If you know of a hoarder and he has changed his ways, then you have to immediately schedule for a hoarding clean up so, there will be no turning back. While you can personally help him get rid of the unnecessary stuff around the house, there are professionals who can help. As a matter of fact, there’s a better process in doing these things.

There’s no doubt that the mess left by a hoarder is too big to handle by just one person alone. It’s not just a huge job, but it can also be a dangerous one as well. You don’t know what’s lying under that pile of mess so it’s better to be prepared for the worst. To better handle a hoarder cleanup process, here are some useful tips to follow:

1. Wear face masks and gloves.

You don’t know how long the mess has been sitting there and as such, there might be a lot of germs, bacteria, and biohazards thriving in the area. Cleaning up after a hoarder exposes you to all sorts of microorganisms that could penetrate your body through your hands and nose. Wearing protective gear will ensure your safety throughout the process.

2. Separate items properly.

When sorting through the items of a hoarder, be sure that you have at least three boxes nearby. Toss each item in the box that’s meant for keeping, for donation, or for throwing away. All items that haven’t been used for a long time have to be thrown away, along with all the items that are broken.

3. Understand the situation.

Hoarding is considered a mental health condition. It is usually a symptom of another mental disorder so these people really need your help. Some hoarding tendencies are associated with OCPD, OCD, and ADHD.

4. Seek help if needed.

You don’t have to deal with a hoarder’s mess or issues on your own. There are a lot of companies and organizations that are willing to help. Seek help if you need it, especially when it comes to hoarder cleanup. Individual who consider themselves as hoarders can’t stand losing the items that they have been keeping for a year. For such situations, it is best that you schedule them for counseling.

5. Understand what you’re up against.

It’s not a good idea to enter a hoarder’s home without first knowing what he or she tends to hoard. Some people are animal hoarders, which mean you’re going to deal with living things. If you don’t have any experience with dealing with biohazards, it is highly encouraged that you hire a company that can better deal with that instead.

Hoarding is something that has to be handled professionally in every level. While you think that it’s not a major concern, it can really be a dangerous situation for you and for the hoarder himself. There are people who are more than willing to reach out to you to provide assistance. Keep in touch with them as they are the ones that have many years of experience in dealing with such a situation.