If one of your close friends or relatives has passed away and you find yourself responsible for cleaning up their very cluttered or dirty home so it can be sold to settle their estate, then these tips will keep you safe and get the job done as quickly and easily as possible:
Tip: Wear Personal Protection
Homes that are very dirty or cluttered often contain substances that are unhealthy to breathe or get into your eyes, such as
- mold spores
- mildew spores
- fungal spores
- rodents
- rodent feces
- pet hair
- pet feces
So to keep yourself safe during the cleanup process, you should wear personal protective gear, including
- goggles
- a dusk mask
- thick gloves
- work boots
- heavy jeans
In addition, if you will be working with refrigerators containing rotted food or an excessive amount of pet waste, then placing a bit of vapor rub on the inside of your mask will help you avoid smelling the offensive odors.
Tip: Rent a Dumpster and Toss Trash First
Since you will need to dispose of a large number of useless items and a massive pile of trash, rent a dumpster and have it dropped close to the front door or garage door of the home. This will allow you to do a large amount of cleaning all at one time rather than having to work slowly over a longer period of time while you wait for the weekly trash pickup.
Tip: Set Aside Items to be Sold or Donated
Just before you start removing the trash, spread out a tarp in the yard or garage and use that as the designated place to store items suitable for selling or donating. If there are lots of decent items you don't want but that are undamaged and still have some life to them, then arrange for a local charity organization to come out and pick up the entire pile all at once.
An Important Note
In conclusion, it is important to note that cleaning up after a hoarding situation or a very dirty home isn't for the faint of heart. If you find yourself repeatedly opening the front door, staring at the mess, then immediately closing the door and vowing to tackle the project on another day, then the time has come to hire a professional. Junk removal companies like S&H U-Call We Haul will come in and remove all of the clutter and gross items. Outsourcing this task will make your job of fixing up the house prior to selling it a lot easier and will shave a lot of time off of the project as well.
