It’s not unusual to want to save items that have meaning to us. But when someone has difficulty getting rid of possessions on a large scale, it can be known as hoarding. This is a dangerous habit, and if it’s not taken care of quickly it can be damaging to one’s health. These damages can affect anyone who enters the space, not only those living in it. With that, a hoarding cleanup can be dangerous if it’s not done by professionals. ServiceMaster of Baltimore wants you to understand the hazards of hoarding and how their professional cleanup services can help.
Potential Health Hazards
There are many different ways that hoarding can be hazardous to your health. This includes if you try to clean up a hoarding situation without the necessary expertise. Here are some of the ways it can be dangerous:
- If mold is present it can cause breathing problems, especially to people who may be allergic. Because mold typically grows in hidden areas, residents may not know it exists behind or within the clutter. Because certain mold spores can release into the air, a licensed professional should be called to clean up any signs of mold and lessen any future damage to the property or the health of its residents.
- When cleaning any space it’s important to have good ventilation so toxins can be released. Noxious fumes, or fumes that are physically harmful to us, can be emitted when cleaning a hoarder’s space. If the area is so filled with items that there is no air flow, it can become hazardous. Licensed professionals follow safety protocols for such situations.
- When a space has more items than it can comfortably hold, it can cause different kinds of blockages, such as hindered pathways and property airways. Depending on how the items are arranged, they may limit the ways one can get around the home. This not only puts those living in the home at risk, but also poses a risk to emergency workers. They may take longer getting to someone during an emergency, or put their safety at risk from getting trapped. Additionally, sometimes items may be blocking vents or other airways, limiting oxygen in the home.
- When there is so much clutter inside of a particular property, it can be hard to know when certain repairs are needed. This can lead to structural damage of the property if left alone for too long. It could get so bad that structures may be weakened, or even collapse it not attended to.
Benefits of a Professional Hoarding Cleanup
Because of all the risks included with a hoarding cleanup, you shouldn’t attempt to do so on your own. It’s important to understand how and why you need a professional cleanup service, so you don’t become susceptible to any hazardous materials. A hoarding cleanup crew will know what precautions need to be taken to ensure everyone’s safety. This includes problems that are too physically demanding for someone to do alone.
ServiceMaster of Baltimore’s technicians understand that successfully handling a hoarding situation requires an honest, realistic approach. This includes certain skills that can only come from specialized training and a 60-year legacy of professional cleaning. Our experts will guide you through every step of the process in as painless a manner as possible.
Give us a call today at 410-780-1700 to find out how we can help.