Sophie’s Professional Hoarders House Clearance Service In Shilbottle – Northumberland
Sophie’s House Clearance and cleaning provide honest and reliable cleaners for all your housework chores in homes. Everything we do is designed to serve your specific needs with speed, convenience and quality.
At Sophie’s House Cleaning we have a proud reputation as the No.1 choice for Hoarders House Clearance Service, offering a professional recommended service to people across the North East.
Please CLICK HERE to see a full list of our cleaning services
Our Cleaning Services Include:
- End of tenancy clean
- One off house clean
- After builders clean
- Emergency clean
- Trauma clean
- Spring clean
- Move in/out clean
- Hoarders House Cleaning Service
- Bio-hazard Cleaning Service
- Student Accommodation Cleaning Service
- Deep clean & more…
Read what our customers say HERE
Sophie’s Hoarders House Clearance Service Shilbottle
Client: Private Homeowner (Daughter of Occupant)
Location: Shilbottle, Northumberland
Property Type: Detached 3-Bedroom Bungalow
Service Provided: Hoarder House Clearance, Deep Clean, & Odour Elimination
Duration: 5 Days
Team Size: 4 Hoarding-Certified Cleaning Specialists
Completion Date: June 2025
Background
In June 2025, Sophie’s Cleaning Company was contacted by a concerned woman whose mother had been living alone in a 3-bedroom bungalow in Shilbottle, a quiet village near Alnwick. Over several years, the client’s elderly mother had developed severe hoarding tendencies following the loss of her husband and the onset of mobility issues.
When a medical emergency led to her hospitalisation, the daughter visited the home for the first time in over a year—and was overwhelmed. Every room was filled with clutter and waste, the kitchen and bathroom were unusable, and there were signs of pest activity. With the mother remaining in hospital care, the family needed a discreet, respectful, and specialist hoarding clearance to make the property habitable again.
Challenges Identified During Assessment
Our team conducted a comprehensive on-site inspection within 48 hours. The following conditions were noted:
All three bedrooms inaccessible due to floor-to-ceiling clutter
Kitchen contained perishable waste, old tinned goods, broken appliances
Bathroom rendered unusable; the toilet and bath filled with stored items
Living room used as a sleeping space with a heavily soiled mattress on the floor
Severe nicotine staining on walls, ceilings, and windows
Strong musty odour from mould, urine, and stagnant air
Mice droppings, cobwebs, and insect activity throughout the property
The resident had formed emotional attachments to even broken or unusable items
It was clear this wasn’t just a standard clearance—it was a trauma-informed, high-risk cleaning project requiring sensitivity and care at every stage.
Clearance & Cleaning Strategy
We prepared a structured, phased approach over 5 days, prioritising:
Emotional care in handling personal belongings
Safe and regulated disposal of biohazards
Restoration of a healthy, breathable living environment
Deep sanitation to prepare for possible return or resale of the home
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Day 1: Site Prep, Safety Measures, & Entryway Clearance
Property zoned for clearance (Kitchen, Living Room, Bedrooms, Bathroom)
PPE issued to all staff: filtered respirators, full-body suits, gloves, goggles
Temporary lighting installed for safety; water and power checked for safe use
Front entrance, hallway, and kitchen pathway cleared
Initial removal of perishable food waste and damaged items (~1.2 tonnes)
Day 2: Kitchen & Living Room Deep Clearance
Kitchen cleared of all surface debris, expired food, and non-working appliances
Units degreased, disinfected, and deodorised
Living room revealed heavy nicotine-stained wallpaper, rodent droppings behind furniture
20+ bags of newspapers, packaging, and general clutter removed
Kept: a box of family photos, a jewellery box, handwritten letters
Day 3: Bedroom Strip-Out & Waste Management
All bedrooms opened and cleared for the first time in several years
Removed soiled bedding, damaged wardrobes, and piles of textiles
Rodent nests discovered in two wardrobes; pest control called in
Segregated items into:
Keep (family albums, birth certificates, vintage furniture)
Donate (clothes in clean condition)
Dispose (mouldy books, broken furnishings, soiled textiles)
2 skips filled (approx. 4.5 tonnes of household and contaminated waste)
Day 4: Bathroom Restoration & Odour Control
Bathroom emptied; mould treatment applied to tile grout and ceiling
Toilet and bath professionally descaled, disinfected, and restored
Antibacterial fogging of entire home
Ozone generator run for 4 hours to eliminate embedded odours
Nicotine-coated surfaces cleaned with industrial degreasers
Day 5: Final Deep Clean & Client Walkthrough
All floors steam-cleaned; final disposal of residual waste
Windows cleaned inside and out to allow fresh light in
Neutral scenting used throughout (unscented options available for sensitivities)
Delivered keepsake box and “salvage summary” to client
Final walkthrough with the client, who was brought to tears seeing the transformation
⚠️ Project Challenges
Emotional Attachment to Items: Every decision to remove or keep an item was carefully documented, with client input when appropriate
Discretion: Shilbottle is a small village. We used unbranded vehicles and staggered removal times to maintain privacy
Biohazard Risk: Mould spores, pest waste, and possible airborne contaminants required advanced protective protocols
✅ Results
By the end of day 5, the property was transformed from a dangerously cluttered, uninhabitable environment into a clean, clear, and dignified home. All health risks were neutralised, and the client now had a safe, respectful space to either resettle her mother or prepare for resale.
Client Testimonial
“Sophie’s Cleaning Company gave us more than a clean house—they gave us back a part of our family’s dignity. Their team was gentle, professional, and so understanding. We couldn’t have done this without them.”
— Client’s Daughter, Shilbottle
Conclusion
Hoarder house clearances demand more than elbow grease—they require empathy, structure, and specialist care. At Sophie’s Cleaning Company, we bring all three to every job. Our work in Shilbottle, Northumberland was a testament to our values: respect, discretion, and transformation.
If you’re supporting a loved one through a difficult situation or need specialist hoarder clearance in the Northumberland area, contact us today for a confidential consultation.
For Hoarders House Clearance In Shilbottle – Northumberland and surrounding areas contact Sophie’s Cleaning Company for a free no obligation cleaning quote!
sophiescleaningcompany@yahoo.co.uk
07762469165
