

THE AFFORDABLE HOARDING AND CLUTTER CLEANUP PROFESSIONALS IN UTAH
We Understand That It's More Than Just A Cleaning
Hoarding is a serious, complex mental health issue that is estimated to affect 5-7% of the population. That would include around 19 million Americans and up to 200,000 of people in Utah.The disorder makes it difficult for people to throw away anything that they own, even if it has no value at all.
Hoarding situations can leave a home dangerously unhealthy and even physically unstable.
The only way to address it is to take dramatic steps to clean the environment, removing all hazards and sanitizing the area so it is not such a detriment to a person’s health.
It is also a fairly dangerous job because technicians doing a hoarding cleanup may have to climb over debris or even through it in order to get to the person and to clean.
They may also be exposed to dangerous or unhealthy substances like mold, rotten food, animal or human feces, urine, and a host of other harmful materials.
A hoarding situation is typically not the type of cleanup that the average person can safely take on - it requires professional assistance, professionals like Steri-Clean Utah.
Anatomy of a Hoarding Situation
Hoarding disorder was once a shameful secret that no one talked about. The out of control clutter and accumulation of things was kept behind closed doors most of the time and even if it spilled out into the yard or outbuildings, not much was said.
It was easier to look the other way.
When shows like Hoarders began to surface, it brought the disorder front and center while bringing a very large viewing public directly into some of the worst hoarding situations in the country.
From a clinical standpoint, collecting a bunch of stuff doesn’t necessarily make a person a hoarder. When a person’s ability to function is significantly impacted, or one’s home can be used how it should, it moves the situation into the hoarder category:
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If they are unable to cook or prepare meals in their own home
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If their situation makes them a threat to others
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If they are not able to safely live in their own home
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If access into the home is severely restricted because of the debris
This can mean that what lies behind those closed doors is far worse than anyone can imagine and has the potential to be very harmful.
Why You May Need a Professional Hoarding Cleanup
Cleaning a hoarding situation is not the same as cleaning most people’s homes.
A hoarding situation may involve items stacked precariously, perhaps even reaching the ceiling. There may be a path or tunnel that the inhabitant uses to get from one section to another. Entire rooms may be filled, hallways and staircases completely or partially blocked, and the items may litter the floor so that walking through requires balancing on piles of debris.
These situations may also involve rotten food, animal carcasses, human or animal feces, urine, stagnant, standing water, and more - all of which could contain harmful bacteria and disease.
The area must be cleaned by someone trained in hoarding cleanup. This is the only way to execute it safely.
Steri-Clean Utah Safely Manages Hoarding Situations
Our professional technicians address each hoarding situation on a case by case basis. They approach with compassion, expertise, and a true concern for the people involved.
We begin by thoroughly assessing the situation by examining as much of the home as we can access. Next, we discuss our findings with the owner and work together to create some cleanup goals. From there, we develop a detailed plan that is designed to achieve those goals.
Some of the services we perform include:
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General cleaning
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Clutter removal
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Debris removal compliant with local codes
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Cleaning items that are salvageable
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Biohazard disposal compliant with local codes.
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Coordinate recycling services
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Sanitizing
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Help with paperwork required by agencies or governments
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Aid in distributing donations
Hoarding situations often involve serious contamination. As a measure of protection, our technicians are required to wear protective gear including special jumpsuits, booties, face masks, and gloves.
The Dangers of Hoarding
Hoarding can be very dangerous on many levels. It goes far deeper than just collecting
a lot of stuff.
It can cause structural damage to the home including weakening the supports, breaking walls, doors, and stairs, rotting floors and walls, and cave-ins.
The people living in the hoarding situation may experience health issues including allergies, respiratory problems, and even serious diseases caused by exposure to contaminated substances.
A hoarding environment often has tripping hazards, pest infestations, mold growth, fire hazard, and piles that can easily fall on a person and cause injury.
From a mental health standpoint, hoarding causes anxiety, stress, and depression.
Hoarding is dangerous and unhealthy. If you struggle with hoarding or know someone who does, get help with a mental health professional who specializes in the disorder.
When you need a hoarding cleanup company, you can count on the experts at Steri-Clean Utah. Give us a call today and speak to one of our compassionate, knowledgeable representatives and find out how we can help you.
Our national 24 hour telephone number is 1-888-577-7206