come prepared
  One may be exposed to various things at a hoarding site, including biohazards and sharp objects. So it’s best to get equipped with gloves, face masks, and personal protection gear.
• Plan well
  Before beginning the work, one must plan how to go about with the un-hoarding and cleaning. This can start by establishing boundaries, picking which room to clean, and so on.
• Clean up room by room
  Once a room has been decluttered or un-hoarded, clean up the room immediately. It helps one see the progress and works as a motivation factor too.
• Clear things off at the start
  Establish the things meant to be kept and the stuff no longer needed. Talk to the owner about what they feel okay throwing out.

Top three companies
Deciding to finally clear up everything a person had once hoarded is the first step, and finding a suitable hoarding cleanup service is the next one. Here are country’s top three companies:

• EZ Junk Hauling
  This company offers various services, such as hoarder cleanout, cleanup, and junk hauling. They provide an estimate for free and start at only $50. The cost increases depending on the size, intensity, and cleaning area.
• The Junk Luggers
  The Junk Luggers provides hoarding cleanup services for residential as well as commercial spaces. They deal with junk removal, e-waste recycling, and cleanouts and provide their services in 25+ states in the country.
• Address Our Mess
  Address Our Mess provides their customers with various services like junk removal, hoarding and anima cleanup, and deep cleaning and sanitation. They send anonymous vehicles and professionally trained staff for every task.