The Problem: Trauma and hoarding following a bereavement
We were urgently contacted regarding a sensitive and complex clean-up task at a residential property in SW17, London. The property belonged to a deceased family member who suffered from hoarding disorder and had previously been de-hoarded, but had since been re-hoarded.
The situation was compounded by the fact that the occupant had passed away within the property, transforming the environment into a biohazard scene requiring meticulous trauma cleaning and decontamination. Due to the severe state of the house and the emotional distress caused by the bereavement, the customer was unable to enter the premises. A crucial requirement was the careful identification and retrieval of specific personal belongings and sentimental items within the deeply contaminated environment.
The Solution: Expert trauma remediation and compassionate hoarder cleaning
Ideal Response was appointed to manage the challenging, dual-scope project: complete trauma cleaning, decontamination and safe, empathetic hoarder cleaning, with the specific goal of recovering and sanitising all requested sentimental items.
The work plan required strict compliance with trauma hazard protocols due to significant health and safety risks, including:
- Danger from working with blood and potential biological contamination.
- Hazards posed by sharps and pests within the accumulated contents.
- Risk of infection and potential cross-contamination to surrounding areas
Mobilisation and execution
Upon arrival, the team undertook a full site assessment and immediately commenced decontamination works in accordance with the agreed scope. Given the immediate dangers, all operatives adhered to stringent health and safety measures throughout the six-day duration:
- Contamination Control: Technicians were fully equipped with appropriate PPE, including white disposable overalls, nitrile gloves, and respiratory protection, to ensure both personal safety and complete contamination control.
- Advanced Decontamination: The team employed specialised equipment, including Hazardous Waste Bags , and used the powerful decontamination chemical Decon 7. The area and the air were treated using Fogging to ensure complete eradication of pathogens.
- Methodical Clean-up: A detailed, methodical top-to-bottom clean was carried out. All accessible hard surfaces were wiped down, sanitised, and treated using approved biocidal solutions, with particular attention given to high-touch and detailed areas to ensure complete biological eradication.
- Sentimental Recovery: The team gave careful attention to the list of personal belongings and sentimental items provided by the client. Each item was assessed, meticulously cleaned, and sanitised by hand. This included an intricate process for a complete chess board and its individual pieces, which required detailed manual cleaning due to the contamination level.
The Result
The six-day operation resulted in the successful transition of the property from a dangerous biohazard scene to a clean, sanitised, and safe environment ready for re-entry.
All personal items on the client’s list were successfully decontaminated, verified as safe for handling, and subsequently handed back to a nominated family member. The comprehensive approach and respectful handling of the sensitive situation led to the customer expressing complete satisfaction with the outcome, especially the recovery of their requested belongings. The final site inspection confirmed all works had been completed to the highest possible standard.
