For immediate professional hoarding cleanup service, contact Bio-One of Alabama 24/7 at (205) 937-1708. Your health and peace of mind are our top priorities. Let our expert local team help you restore your environment to a safe and clean condition.
When cleaning up a cluttered home, most people think of typical house cleaning tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and organizing. However, there's a significant difference between cleaning an untidy house and tackling the daunting task of hoarding cleanup.
Hoarding goes far beyond simple clutter and often presents complex challenges that require professional intervention.
One of the primary reasons hoarding cleanup is distinct from regular house cleaning is the presence of biohazard contamination. Biohazards can cause diseases in humans and can also cause other effects, such as poisonings, or provoke an allergic response.
Sometimes, hoarding animals (like cats) is part of the hoarder's compulsion. Animal hoardings are especially sensitive. Animal hoarding is unhealthy and dangerous for both the occupants of the space and the animals themselves. The combination of feces, urine, and unsanitary filth creates biohazards that risk the health of all living things in that space.
These biohazards found in a hoarder’s home pose serious health risks, including the spread of diseases and infections. Attempting to clean up such biohazards without proper protection can lead to serious health consequences.
Cleaning up biohazardous materials requires specialized training, equipment, and adherence to safety protocols. Professional hoarding cleanup teams are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, and suits to shield them from biohazard exposure. They follow strict protocols to ensure thorough decontamination and disposal, reducing the risk of disease transmission.
Hoarder homes provide ideal environments for pests and rodents to thrive. Accumulated clutter offers hiding spots and food sources for these unwanted guests. Rats, cockroaches, flies, and other pests are often lured to the house by animal waste and rotting food. These pests and rodents are biological agents that spread diseases to animals and humans living in these unsanitary conditions.
Rodent infestations are common in hoarding situations, with rodents finding shelter in the vast clutter and abundant food sources. Infestation of rodents in and around the home is the main reason disease spreads from rodents to people. In addition, these pests can cause structural damage and contaminate surfaces with feces and urine. Attempting to handle a rodent infestation during a hoarding cleanup without professional expertise can worsen the problem.
Removing pests without professional help can lead to inadequate solutions and potential harm. Professional hoarding cleaners are trained to identify and address pest infestations effectively. They use appropriate extermination methods and ensure that all infested areas are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
Hoarding environments often suffer from poor ventilation and excess moisture due to blocked windows and plumbing issues. These conditions create a breeding ground for mold. Mold growth is unsightly and hazardous to health, causing respiratory problems and allergies.
For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get lung infections from mold.
Mold spores are airborne and can quickly spread to other areas of the home, leading to extensive contamination. Attempting to address mold growth in a hoarding environment without proper training and equipment can result in inadequate removal and the potential for health issues.
Removing mold from hoarded spaces requires protective gear, specialized cleaning agents, and remediation techniques. Professional hoarding cleanup teams are equipped to handle mold removal safely.
Professional hoarding cleaners conduct thorough mold assessments and use industry-standard procedures for mold remediation. They ensure that affected areas are cleaned, sanitized, and ventilated to prevent mold regrowth.
Hoarder homes are at a higher risk of fire hazards due to blocked exits, overloaded electrical circuits, and flammable materials. In such cluttered environments, fires can spread rapidly, endangering lives and property. The fire risk will be heightened if the hoarder collects many flammable materials.
Fires in hoarding environments can have devastating consequences due to obstructed pathways and flammable materials like paper, cardboard, and chemicals.
Attempting to address fire hazards without professional guidance can lead to unsafe conditions and increased risks. Professional hoarding cleanup teams prioritize safety by identifying fire hazards, clearing obstructed exits, and safely disposing of flammable materials. They have experience managing fire risks during cleanup to protect their team members and the property.
Hoarded homes often contain piles of belongings that reach unsafe heights, posing a significant risk of injuries. These unstable piles of materials can collapse and injure you as you attempt to declutter and clean the house. Navigating cluttered spaces can lead to slips, trips, and falls, resulting in bruises, fractures, or more severe injuries.
In addition, hoarders scatter items haphazardly all over the place, increasing the chances of you tripping and falling and sustaining fractures, wounds, and sprains. It’s also dangerous to try lifting heavy items on your own, which is another reason you need help from professionals with experience in hoarding cleanup.
Professional hoarding cleaners are trained in safety protocols to minimize the risk of personal injuries during cleanup. They use caution and appropriate equipment to access cluttered areas safely.
Excessive dust accumulation, mold spores, and other particulates in hoarded homes result in poor air quality. Breathing in these pollutants can lead to respiratory issues, exacerbating preexisting conditions like asthma. Removing these contaminants from the air and surfaces is crucial for creating a safe and habitable environment.
Hoarding environments often have compromised ventilation due to blocked windows and cluttered spaces. This leads to stagnant air and a buildup of dust, allergens, and potentially harmful particles. Attempting to improve air quality without the proper equipment and techniques can be ineffective.
Professional hoarding cleaners assess indoor air quality, implement ventilation strategies, and use air purifiers to remove pollutants. They ensure that the air in the cleaned space is safe to breathe, reducing health risks.
Cleaning a hoarded space involves much more than traditional cleaning supplies. Hoarding cleanup requires specialized tools, cleaning agents, and equipment not typically found in household cleaning arsenals. Heavy-duty cleaning agents are also needed to tackle biohazard contamination, mold growth, and stubborn stains.
Professional hoarding cleaners can access commercial-grade cleaning solutions that are effective against various contaminants. These specialized cleaning agents are essential for restoring a hoarded space to a safe and habitable condition.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial when dealing with biohazardous materials and hazardous environments. Professional hoarding cleaners wear appropriate PPE, including masks, gloves, and suits, to protect themselves from exposure to biohazards and other contaminants. This level of protection is necessary to ensure their safety during the cleanup process.
Hoarding cleanup often involves extensive labor, including removing heavy clutter and debris. Professional hoarding cleaners use specialized equipment, such as heavy-duty trash bags, dumpsters, and hauling vehicles, to remove waste efficiently. They also have the training and experience to handle items safely, reducing the risk of injuries.
In addition to physical tools, professional hoarding cleaners have access to industry-specific knowledge and expertise. They understand the complexities of hoarding disorder and can approach cleanup with sensitivity and professionalism. They know how to communicate with hoarders and their families, ensuring a smoother and more compassionate process.
Hoarding cleanup is not just about removing clutter; it's also about creating a safe and supportive living environment for the individual affected by hoarding disorder. Professional hoarding cleaners understand the importance of this aspect of their work.
They go beyond the physical cleanup by emotionally supporting the hoarder and their family. They approach the situation empathetically, respecting the hoarder's feelings and boundaries. This compassionate approach helps build trust and cooperation, making the cleanup process smoother and more successful.
Furthermore, professional hoarding cleanup teams can offer guidance on preventing relapse and maintaining a clutter-free environment. They educate the hoarder and their family about organization techniques, cleaning routines, and ways to manage stress and anxiety.
Hoarding cleanup can involve legal and ethical considerations, emphasizing the need for professional expertise. Here are some key points to consider:
Cleaning up a hoarding mess is a unique and complex task that should never be approached as a DIY project. The presence of biohazard contamination, pest infestations, mold growth, fire hazards, unsafe air quality, and the need for professional tools and chemicals make hoarding cleanup a job for experts. Attempting to tackle hoarding cleanup without professional assistance puts your health and safety at risk and may lead to incomplete or ineffective results.
In addition, professional hoarding cleanup is not just about removing clutter and addressing the visible hazards; it's a comprehensive process that considers the psychological aspects of hoarding disorder and aims to create a safe and supportive living space. By entrusting this challenging task to experts who understand the physical and emotional complexities of hoarding, you can ensure a successful and lasting resolution.
Incorporating legal and ethical considerations highlights the complexity of hoarding cleanup beyond its physical aspects. It underscores why professional expertise is essential to navigate the legal landscape, ensure ethical treatment, and protect the interests of all parties involved.
When facing a hoarding cleanup project, it's crucial to contact professional hoarding cleaners with the expertise, experience, and resources to handle these challenging situations safely and efficiently. Don't let hoarding cleanup overwhelm you; trust the professionals to restore safety and cleanliness to the affected space.
Click for hoarding cleanup resources and guides.
For immediate professional hoarding cleanup service, contact Bio-One of Alabama 24/7 at (205) 937-1708. Your health and peace of mind are our top priorities. Let our expert local team help you restore your environment to a safe and clean condition.
Hoarding cleanup requires specialized training to handle the complexities safely and effectively, such as removing hazardous materials and navigating challenging environments.
Hoarding cleanup involves dealing with large volumes of items, potential hazards, and emotional challenges beyond regular cleaning.
Potential hazards include mold, pests, structural damage, sharp objects, and hazardous chemicals.
While family members may assist, professionals are better equipped with the tools and knowledge to handle hoarding situations safely.
The duration depends on the severity and size of the hoard, but professionals work efficiently to restore safety and cleanliness as quickly as possible.
Professionals aim to conduct the cleanup process respectfully and compassionately, working closely with the homeowner to make informed decisions.
Skilled teams follow strict protocols to safely identify, handle, and dispose of hazardous materials in compliance with regulations.
They often undergo specialized training in handling hazardous materials, biohazards, and cluttered environments to ensure safe and effective cleanup.
Legal issues regarding property rights and safety regulations can arise, so it's vital to consult professionals familiar with these aspects.
A: Approach the situation with empathy and encourage them to seek professional help to assist with the cleanup and any underlying issues.
The word “hoarding” probably evokes a particular image, made more common by shows like Hoarders that highlight extreme examples. In reality, not all hoarders have rooms full of items piled high to the ceiling.
The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (now, there’s a relatable title!) has classified hoarding behavior into five levels on their Clutter-Hoarding Scale.Level 1 Hoarding
At Level 1, a home is not pristine, but the space is still easily accessible and sanitary. There is clutter, but no concern for safety. Most, if not all of us, have been in Level 1. Many people spend most of their time in this stage.
Here are the defining characteristics of this level:
At Level 2, the home is still very livable, but there’s more evidence of disarray. The home is in need of cleaning and may be starting to overwhelm the residents. The hygiene level isn’t optimal.
Most of us bounce between Level 1 and Level 2. However, here are the more defining characteristics of Level 2:
Level 3 is considered the turning point between manageable household disorganization and a more serious issue. Level 3 homes show extreme disorganization and indicate hoarding behavior.
Here are the defining characteristics of this level:
Level 3 households should consider hiring outside help. Although, it’s still possible to get it under control with a concerted effort from the whole family
At Level 4, the home shows excessive clutter.Those living in Level 4 conditions need professional help. At this level, part of getting help includes professional cleaning to transform the house into a safe, hygienic space where people can thrive. Mental health counselors and social workers may also step in to help residents change their habits.
Here are the defining characteristics of this level:
Level 5 is the highest level of hoarding behavior. Level 5 homes are alarmingly hazardous.
They require professionals with safety equipment and training to clean.
Here are the defining characteristics of this level:
If you or someone you know is struggling with these levels of hoarding we are here to help.
You can find more information at https://bioonealabama.com/ or contact us at (205) 937-1708
Clutter is an everyday occurrence and there comes a point when we all need to clean up our messes. Leave things long enough, and we all start to fall into one of the 5 levels of hoarding.
But what are the 5 levels of hoarding?
What moves a messy room from Level 2 to Level 3?
Understanding the hoarding level of your space can help you prioritize which messes are one-person tasks and which may need some help from a back-up team.
Let’s walk through each level of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization’s Clutter-Hoarding Scale to better understand just how normal hoarding is.
There’s no doubt that many of us would like our homes to look as pristine as a real estate listing ad. But life’s hectic! With busy work and family schedules, numerous responsibilities and obligations, and competing priorities it’s easy to put off a small mess for later. However those moments of procrastination stack up to put our home at a Level 1.
Signs of this level of hoarding include clutter and messes that do not threaten your safety:
Ok, that last one MIGHT be dangerous if you’re barefoot.
None of these messes block exits in your home, and they do not cause an immediate bad odor. If we’re honest, we can admit that all of us—at one point or another—have had our home come in on this level of the hoarding scale.
Leaving your house in this state does not necessarily affect your health.
However, it may exacerbate avoidance habits that lead to snacking and more procrastination—which might lead to more clutter, shifting you up the scale.
This is another common level of hoarding. Most of us frequently bounce between Level 1’s clutter and Level 2’s disarray.
At this level, things literally begin to stack up:
At Level 2, the clutter can begin to impact a variety of areas of our lives. Some studies claim intense clutter increases our stress, makes allergies worse, and overall causes us to feel less satisfied with life.
These negative impacts are sometimes the trigger that leads to the situation getting worse.
Level 3 is where things begin to get concerning.
At this point, the mess itself may seem too daunting to tackle, and the increase in clutter results in a decline of cleanliness. There may be piles of objects obstructing multiple exits—or even a whole room used for storage instead of living.
It’s at this stage that pest infestations may become an issue. With the clutter, there are lots of places for unwelcome pests to hide and find food, and infestations of ants, lice, and cockroaches may warrant an exterminator. However, all that clutter makes it difficult for the exterminator to do a good job. Unfortunately, failing to clean up the source may set the stage for another infestation within a few weeks.
Another area of concern may be repairs needed around the home. Work may need to be done, but technicians or repair personnel may not be able to physically get to whatever needs to be fixed. This means small problems may become large ones as minor repairs are left to turn into bigger problems.
This state of things deeply impacts your ability to socialize. Messy and infested living spaces make it difficult to relax with your partner or family. Friends may prefer to outright avoid hangouts at your home. Your loved ones may be concerned about your living situation at this point.
The longer your home sits at Level 3, the higher the chance that leftover messes become long-term damage.
Hygiene and safety take a backseat in a house at Level 4. Long-term spills and messes create bad smells, and much of the house cannot be adequately used for each room’s purpose.
Those whose homes fit this category face daily irritation and inconvenience, all of it eventually leading to high repair bills, tripping hazards, and health hazards.
You may not think tripping hazards are a big deal, but falling over them certainly can be. Depending on how high the stacks are, they could even fall on you and do some damage that way.
There have been well documented cases where people have become trapped in their own home due to tripping hazards. Don’t let that be you!
Health hazards stack up in level 4 almost as quick as the clutter does. Issues like water damage that can no longer be reached lead to structural decay. Larger pests like bats or rodents may make their nests in the attic or basement and contribute to higher possibilities of disease.
A person or family living in this state may find it difficult to be comfortable doing anything.
Tackling the job to get the home back to a healthy and safe state may seem impossible on their own.
This is often what people think of when discussing hoarding behaviors. The situation may be the result of a psychological hoarding disorder or difficulty due to disability. It may have been compounded by depression or generational trauma or habits. The contributing factors are nuanced, varied, and often highly personal.
But whatever the reason, a Level 5 household is in need of serious, professional help.
Those in a Level 5 house live in outright unsafe conditions. On the daily they are coming in contact with:
Not only is it difficult to socialize with others in your home, you may find it difficult to even leave because of the sheer volume of things in the home and the blocked entryways.
Many who are at this stage find themselves disconnected from reality in a number of ways:
At this stage, the structural damage to the home is often irreparable and fire hazards begin to enter the picture.
Houses at level 5 are prone to fires because of the flammable piles of clutter. If a flame were to spark anywhere, it could easily catch something and spread from there.
Not only that, but it’s very difficult for firefighters to enter. If a fire were to start there’d be little to no way of stopping it. With so many flammable objects and no way to enter the home, all it can do is burn.
So how did your home do? Do you have an idea of where your home fits on the hoarding scale? The vast majority of us are on there somewhere, and the good news is that no matter the level your home scores, there is always help available.
After walking through all 5 levels of hoarding, it’s clear we all struggle with cleaning up the house sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with a messy house. It’s a part of normal, everyday life.
However, your health and safety are important, particularly when things advance to those higher levels. When facing a daunting clean-up, here’s quick tip for each level of hoarding:
Your home falls into one of these levels—just like everyone else’s! The next step is determining what you need to get back to a manageable Level 1.
Our team at Bio-One understands messy homes, and we’re here to offer discreet, compassionate help when you or a loved one is trying to dig out from a higher level mess. We offer affordable, professional services that include cleanup, disinfection, and decontamination.
Every job has a unique remediation plan tailored to the specific needs and goals of the client. Rest assured, wherever you may fall on the levels of hoarding, we have the experience and equipment necessary to help you.
Consult with our team today to discuss your situation and determine how much time you can save with professional help.
| Hoarding Is Extremely Common - And Helping Hoarders Is Our Passion |
| Hoarding disorder is an ongoing difficulty throwing away or parting with possessions because you believe that you need to save them. You may experience distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. You gradually keep or gather a huge number of items, regardless of their actual value. Hoarding often creates extremely cramped living conditions with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. You may not be able to use some areas for their intended purpose. When there's no more room inside your home, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage areas. Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your daily functioning. People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, so getting them to take part in treatment can be challenging. THE 5 LEVELS OF HOARDING LEVEL 1 - Minor Clutter LEVEL 2 - Clutter blocking one exit, pet feces in one area, some minor electrical/plumbing problems, overflowing trash cans, dirty dishes piling up, minor mold growth. LEVEL 3 - Extreme disorganization throughout home, insect infestation, piles of objects in key living areas, multiple broken appliances, spills not cleaned for days/weeks, one room not being used anymore for its intended purpose LEVEL 4 - Structural damage to home, plumbing not operating properly, excessive amount of pets and pet waste, clutter preventing most exits and stairs, rotting food, odors, sewage backups. LEVEL 5 - Severe unsanitary conditions, entire living space unusable, no ventilation, irreparable damage to home’s structure, no utilities working, pervasive mold, animals in home are danger to humans, larger pest infestation (rodents, snakes, insects), dead animals in home. Bio-One can help at any stage, and can help in any capacity. From helping families meticulously go through item by item to locate valuables, to helping getting ready for an estate sale, and emptying an entire house, performing demolition and deep cleaning sanitization - Bio-One is here to help. Bio-One also specializes in biohazard cleanup, mold remediation, sewage backup cleanup, rodent droppings cleanup, odor removal and more. Bio-One Huntsville: 256-677-6111 Bio-One Birmingham: 205-937-1708 Bio-One Montgomery: 334-523-9191 |
Rebecca Wallace, Bio-One owner, recently visited with Arizona Midday to share how the Bio-One team makes a difference on and off the job in Arizona and throughout the United States.
Arizona Midday - "Well we've got some help for your home right now. If you're feeling overwhelmed by a clean-up project, we've got help for you today. Rebecca Wallace is with Bio-One. Hi Rebecca. What is Bio-One?"
Rebecca - "So Bio-One is known for crime and trauma scene clean-up. However, we do a lot more than just that. We help people when there is a hoarding situation, so that they can regain their home and their lives again. We help with infectious disease decontamination, rodent droppings, odor abatement, basically if you think you might need a respirator to do the job we're the people you want to call."
Arizona Midday - "Wow, that's incredible. It's stuff we don't want to do. What made you decide to get into this line of work?"
Rebecca - "So, me and my husband live in Flagstaff most of the time and we were talking with some first responders and heard how when people pass away or they're hoarders there is no one that can help them. There's just no one who does this kind of work. So we decided we want to be able to help our community, help those around us during a time of need so they can actually move forward in their lives and not have to deal with the mess of maybe things that have happened that they don't want to have to think about."
Arizona Midday - "I love that idea. So in order to help your clients as much as possible, do you work with other companies? Tell me about that if you do."
Rebecca - "Yes, we do. We work with quite a few other companies, because what we do is just a piece of a whole puzzle. So we work with a lot of restoration companies, Best Option Restoration, they are state-wide like us so they can help us anywhere as well. We work with animal rescues, so if there is a hoarding situation that animals are involved in we can get the animals out safely and get them rehabilitated. We work with quite a few non-profits that help first responders if they're in a time of need or crisis. It's across the board. We work with all kinds of different people. Contractors. Mental health professionals. Anyone that can be a piece of that puzzle with us, we want to work with them.
Arizona Midday - "Oh, I love that. So what areas of Arizona does Bio-One cover?"
Rebecca - "We have offices all the way down from Tucson up to Flagstaff, and everything in-between. Our goal is to be able to help our clients within 90 minutes or less if there is an emergency. So we have offices everywhere. Any we're national. We have 120 offices throughout the US as well.
Arizona Midday - "Wow. That's incredible. So you work with businesses. You work with non-profits, but you're also really involved in the community too, right? Tell me about that."
Rebecca - "Yeah we are. It's important for us to give back. Our community is important. We live here. We're part of it. So in 2020 alone, we gave out over 25,000 bottles of chemicals that are approved by the EPA for COVID-19 decontamination. We have blood drives all throughout Arizona to help with the blood shortage. We donate PPE to first responders and victim advocates. And we have BBQ's throughout the state as well for all of our first responders just to tell them thank you for what they've been doing. They work hard and we want to make sure that they know we care.
Arizona Midday - "Rebecca Wallace, incredible work that you're doing with Bio-One. And thank you so much for spending time with us today.
Rebecca - "Thank you for having me."
