How to Clean after Hoarding

Cleaning out a house that has been used for hoarding can be a difficult task. Once you or your loved one has completed cleaning out a home overtaken by hoarding, cleaning and disinfecting the house is next. 

At A-1 Hauling, we've put together a guide on completing a heavy-duty clean of the home. 

Start By Clearing Out The Trash

Taking care of the piles of accumulated garbage and other items is one of the home cleaner's first and most laborious tasks. To help make the process more efficient, you will need the following:

Help From Family, Friends or Professionals

To handle the junk removal, you will need two or three strong people to assist you, depending on the size of the home and the extent of the cleanout. Remember that you may need to remove heavy items like furniture that can require two or three people to move. 

Our team has extensive experience in assisting with house cleanouts, and we are happy to provide assistance and guidance to you during this process. 

Heavy Duty Trash Bags

We recommend getting a large box of heavy-duty garbage bags to pack the trash. Check that the garbage bags are thick enough to withstand being packed full. You can often find contractor garbage bags stronger than your typical kitchen garbage bag. 

Gloves

These will be used for your safety, protecting your hands from unsanitary substances. 

Cleaning and Disinfecting Products

A significant part of this project will be to clean and sanitize the home once all the junk has been removed. With a large amount of debris, there are likely bacteria and germs all over the home's surfaces, making it critical to disinfect and sanitize. 

Professional Home Cleanout Services

Rather than dirtying your vehicle with bags of trash or dirty furniture, you should consider calling A-1 Hauling to gather your trash and take it to the dump. This eliminates the risk of you stinking up your vehicle or damaging it trying to haul heavy trash and furniture away and saves you the trouble of disposing of the garbage. 

Clear Off and Sanitize the Floors

Evaluate the flooring to determine if you need to have a professional carpet cleaner or floor waxer come in to restore the floors. To ensure the floors are properly cleaned, we recommend that you:

Mop the Tile or Hard Flooring

Use a mop and heavy-duty tile cleaner or floorboard cleaner to mop all hard flooring surfaces in the home. This may need to be completed three or four times. 

Clean the Carpets

After years of having junk piled on top, the carpet may have small pieces of debris or liquid matted to the carpet. We recommend using a professional-grade steamer to clean the carpets. 

In some cases, the flooring may be too damaged to clean and will need to be repaired or replaced. 

Don't Skip the Small Areas

Be sure to clean under furniture, get the cobwebs out of the corners of the home, and dust off the ceiling fan to ensure you get a great deep clean. 

Disinfect All Surfaces of the Home

A hoarder's home can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, making disinfection critical. We recommend using a heavy-duty product such as Lysol or Clorox or an industrial strength cleaner as needed. 

Be sure to wipe down all counters and other hard surfaces throughout the home, even if it looks clean. You also need to wash and disinfect all fabrics and furniture. 

Clean the Bathroom

This is likely one of the more dirty areas of the home. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from the cleaning fumes. If they have hoarded various toiletries, you will likely need to throw them away as they may have accumulated mold or are otherwise unusable. Once the bathroom is cleared of toiletries, be sure to clean the toilet and disinfect it. The shower will also need to be cleaned and disinfected. 

Deodorize The Home

You can use products like Febreeze or Glade to help freshen any of the smelly areas of the home. 

Home Cleanout Services in Pittsburgh

At A-1 Hauling, we understand how difficult cleaning out a hoarding situation can be. Our caring and compassionate team is here to help with your house cleanout needs. Contact us today to learn more!