Situation
Hoarding cleanup when there are biohazards
A crowded home becomes a biohazard job when there is animal or human waste, rodent droppings, or food that has spoiled for a long time. That waste calls for protective gear and lawful disposal, whatever is decided about the rest of the contents.
Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Why droppings need care
Sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings, urine or nesting material can put particles into the air you breathe. The CDC's advice is to air the space out, soak the material with bleach solution or a registered disinfectant, and wipe it up, with extra protection where an infestation is heavy (CDC).
In a heavily cluttered home that is hard to do safely, which is the point where a cleanup company is worth calling.
Starting with the person
If the person who lives there is alive and involved, the cleanup goes better when they are part of the decisions. Ask the company how it handles items the person wants to keep, and whether it can work room by room rather than all at once.
If animals live in the home, or did, animal control can advise on them. In Providence the state listing gives 401-272-3121 for animal control (state listing); each nearby city's number is on its page under Places.
If the home is a rental, read Rental properties for what landlords and tenants should do.
Questions to ask
- Which parts of the home count as biohazard work, and which are ordinary clearing?
- How will you protect the rest of the building while you work?
- What happens to papers, photos and valuables you find?
- Can the price be set room by room?
When you are ready, one call is enough
You will speak with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works around Providence. Say what happened in your own words, ask what they would do and how they price it, then decide. Nothing is agreed until you say yes.
Speak with an independent cleanup company
Call (401) 498-1593Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. More in the referral disclosure and privacy policy pages.