Find vetted hoarder cleanup services near you.
Compare top-rated local companies. Get up to 3 free quotes. Most families pay $3,000–$15,000 for a standard job, $15,000–$30,000+ for severe cases.
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$3K–$30K+
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1–5 days
Typical job length
14M+
Americans with hoarding disorder
You're not alone, and this isn't your fault.
If you've just opened a door and felt your stomach drop — boxes to the ceiling, narrow paths through rooms, things you don't know how to name — stop for a second. You are not the first person to stand where you're standing. Roughly 1 in 50 Americans lives with hoarding disorder. It is a recognized mental health condition, not a character flaw. Whatever you're feeling right now — grief, anger, embarrassment, exhaustion — is normal.
You don't have to clean this yourself. Professional hoarder cleanup companies handle this every day. They've seen worse. They don't judge. They come with trucks, biohazard training, and crews who know how to find the ring in the pile. This page will walk you through what it costs, who to hire, and what to expect.
How much does hoarder cleanup cost?
Most families pay between $3,000 and $15,000. Severe cases with biohazards can run $15,000–$30,000 or more. Cost depends on home size, clutter level (1–5 scale), and whether there's animal waste, mold, or deceased-related contamination.
How long does hoarder cleanup take?
A Level 1–2 cleanup can be done in a single day. A Level 3 home typically takes 2–3 days. Level 4–5 (severe) cleanups often run 4–7 days, sometimes longer if structural repairs are needed.
Is hoarder cleanup covered by insurance?
Usually no — hoarding cleanup itself isn't covered. But if there's a related covered event (a death in the home, a pipe burst, a fire), the biohazard or restoration portion may be covered. Always call your insurer before hiring.
What hoarder cleanup actually includes
Hoarder cleanup isn't "really deep cleaning." It's a specialized service that sits somewhere between estate cleanout, biohazard remediation, and construction demo. Here's what a professional crew actually does.
- 1
Initial walkthrough and clutter assessment. A supervisor rates the home on the 1–5 ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) Clutter Image Rating scale and gives you a written estimate.
- 2
Sorting with the family (optional but recommended). Crews work alongside you — or without you — to separate keep, donate, sell, and trash. You make the calls.
- 3
Full-PPE removal of contents. Crews wear Tyvek suits, respirators, and gloves. Haul trucks stage outside; items are bagged and removed systematically.
- 4
Biohazard remediation. Urine, feces (human or animal), decomposition residue, mold, rodent and insect infestations. This is the difference between hoarder cleanup and regular junk removal.
- 5
Deep cleaning and deodorization. Commercial-grade disinfectants, enzymatic treatments, hydroxyl or ozone machines for odor. Not optional for Level 3+ homes.
- 6
Minor structural assessment. Crews flag damaged floors, walls that will need replacement, and any infestation that needs a separate pest company.
- 7
Disposal and donation routing. Legit companies have accounts with local landfills and donation partners. Ask where your loved one's things are going.
- 8
Final walkthrough and sign-off. You get photos, a disposal manifest, and (for biohazard work) a certificate of decontamination.
Hoarder clutter levels — the 1–5 scale
Every reputable company uses the ICD Clutter Image Rating. Knowing your level before you call helps you get accurate quotes and spot overcharging.
| Level | What it looks like | Typical cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Mild clutter. All rooms functional, some disorganization. No odor, no pests. | $500–$2,500 | Half-day to 1 day |
| Level 2 | Noticeable clutter. One or two blocked exits. Light pet waste or food debris. | $1,500–$5,000 | 1–2 days |
| Level 3 | Visible clutter outside the home. Narrow walkways inside. Strong odors. Some biohazards. | $3,500–$10,000 | 2–4 days |
| Level 4 | Structural damage. Hazardous clutter. Human or animal waste. Mold. Insect/rodent infestation. | $8,000–$20,000 | 4–7 days |
| Level 5 | Severe structural damage. Rooms unusable. Significant biohazard. Often requires contractor follow-up. | $15,000–$30,000+ | 1–3 weeks |
The top 5 hoarder cleanup companies
There are four national companies and one marketplace that handle the bulk of hoarder cleanup in the U.S. Most local "hoarder cleanup" businesses are either franchises of these or independent biohazard remediation firms. Here's an honest look at each.
#1
Angi — marketplace for vetted local pros
Why it's our top pick
Hoarder cleanup is intensely local. The right crew for a Level 4 Charleston, WV home isn't the same crew for a Level 2 Phoenix condo. Angi's network includes vetted local hoarder cleanup specialists, biohazard-certified firms, and franchised junk-removal teams — and you get up to 3 competing quotes in one request. For a job where prices legitimately vary by 3–4x, that's the single biggest lever you have. Angi vets every contractor for license, insurance, and customer history; you see ratings, response times, and complaint records before you ever pick up the phone.
- Best for: Anyone who hasn't already hired a specific company. Realistically, most readers.
- Pricing: Free to use (companies pay Angi to appear). Job costs are quoted by the pro.
- Coverage: All 50 states, including rural areas where national brands don't operate.
- What we liked: The 3-quote model genuinely lowers prices in a market where the spread is huge. Reviews are filtered for verified job completion. You can specify "hoarder cleanup" specifically — not just "junk removal."
- What to watch for: Quote quality varies by ZIP. In dense metros you'll get 5+ strong matches; in small towns you may only get 1–2 (still useful as a baseline).
Free · No obligation · 3 quotes in 60 seconds
Address Our Mess
What they do: National hoarder cleanup specialist. One of the few companies purpose-built for hoarding — not a junk removal or biohazard firm that added hoarding as a side service. Compassionate messaging, trained sorters, and family mediation are baked into their model.
- Best for: Families working with a living hoarder, cases that need clinical sensitivity, APS-referred situations.
- Pricing: Quote only. Typically mid-to-high end of market — you're paying for trained mediators, not just labor.
- Coverage: Most major U.S. metros, not every small town.
- What we liked: Their crews are trained on the Buried in Treasures workbook framework — the same CBT-derived approach clinicians use. They'll work over multiple visits if a living hoarder needs to participate at their own pace.
- What to watch for: Higher minimums than franchise competitors. Small Level 1–2 jobs may be priced out of their model.
Concrete detail: Address Our Mess has been operating since 2008 and was one of the first companies to publish the ICD clutter rating scale on its public site — a small thing that signals they take the diagnostic framework seriously.
No affiliate relationship — we recommend them because they're good at what they do.
Bio-One (biohazard franchise, 100+ U.S. locations)
What they do: Primarily a biohazard cleanup franchise (crime scenes, unattended deaths, suicide cleanup) that also handles Level 3–5 hoarding with strong biohazard components. Their crews are the ones you'd want if there's decomposition residue, hantavirus risk from rodent waste, or significant mold.
- Best for: Homes with significant decomposition, animal waste, or biohazard issues — especially if a death occurred in the home.
- Pricing: Often insurance-billable if there's a covered event. Quote only.
- Coverage: 100+ U.S. locations. Check bio-one.com for your city.
- What we liked: Many franchises are owned by former first responders — ask about their biohazard certification for Level 4+ jobs. They have direct relationships with insurance adjusters and can often bill carriers directly when a covered event triggered the cleanup.
- What to watch for: Franchise quality varies. Ask the local owner how many hoarding-specific jobs (vs. crime scene work) they've completed in the last 12 months. Under 10 and you may want to keep looking.
Concrete detail: Bio-One's "Help First, Business Second" tagline isn't just marketing — most franchise owners are former EMTs, firefighters, or veterans, which shows up in how they handle families on the worst day of their year.
Steri-Clean
What they do: National hoarder and biohazard cleanup. Co-founded by Cory Chalmers, who was the lead cleanup specialist on more than 70 episodes of A&E's Hoarders. Certified Hoarding Cleanup Specialists (CHCS) on staff.
- Best for: Complex cases, families who want a company with clinical awareness and TV-grade case experience.
- Pricing: Quote only, generally mid-to-high. Premium for the brand recognition.
- Coverage: Strongest in California, expanding nationally via franchise model.
- What we liked: Chalmers personally trained early franchise owners, and the Steri-Clean playbook for working with living hoarders is one of the most thoughtful in the industry. Their published case studies actually walk through psychology, not just hauling logistics.
- What to watch for: Outside California, you may get a newer franchise. Ask how long the local team has been operating and whether they trained directly under the Steri-Clean parent company.
Concrete detail: Cory Chalmers, the co-founder, was the lead cleanup specialist on 70+ episodes of A&E's Hoarders. That on-camera experience translated into a training program where new crews shadow living-hoarder cases for weeks before leading their own.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? (for Level 1–2 only)
What they do: National junk removal. Not hoarder specialists, not biohazard certified. Their model is volume-based pickup — they look at how much fits in their truck and quote on the spot.
- Best for: Light clutter situations (Level 1 or mild Level 2) with no biohazards, odors, or pest issues. Think: a relative who kept a lot of stuff, not a disorder-level hoard.
- Pricing: Volume-based ($400–$1,500 for most single-family jobs).
- Coverage: 200+ North American locations. Easy to book online.
- What we liked: Speed and predictability. Same-day or next-day service is realistic. No surprise quotes — they show up, look at the pile, and quote in person before lifting a thing.
- What to watch for: Do not hire them for Level 3+. They will refuse on arrival and you'll still owe a trip fee. Their crews are not biohazard-trained and will (correctly) decline waste, mold, or decomposition jobs.
Concrete detail: 1-800-GOT-JUNK? trucks have published volume capacity (one truck = ~1/2 of a single-car garage). Knowing that lets you ballpark cost before they arrive: a 2BR Level 1 job is usually 1–2 truckloads.
Which service is right for you?
If this is Level 1–2 (clutter only, no biohazards):
Try 1-800-GOT-JUNK or a local junk removal company. Or get quick quotes via Angi.
If this is Level 3–5, or there's any biohazard (waste, mold, decomposition):
You need a specialized hoarder cleanup or biohazard firm. Start with Angi for local quotes, or go direct to Address Our Mess, Bio-One, or Steri-Clean.
If your loved one is still living and you're trying to help them:
Stop before you clean. Forced cleanouts of a living hoarder almost always make the disorder worse. See the "If your loved one is still living" section below.
Estimate your hoarder cleanup cost
Adjust the inputs to match your situation. Estimate updates live.
Estimated cost range
$7,288 – $13,119
Typical timeline: 2–4 days
Estimates based on 2026 industry data. Actual quotes vary by 20–30%.
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Questions to ask before you hire
Hoarder cleanup is one of the easiest services to get overcharged on. The market is opaque, the job is emotional, and most people only hire once in their life. These are the questions that separate legitimate companies from opportunists.
"Are you biohazard-certified?" If the home is Level 3 or above, this is non-negotiable. Ask for OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training documentation.
"Can I see the Clutter Image Rating you'd assign this home?" Reputable companies use the ICD scale. If they don't know what that is, keep looking.
"Is the quote fixed or hourly?" Fixed quotes protect you. Hourly quotes on a job this size almost always balloon.
"What's included and what's extra?" Dumpster fees, disposal fees, deep cleaning, deodorization, and structural repair are often quoted separately.
"Do you work with the family, or do everything yourselves?" Both are valid — but the answer tells you what kind of company this is. Ask which approach they recommend for your situation.
"Where do items go?" Donations, landfill, estate sale? Ask for a disposal manifest at the end.
"Are you insured, and can I see a COI?" Certificate of Insurance. General liability minimum $1M. Workers' comp mandatory.
"Can you provide 3 references from jobs like mine?" Level 4–5 references specifically, if that's what you have.
Red flags:
No insurance · Won't provide references · Commission/markup above industry norms with no justification · Cash-only payment · Won't provide itemized accounting · Pressure to sign immediatelyWhat a real hoarder cleanup looks like
"When Michael's father died in a 1,900 sq ft home outside Akron, Michael expected a standard estate cleanout. He opened the door to waist-high clutter, four cats, and rooms he hadn't seen in a decade.
Three companies bid the job. The first quoted $22,000 and called it a Level 5 — citing 'extensive biohazard.' The second came in at $18,500 and refused to let Michael sort through items first. The third, sourced through Angi, quoted $9,800 as a Level 3 with minor biohazard remediation, offered to let the family do a one-day sort before the crew arrived, and provided three local references from similar jobs.
Michael hired the third. Final cost: $10,400 including a small change order for unexpected rodent remediation in the attic. The job took four days. He recovered his mother's wedding ring, two photo albums, and his father's Army records — items the first company's 'gut the house' approach would have sent to the landfill."
The takeaways Michael shared with our editorial team:
- Always get three quotes. The spread on his job was $12,200 — more than the winning bid.
- Ask to sort before the crew arrives. Legitimate companies will accommodate this.
- The clutter level rating is negotiable between companies. One firm's Level 5 is another firm's Level 3. Ask them to explain the rating.
- Ask for local references from jobs at or above your level.
Details anonymized at the family's request. Shared with permission.
If your loved one is still living
You can't clean your way out of hoarding disorder.
If the person whose home you're standing in is still alive, please read this before you call anyone:
- Hoarding disorder is listed in the DSM-5-TR as its own diagnosis. It is not laziness, depression, or eccentricity — though it often co-occurs with anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
- Forced or surprise cleanouts of a living hoarder almost always cause severe psychological harm and rapid re-accumulation. Research from the International OCD Foundation finds that unilateral cleanouts by family members frequently worsen symptoms.
- Treatment — usually CBT specialized for hoarding, sometimes medication — is effective for many people, but it takes time.
- If you're worried your loved one is in immediate danger (can't access their bed, stove, or bathroom; pests; structural risk), your county Adult Protective Services can help. They are not there to punish anyone.
Resources:
- International OCD Foundation — Hoarding: hoarding.iocdf.org
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America: adaa.org
- If you or your loved one is in crisis: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
We're a consumer guide, not clinicians. Please talk to a licensed mental health professional before making major decisions about a living loved one's home.
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