Home to two major movie studios, Culver City, California is known as the “Heart of Screenland”. Culver City is where visitors go to watch live tapings of “Wheel of Fortune”, and “Jeopardy”. Not only rich in film history, but you can also find trendy restaurants, the famous Culver Hotel, 40 different art galleries, and the Kirk Douglas Theater.
Hoarding in Culver City
Culver City is no different than other cities when it comes to hoarder properties. Each year complaints about eyesores are filed with the city, and some of these eyesores are because of hoarding.
Hoarding is classified as a mental disorder in which hoarders have a painful time throwing things away. Hoarders can neglect their property, inside and out, and they become a neighborhood eyesore.
Hoarding becomes a noticeable problem when it starts to affect a person’s daily life. Problems that include:
- Excuses are made to keep everyone out of the home
- Hoarding causes family fights
- There are only narrow paths in the home to walk through
- Beds are unusable because of stacks of hoarded items
- Bills go unpaid because they can’t be found
- Trash is piling up
- The refrigerator is full of expired food
- Odors and bugs become noticeable
- Stairs become dangerous because they are stacked with items
Sometimes a concerned family member will intervene, and try to convince the hoarder to clean the home. Whether it’s the city or a family member, the hoarder property has to be cleaned up.
Cleaning this property can be a huge job. There can also be health and safety issues to think about. Sometimes it is better left to a professional hoarder property cleaning company in Culver City to do the job for you.
Hoarder Property Cleaning Steps
You can’t just jump in and start cleaning. Following these steps will make the job easier.
- Evaluate the home
- Create a plan for cleaning the property
- Make a staging area
- Move everything to the staging area
- Gather needed cleaning and safety supplies
- Clean and sanitize the home
- Repair any damage
Creating a Cleaning Plan
Once you have carefully walked through the entire property, you will be able to create a cleaning strategy. Look for items that might be leaking, especially volatile or dangerous chemicals.
Look for rodent or bug infestations. Beware of tall stacks of items or boxes. Make a list of all supplies you think you will need to clean the property.
The Staging Area
The staging area is where all the items from the home will be put. You can divide the staging area into sections. Make a section for items that will be kept, a section for trash, and a section for items to be donated.
If the hoarder is present, the staging area can get a little complicated. A hoarder may have difficulty deciding which items to get rid of. Sometimes it can help if a family member is there to help them make these decisions. Otherwise, a mental health professional being present can help ease the situation.
Hoarder Property Health Risks
You will need to take safety seriously when cleaning a hoarder’s property. Some of the health risks you might encounter include:
- Tall stacks of items that can topple over
- Rats, mice, and other vermin
- Rodent droppings
- Spiders
- Mold and mildew
- Chemicals and biohazardous items
- Needles and other sharp objects
- Asbestos
- Noxious fumes
- Broken glass
Rats, mice, and spiders can be found in old furniture, stacks of newspapers, boxes, and appliances.
Rats carry rabies, and rodent droppings can carry several dangerous diseases. Even dust around rodent droppings can carry diseases. And spider bites can be nasty to deal with.
Mold is dangerous, especially black mold. Mold spores can get into your nose and lungs. Asbestos is equally dangerous. It can irritate your lungs and your skin if you come into contact with it.
Because of these health risks, always wear heavy-duty pants, long sleeve shirts, and use a mask.
Supplies
You will need quite a list of supplies to clean this property.
- Heavy-duty trash bags
- Empty boxes
- Work gloves, rubber gloves, eye protection, and masks
- Brooms and dust pans
- Vacuum cleaner and possibly a shop vac
- Mops and buckets
- Ladder or step ladder
- Flashlights and tools
- Bug spray
- Commercial grade products to disinfect and sanitize
- Biohazardous waste containers
- First-aid kit
Cleaning and Repairing
If there is mold, it has to be completely removed, or it can come back. Carpets and tile or wood floors have to be cleaned or replaced.
There may be leaking chemicals in the home, which means all leftover spills and residues must be properly cleaned. In addition to cleaning, you also have to sanitize and deodorize the home.
Moldy walls, tiles, or carpeting will most likely have to be replaced. Look for holes in the home where rodents might have been getting in and seal them. Now that you have completed your checklist, the home should now be habitable again.