One in every 300 people suffer from compulsive hoarding. Hoarders generally have an inability to let go of unnecessary items and clean up their environments. The most common hoard items include books, pictures, clothes, mail, recipes, souvenirs and magazines. Mental stress and emotional exhaustion make it difficult for hoarders to decide what to throw away, making cleanup efforts overwhelming and difficult.

Here’s a look at some safety precautions to keep in mind when on a hoarding job, via Rainbow International:

Cleanup efforts

Be prepared for animal (rats, mice, vermin) droppings and live animals running through the items and trash. Be careful of sharp objects and wear pants, long sleeves and gloves when cleaning. Begin cleaning in small places like bathrooms and linen closets. Next, empty the refrigerator and remove perishables and opened boxes of food from the pantry. Separate clutter into four piles: “Keep,” “Donate,” “Trash” and “Recycle” to avoid becoming overwhelmed.