When Hoarding Clutter Becomes a Danger

Do you know people that struggle with some form of hoarding? If this problem is not kept under control, it could have devastating effects on the individual and their home.  Hoarding is a disorder in which people become extreme collectors of anything including personal items, trash, and even animals.  When the hoard becomes too large, it causes problems that include increased health risks and other personal safety risks.  It is important to be able to notice the signs of hoarding and help those who struggle with it before hoarding clutter becomes a danger.

Hoarding Cleanup and Services

Personal Safety

Large hoards often disrupt the flow of the house by blocking off certain passageways and exits.  This creates a dangerous situation because the weight of the hoard can lead to structural damages within the home and if the hoard is blocking exits, it could turn emergency situations deadly.  There is also a risk of parts of the hoard falling over on people within the house.

Biohazard Danger

Intense hoarding almost always leads to unsanitary living conditions because cleaning the house around the hoard is impossible and the buildup of the clutter can result in mold growth or other biohazards from garbage and animal corpses or feces.  These conditions can lead to a range of health problems such as allergies and respiratory issues.  If the hoard contains a good amount of garbage, this could also attract infestations from insects, rats, and other pests.  When cleaning out a hoarder’s home, make sure to contact a company that specializes in biohazard cleanup and removal to remove all biohazards and restore the sanitary conditions of the home.

Fire Hazard

Large hoards greatly increase the risk of a house fire because they typically contain materials such as paper, clothing, and garbage that are very flammable.  A fire could rip through a hoard very quickly and if the hoard blocks access to the home’s exits, this creates a very deadly situation in which the individuals in the home cannot escape.

Animal Hoarding

Some cases of hoarding may involve animal hoarding which presents even more potential hazards.  Large animal populations in the home will produce enough waste to create unhealthy conditions and lead to starvation, disease, and death among the animals.  The accumulated waste will also boost ammonia levels which can be very dangerous to the health of those in the home.  Dead and decomposing animals create a biohazard danger as well and they must be removed by a specialized professional.

The problems described here are generally the result of extreme hoarding and they will occur if the problem is not addressed.  When helping someone who struggles with hoarding, it is important to have patience and be sensitive because hoarders become emotionally attached to everything in their hoard.  Cleaning out their homes can be an emotionally intense experience for them and approaching them with a sense of compassion can help them handle these changes.  It is recommended to call a professional cleaning company that specializes in biohazard cleanup and removal to ensure that the entire hoard is removed and the home is restored to a sanitary condition.

About Luke Armstrong

Expert in emergency fire and water restoration services, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, mold removal, as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning services. Contributor to several restoration and cleaning blogs.