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How To Help a Hoarder Clean
April 17, 2014
What To Wear When Cleaning A Hoarder’s House
April 19, 2014
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How to Declutter A Hoarder’s House

Excessive clutter is common in all houses where hoarding is an issue.  Many times, when people have not helped in a hoarding environment before, the task seems impossible.  However, after helping in over 450 hoarding cleanup environments, I have listed some great ways you can be of assistance while helping to declutter a hoarder’s house.  Another tool you should consider is a fire extinguisher, which should be left outside of the entrance of the home being used (multiple fire extinguishers if multiple entrances are being used).  Learn to use the fire extinguisher before staring the job, in case you need to use it.

 First, make sure you are working safely.  In many hoarding environments, there are a wide variety of hazards that you need to be aware of before you begin work.  In most environments, you will want to wear rubber or vinyl disposable gloves, which you will need to inspect often to ensure there are no holes or tears.  In extreme hoarding houses, you will want to wear a pair of leather gloves over the top of the disposable gloves to reduce the likelihood of cuts and scrapes.  Next, you may want to wear an N-95 disposable mask, which can be bought at any hardware or box store.  These masks deter the amount of airborne particulates that can be inhaled.  Mold, mildew, dust, dust mites, and other small airbourne particles are easily inhaled if proper respiratory protection is not worn.  Boots are always recommended in working in hoarding environments, as many times the floor may not be completely visible at all times and there is an increased risk of falling items.  I would always suggest having hand sanitizer present along with a small medical kit.


Next, have the person with the hoarding disorder (I don’t approve of the use of the word hoarder) to identify any trash and debris that can be removed from the home.  Focus on removing items that are obviously trash or items that will no longer be used in the home after the job is complete.  Keep in mind that the more items that can be permanently removed from the house, the easier it will be to clean and organize the home after job is complete.  Start in a room closest to an exit and work your way in.  You don’t have to clean the entire room before starting another room, but you do need to make enough progress in the first room that starting another room will not compound the problem.  Make sure the path that you create is kept free of debris, as it is easy to trip in hoarding houses.

When enough progress is made, inspect the home for potential fire hazards.  Fire hazards can be excessive paper on or near the stove or pilot lights, too many electrical cords plugged into a wall outlet, a damaged or frayed extension cord, a door or window that is mostly or completely blocked by debris, excessive clutter on the stairs inhibiting movement, etc.  Identifying and correcting fire hazards could literally be the difference between surviving during a fire and being trapped in the home if a fire occurs.

Once the debris and trash has been removed and the fire hazards have been addressed, you can begin to clear out one room at a time.  Remove all items from one room, then clean the room from top to bottom, using a medical grade disinfectant.  Make sure you clean the ceilings and ceiling fan blades, interior windows, blinds, curtains, window sills, doors, baseboards, light switch covers, and closets.  This may be a good time to replace light bulbs as well.  When the room has been properly cleaned and sanitizied, you can begin to bring in large furniture that will remain in the home.  Make sure each piece of furniture is properly dusted and cleaned and place it in the area where it will remain after you finish the job.  Once the furniture is placed, you can then begin to return items to the room.  If the task is too overwhelming, you can always hire a hoarding cleanup company /hoarder-cleaning-columbia-sc.  Encourage the person with the hoarding disorder to keep anything that will not be used in the next year to get rid of the items, or store the items outside of the house, whether it be a storage unit or a shed.  Observing these suggestions will help you tremendously when working in a hoarder’s house.

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Palmetto Commercial Services 801 Ohio Street, Columbia, SC 29201

What Our Clients Say About US

Palmetto Commercial Services
5.0
Based on 118 reviews
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He was very polite, he explained what steps needed to be done and he completed it. I would recommend his company to anyone.
michael lawton
michael lawton
23:29 14 Jan 21
Our company has used and referred Palmetto Commercial Services for years. They have always been responsive to our needs and exceeded our expectations. Their industry knowledge and experience is valuable. Robin G Dolge, General Manager DOOR TO DOOR FLOORS, INC.
Robin Gilbert
Robin Gilbert
19:20 18 Dec 20
There team showed up on time ready to work. Had major rental properties clean outs, and they worked miracles. Would strongly recommend.
Kevin Padgett
Kevin Padgett
01:57 14 Dec 20
Wisguere Dormevil
Wisguere Dormevil
22:48 13 Dec 20
Mike was amazing he came out and took care of disinfecting our house. He was very polite and knowledgeable about the spray. Thank you for all you do.
Crystal Stroman
Crystal Stroman
22:06 12 Dec 20
Mike did a great job for me and my family.. I would not hesitate to use him again. He is so knowledgeable about COVID. Thanks Mike for being so professional.
Vickie Smith
Vickie Smith
21:51 12 Dec 20
Talbert Poston
Talbert Poston
03:39 12 Dec 20
Dependable, loyal, trustworthy and responsive.
Dana Marquez
Dana Marquez
15:07 03 Dec 20
Mike did a great job for me and my family.. I would not hesitate to use him again .. honest and real.. great company
Ann Smith
Ann Smith
01:42 27 Nov 20
Mike is the real deal. Very professional and excellent customer service. Never once hesitated when I asked him to clean my home after I was diagnosed with Covid.
Amanda Shealy
Amanda Shealy
01:25 22 Nov 20
He was very prompt and provided a good thorough cleaning. The process was explained and questions were answered in a very professional manner.
Stephen Burroughs
Stephen Burroughs
13:43 19 Nov 20
Mike Young came and did a fantastic job with the cleaning, very professional. Would highly recommend and will use again for any future need!
Jill Burroughs
Jill Burroughs
14:40 17 Nov 20
Very professional! Took the time to explain the product and was very thorough!! Highly recommend Palmetto Commercial Services ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heather Lucas
Heather Lucas
00:55 14 Nov 20
This company is amazing. They were the quickest to respond and dispatch of any company I have dealt with. Their attention to detail is second to none. I have a retail spot we need to get ready to open and they were there next day to clean and make it ready for customers. Thank you so much!!
Stephen Hennessey
Stephen Hennessey
12:08 10 Nov 20
I called for service and they sent out a guy (Mike I think). They sent him out the same morning I called and finished before we opened for business. Everything smelled freshly cleaned and disinfected.
Jessica C
Jessica C
15:43 08 Nov 20
The team was very professional and conscientious about their job! They have a proven record of a steady and safe staff! Job well done!
Kathy Ames
Kathy Ames
15:38 05 Nov 20
Mike goes out of his way to make sure his clients are happy and satisfied. Definitely a 5 star company
Jacob Mitchell
Jacob Mitchell
13:02 05 Nov 20
George Arrowood
George Arrowood
22:21 22 Oct 20
Mike Young, who built Palmetto Commercial Services from the ground up, serviced the building where I worked. It was always “a job well done” and smelled so fresh and clean when we came in every morning. He followed up with us at least weekly, just to be sure everything was being taken care of. He also would notify us if he noticed items that needed extra attention such as light bulbs out, a toilet that the water continued running, or doors that were sticking or failed to close properly. He was the overall professional in charge of our building. I’m retired now, and miss his friendly, courteous check-ins.On a completely different level, but a very important level, I want to mention a recent personal situation. My daughter, a young woman, paralyzed from a stroke, had to get out of a dangerous living situation, in a hurry. I was distraught with worry and didn’t know where to turn. I knew she would need a truck and dependable men to help move her out, and into a safe location. I thought of Mike, contacted him and told him the situation. Even though this is not his usual “thing”, without hesitation he said “tell me where, and when.” With only a couple days notice, he showed up with truck and men, at the exact time he said!! Job done, and he handled every detail expertly. My daughter is in a new safe place, can’t put a price on that. This is the kind of man Mike is. He represents himself and his company, and Columbia perfectly. This humble man deserves an applause, and my forever gratitude. Thank you, Mike.
Kristyne Hall
Kristyne Hall
17:30 09 Oct 20
Fantastic service, wonderful response time, all around amazing experience. I would recommend their services highly to anyone.
Andrew Ewing
Andrew Ewing
12:25 30 Sep 20
Mike is SUPER knowledgeable about all things in the commercial cleaning industry! They helped a friend with janitorial services, and did a deep cleaning for their business. They also did a great job with hoarding clean up and they can even help kill the C O V Monster!!
Sterling Archer
Sterling Archer
14:07 22 Sep 20
Mike and his team are always professional. They go above and beyond! Thanks, Mike!
Guy Caskey
Guy Caskey
12:13 22 Sep 20
Mike and his team helped me out by letting me shadow them on a covid fogging. They showed me what foggers and PPE to use. That made me feel much more comfortable, and confident that I could do it on my own for the safety of my clients and employee’s.Thanks Mike! I really appreciate it!
Heather Jeffcoat
Heather Jeffcoat
18:40 20 Aug 20
Mike & his staff were amazing to work with. They were able to help me clean out my dad’s home. You will not find a company with more integrity than PCS!
BRIAN SIMON
BRIAN SIMON
23:54 18 Aug 20
Mike is highly educated in his field and light years ahead of everyone else. He's definitely the man you want to get the job done right.
Traeger Mechling
Traeger Mechling
02:10 15 Aug 20
Mike and his team are absolutely AMAZING! We had an old fridge that didn’t work and we needed it gone! We didn’t have a truck at the time so Mike of course offered his services!! Super easy and convenient!! I 100% recommend them!!
Brittany Potts
Brittany Potts
17:35 11 Aug 20
Mike and his team are nothing short of amazing. Very professional and always on time. Mike is the guy you want handling all of your commercial cleaning. He’s a solid guy and does a great job. Highly recommend.
Alex Salmon
Alex Salmon
12:39 11 Aug 20
Mike and his team are absolutely amazing , not only did they do a amazing job with the cleaning services he also educated us in all the aspects of proper disinfection
Jackie Mitchell
Jackie Mitchell
01:14 08 Aug 20
Mike has extensive knowledge of proper cleaning protocols during this pandemic. He is very professional and does a thorough job cleaning and sanitizing. I highly recommend Mike for any of your cleaning needs!
Faith Ramsay
Faith Ramsay
00:08 08 Aug 20
PCS provides a haul off service for me. They arrived on time. They were professional and did a great job!
Tonya Conway
Tonya Conway
23:55 07 Aug 20
Mike and his team have been instrumental in educating me and my team about Covid-19 concerns and issues. This has helped maintain a safer environment for my employees and clients. Mike's attention to detail and helpful tips have also helped me maintain a safe household during this strange and difficult time.Thank you, Mike for all that you do for me professionally and personally.
Heather Leigh
Heather Leigh
13:43 03 Aug 20
I've used Palmetto Commercial Services for several years. Mike & his crew have always done an great job from major trash-outs to cleaning. I would highly recommend them. They are very professional and trust worthy.
Terrie Ettman
Terrie Ettman
10:50 27 Jul 20
Always prompt and professional service. They expertly cleaned our HOA's office and event hosting space weekly for over 2 years. This included cleaning up after events concluded, which was often times well after midnight, and included much more cleaning than the standard weekly cleaning. We could not have asked for a more professional and efficient company to address these needs.
Brian Pierce
Brian Pierce
15:35 24 Jul 20
Mike and his company are very reliable and efficient. We will definitely do business with them again!
Alyssa Colchin
Alyssa Colchin
21:56 23 Jul 20
Not only a quality cleaning company, but Mike and his team have supported many amazing charitable causes for as long as I can remember! I highly recommend Palmetto Commercial Services! Great service, great people!!!
Parris Balazs
Parris Balazs
21:30 23 Jul 20
Not only do Mike and his team do a phenomenal job, but Mike is big on educating others how to do what he does! Can’t ask for a better company than this one!
Zach F.
Zach F.
22:13 20 Jul 20
Palmetto Commercial Services is absolutely amazing. Mike and his team go above and beyond to ensure your facility is disinfected extremely thoroughly and done right the first time. Not only are their services 100% but their turn around time is super helpful. I as a customer appreciate the fact that this company goes to the next level to provide their customer with a “worry free service”. Mike and his crew have covid antibody screenings performed big weekly just to ensure they are being as safe as possible and you can rest assured knowing you have a healthy team coming into your business. I will most definitely recommend Palmetto Commercial Services to friends, family, and anyone else who may need to utilize their services.
Victoria Slagle
Victoria Slagle
21:42 20 Jul 20
Excellent customer service. They were kind courteous and professional, and they work hard to get you the results you want in a timely fashion.
Destiny Webb
Destiny Webb
14:32 18 Jul 20
Mike and team are dedicated to the safety and wellbeing, mentally and physically to his customers. I had a situation with an apartment complex and thanks to an inspection by Mike, a judge ruled to terminate my lease due to the environmental health hazards he helped discover and document. In addition to this, he even went far and above by donating a commercial air purifier and industrial hepa approved vacuum to provide my family with some relief until we could move.Top notch, professional, and constantly evolving in his field by earning more and more certifications!
Liz Driggers
Liz Driggers
20:00 16 Jul 20
Palmetto Commercial Services has been great over the past few years. They have provided us high quality commercial cleaning services without raising the price every year. The cleaners do a terrific job, especially cleaning the bathrooms. They communicate well and respond quickly to our cleaning needs.
Darlene Van Omen
Darlene Van Omen
21:28 15 Jul 20
Mike and his team do a phenomenal job and are extremely thorough when it comes to cleaning. PCS is the best in town. Highly recommended.
Drew Stein
Drew Stein
18:23 10 Jul 20
Wonderful company
Alex Snyder
Alex Snyder
20:58 06 Jul 20
Excellent cleaning company
william cassidy
william cassidy
21:53 02 Jul 20
PCS disinfected our offices earlier this year due to COVID concerns for our employees. Mike was so knowledgeable and genuinely concerned for the well-being of our staff and customers. I appreciate his time, professionalism and service. I would highly recommend Palmetto Commercial Services for other businesses. What a great experience during a time of uncertainty. Thank you Mike Young and staff.
Teresa Wardlaw
Teresa Wardlaw
20:21 29 Jun 20
Paul n
Paul n
23:29 20 Jun 20
Mike Young professionalisms and understanding of his business is extraordinary. Not only providing exceptional service, he takes time to help educate his clients about the process of disinfecting methods and procedures. In these times of COVID pandemic- Mike has been a leader to execute comradeship within the business community. I would recommend no one else for your cleaning/ disinfecting and educational needs.
Arif Ashfaq
Arif Ashfaq
11:37 19 Jun 20
The owner is very into the science of cleaning which is why they provide the incredible results they do. If you are in need of cleaning, Palmetto Commercial Services should be your first and only choice!
Brad Progler
Brad Progler
14:15 17 Jun 20
Palmetto commercial services offers great service this company run by Michael really tries to help the community. His help in fighting the Covid epidemic he has volunteered his time to teach nonprofits and business how to protect themselves and their clients from spreading the disease. I don’t see any other company out there doing such voluntary work. Most companies would charge for such a consultation he gets it for free. I believe he’s doing this because lives mean more to Michael than money.
Bill Kealey
Bill Kealey
12:39 11 Jun 20
Mike Young is a true gem- Entrepreneurs are often guided by a desire to create something that outlasts them. Others want to create a brand that has longevity and becomes an institution. Another group wants to pass on a source of income and security to their heirs. There are also those entrepreneurs who hope to make a lasting impression on the world and leave behind an innovation that improves people's lives in some tangible way.Many thanks to Mike for his guidance and knowledge of the cleaning industry. He is a believer in helping small local business
shari evans
shari evans
03:01 10 Jun 20
Mike is a true professional in his industry. He is not only happy to educate his client for the best options available but to teach other companies how to properly clean and decontaminate. You can’t go wrong using PCS
Jeremy Powers
Jeremy Powers
15:20 09 Jun 20
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