Hoarder house cleaning, stage by stage

This site connects you with independent hoarding cleanup providers near you. It does not do the cleanup itself.

Who this page is for

This page is about a home someone still lives in, whether that is your own home or the home of a parent, partner or friend. If the person has moved out or passed away, the job is different, and the guide to hoarder cleanouts covers it. If animals have been living in the home, start with animal hoarding, because the animals’ care comes first.

The usual stages of a hoarding cleanup

Every provider works a little differently, and every home is different. This is the general shape of the work when it is done with care.

A first conversation, and consent

It starts with talking, usually by phone. A good provider asks who lives in the home, what worries you most and what the person living there wants. Nothing should happen without that person’s agreement. If they are not ready, a provider who pushes is not the right provider.

A walk-through and an assessment

If the person agrees to a visit, the provider looks at each room to understand how full it is, what hazards there are and how much time the job may need. Some use a published scale (see below) to describe the level of clutter. This is also when you can ask for a written estimate.

Safety first

Before any sorting, the first goals are usually the ones that protect life: a clear path to the exits, a stove with nothing stored on it, working smoke alarms and space for emergency workers. The National Fire Protection Association warns that blocked exits can stop people from escaping a fire and that falling items injure many residents.

A written plan made with the resident

The plan sets out which rooms come first, what kinds of things are kept and how everything else is sorted. Many teams use four simple groups: keep, donate, recycle and discard. The person decides what goes in each. A plan can be as small as one room, or one path through the home.

Sorting together

Sorting is done with the resident present wherever possible, item by item or box by box. Papers, photos, cash, jewelry and keepsakes are set aside, never thrown out in a rush. Breaks are part of the work. Deciding about one’s own things is tiring, and a provider who respects that usually gets further.

Removal and hauling

What the person has agreed to let go of is carried out and taken to donation, recycling or disposal. Larger jobs may need a dumpster; ask the provider how they arrange it and where it will sit.

Hazard cleanup, cleaning and deodorizing

Once rooms are clear, surfaces and floors can be cleaned and sanitized and odors treated. Hazards such as rodent droppings, mold and broken glass are handled with care and the right protective gear (more on these below).

Repairs, then follow-up

Clearing a home can reveal damage that has been hidden for years: leaks, broken fixtures, damaged floors. Repairs belong to the right trade, such as a plumber or electrician. Follow-up matters most. Ongoing support from a therapist or a trained organizer helps keep a home safe after the cleanup crew has gone.

How clutter levels are described

Providers and clinicians sometimes use a scale to describe how full a home is. Two are common.

• The Clutter Image Rating, published by the International OCD Foundation, uses three sets of nine pictures of a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom. The IOCDF says rooms rated at picture 4 or higher indicate a probable hoarding problem.
• The Clutter-Hoarding Scale from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, a nonprofit, describes five levels from I (little or no clutter) to V. The ICD says it is an observational guide for the home only and is not meant for clinical diagnosis.

A level is a planning tool, not a judgment. It helps a provider decide how much protective gear the work needs and how many people and days to plan for. Our article on the levels of hoarding goes into more detail.

Hazards that call for help

These are reasons to bring in a provider, not jobs to take on alone.

Hazard	What the guidance says	Source
Rodent droppings and nests	Do not sweep or vacuum them; wear rubber or plastic gloves; soak them with a bleach solution first	CDC
Mold	People can usually clean it themselves only when the area is under about 10 square feet; porous materials may need to go	EPA
Broken glass and sharps	Never pick up possibly contaminated broken glass with your hands; use a brush and dustpan or tongs	OSHA
Fire load and falling items	Blocked exits and heavy piles put residents and firefighters at risk	NFPA

What to ask a hoarder house cleaning service

• Do you work with the person present, at their pace, and stop when they need a break?
• How do you handle papers, photos, cash and keepsakes?
• Will we agree a written plan and a written estimate before work starts?
• Where do donated and recycled items go?
• Do you use unmarked vehicles or plain clothing, if privacy matters to us?
• If there are biohazards, are you registered for trauma scene work where our state requires it?
• Can you work alongside a therapist or organizer, and do you offer follow-up visits?

Paying for the cleanup

There is no reliable published national price for a hoarding cleanup, so this site gives no dollar figures. The cost depends on the size of the home, the level of clutter, hazards, disposal fees and the number of crew days. Homeowners insurance usually does not cover hoarding cleanup; ask your insurer. Our article on hoarder cleanup cost explains what drives the price.

Questions people ask