Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash
Hoarding cleanup is never a fun topic of discussion. The definition of hoarding is not always just someone who is “unclean.” It is actually considered a mental disorder. While others see a mess that needs some major hoarding cleanup, the victim sees things with meaning to them. Hoarding disorders affect up to 6% of the population in the U.S. alone.
While we understand this is a disorder, it’s also important to understand that hoarding can be very dangerous. Let’s talk about how.
Safety
Hoarding can lead to a safety risk. As things pile up, there is generally little to no organization to them. In some cases, items will clutter up pathways or be placed in risky positions where they could fall. Those piles could be blocking an air vent or could actually be a fire risk.
If something catches on fire, there will be far more fuel for the fire. There’s also the chance that your exits are going to be blocked, making it hard to get out.
Clutter could cause you to injure yourself or could lead to potential health risks as well. There are many safety reasons to seek hoarding cleanup.
Health Risks of Avoiding Hoarding Cleanup
There are quite a few different ways that hoarding can lead to health issues. One of the most common is that animals can leave behind messes or even corpses in the clutter and no one will ever know. If the owner has pets, those pets will likely use the cluttered spaces as their personal bathrooms. Chances are, they can’t get to their original bathroom. It’s easy for animal feces and urine to build up. This leads to hazards from the feces, as well as ammonia buildup.
Extended clutter from hoarding can hide any number of issues, most of which are related to sanitation. Can you really keep a space clean when it is filled with clutter?
All of these details can expose the inhabitants to any number of health ailments, even if they are otherwise healthy.
Injury
A person could be injured living among hoarding clutter. You have an increased fall risk, as well as the potential for items to fall on you and harm you. With hoarding clutter, anyone in the home is far more prone to accidents and falls. The likelihood of emergencies is intensified.
If an injury or emergency were to occur, it could be very hard for the emergency services to get to you. If they can’t get to you in a timely manner, this could, unfortunately, lead to further injury or even death, depending on the circumstances.
Hoarding Cleanup
If you or someone you know needs assistance with hoarding, Austin Bio Clean can help. This can be a very sensitive topic for some people. We make an effort to handle every situation with discretion. We want you to feel safe and taken care of while we handle an unhealthy and unsafe scenario alongside you.
Every situation is different and we recognize and work in that capacity. We have the appropriate equipment to handle your situation quickly and efficiently.
