Cleaning a Hoarded Home in Ontario
Hoarding — the accumulation of possessions to a degree that significantly impacts living conditions — creates cleaning challenges that go beyond what standard professional cleaning services address. This is a sensitive topic that deserves an honest, practical guide.
What Standard Cleaning Can and Cannot Address
Standard professional cleaning is designed for a home with normal contents and normal accumulation. A hoarded home requires a different approach entirely:
- Standard cleaning cannot address a hoarded home: Without removing accumulated items, surface cleaning is impossible. Cleaning must begin with a junk removal and organization phase
- Junk removal services: Junk removal companies (1-800-GOT-JUNK, College Hunks, and regional services throughout Ontario) specialize in the removal of large quantities of items from homes — this is the first phase
- Biohazard or pest remediation (if needed): Severely hoarded homes sometimes have mould, pest activity, or other issues that require professional remediation before standard cleaning can occur
The Standard Professional Clean Phase
Once items are removed and any remediation is complete, standard professional cleaning addresses what remains — floor cleaning, surface cleaning, kitchen and bathroom deep clean. This final phase is what Maidless provides. We do not provide junk removal or remediation services, but we're the right service for the cleaning phase after those are complete.
Compassionate Approach
Hoarding is often connected to mental health challenges — the person or family involved deserves a compassionate, non-judgmental approach from every service provider involved.