OT: Safety Question/Advice

[The Stan]

I'm probably going to be helping to clean out a row home of someone who is a hoarder and heavy smoker.

Other than opening windows, what type of masks/respirators are recommended?

Any recommendations on air purifiers?

The home is a 3 story row home.

 

[91Joe95]

Does he have central air?

 

[PSUTENN1]

In Reading? You will need a firearm as well.

 

[The Stan]

No central air, it's also in a safe area...

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

A family member of mine has multiple chemical sensitivity. I've had to address issues with new construction, furniture, flooring, etc., so I have experience applying the following.....

As a first step, always address the source of the problem (e.g., ask the smoker to leave) and/or remove odor absorbing materials (e.g., sofa's, drapes, etc.) before packing up other items.

Weather permitting, open the windows. Enhance air flow by placing a box fan in a window to force air out of the house. Try to block air from circulating around the fan using the drapes, plywood, cardboard, or something similar. Use another open window to allow entry of fresh air from the outside. (I have 3 box fans and have used them all in different windows to quickly ventilate the house.) Consider wind direction. If possible, draw fresh air from a window that is on the upwind side of the house.

Use a respirator with cartridges designed to filter particulates and organic vapors.

If outside ventilation is not possible, don't circulate air within the house. Wear a coat instead of heating the house. Fillter the air in the room where you are working. Run an activated carbon air cleaner, such as the Healthmate HM-400 from Austin Air, prior to and during the work. (It's expensive, but anything less will not be effective.) Needless to say, get the work done before warm weather and the need for A/C.​

 

[91Joe95]

No central air, it's also in a safe area...

Is it near an airport?

 

[The Stan]

Not near an airport and the source (smoker) will probably not be returning. At least probably not smoking. We may have the opportunity to use fans for a few days prior to doing much work.

 

[LionJim]

Is it near an airport?

Okay, I'll bite. Why ever are you asking?

 

[psuro]

I'm probably going to be helping to clean out a row home of someone who is a hoarder and heavy smoker.

Other than opening windows, what type of masks/respirators are recommended?

Any recommendations on air purifiers?

The home is a 3 story row home.

Open all window well in advance of cleaning out the townhouse - maybe even a day if you can. Keep the windows open if you can while doing the cleanout. Get some fans that will allow you to move air out of the area you are working - you will more than likely run across dust issues and other, more entomological issues - like mites, etc. Wear gloves while working - the latex dishwashing gloves are fine. Get a few pair as you want to throw them out with the other stuff when done.

If you are serious about air purifiers, look online - MSA is a manufacturer of safety equipment and Pine Environmental is a company that rents/sells safety equipment including personal protective equipment. They have charcoal that will trap the organics in the air - which you will probably run across - as well as dust, and perhaps non organic compounds. Don't go for the dust masks that Home Depot sells - they are for carpenters and tradesman and are for dust only.

If you are moving stuff up and down the stairs, pick up some booties as well, so you don't track things on your shoes. You may not have to wear fully protective suits, but Pine and/or MSA will have them.

As silly as it sounds - make sure you have a plan on how you are going to clean everything out, so you don't create more of a mess than is already there. Use Clorox and clean up after you clean out an area.

Everything you touch, wear, use - gets thrown out. Take it straight to the dump.

Leave the windows open after you clean out to help air out the building.

edit: Start at the top - possibly the attic, and work your way down. When you finish a room or floor, including all the Clorox, etc. clean up, leave the windows open and seal/block the area so you don't go back in. You don't want to track the stuff all over the place.

When the house is done, go back through and give it another clean, using milder soap and water. Don't close the windows or stop ventilation until everything has been removed, cleaned and cleaned again.

These are just my thoughts.

 

[91Joe95]

Okay, I'll bite. Why ever are you asking?

 

[STPGopherfan]

Some general info.:

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/639110O/3m-respirator-selection-guide.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/...ies/PersonalProtectiveEquipment/ucm055977.htm
https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-choose-a-respirator-or-dust-mask/

If it were me, I'd go with a half-face respirator, with an organics, and particulate filter such as a 3M 7000 series masks (many brands out there). Make sure you know how to do a positive and negative pressure fit test. Otherwise, you'll be breathing contaminated air. Make sure to properly clean and store the mask as well.

 

[LoyalandTrueLion]

No central air, it's also in a safe area...

In Reading lol

 

[patsy3523]

Glad to hear that you're taking safety seriously while working with MDF. Make sure to choose one designed explicitly for MDF dust, and replace the filters regularly.

 

[PS4814]

Others have already shared great info with regard to filters/masks and airing out the house etc. so I'll toss in some advice from my perspective as I've done multiple hoard clean outs. The first place to clean is the bathroom with the reason being that eventually nature calls and you don't want to have to use the facilities in their poor condition. After that attack the kitchen as there is likely rotten food in the fridge / microwave and festering water in the sink. If your hoarder somehow had a clean bathroom and kitchen I'd recommend cleaning the dining area so you'll have a table and chairs to work at if you need to go through boxes of documents looking for important papers.

Don't underestimate the amount of trash the clean out will produce. I hope you either have a roll away dumpster, or an agreement with the local trash company to take dozens of trash bags at once. I once had to leave the trash bags outside the hoarder's house and he wound up taking them back inside. Make sure to have a clear path for yourself when taking stuff out of the house so you don't roll an ankle or have anything fall on you. Final piece of advice is to bring a snow shovel, once you get down to the filth on the floor it can make the process of getting all the random junk much quicker than picking things up by hand.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Uhhhh this thread is five years old. Either the cleanup is long since been completed or the OP died from some exposure.🤷🏿‍♂️

 

[PS4814]

Uhhhh this thread is five years old. Either the cleanup is long since been completed or the OP died from some exposure.🤷🏿‍♂️

Didn't see that - I hate the "similar threads" feature which seems to be the cause of these zombie threads coming back to the land of the living.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Didn't see that - I hate the "similar threads" feature which seems to be the cause of these zombie threads coming back to the land of the living.

Was about to add my two cents but saw a post by ,ro and realized it was an old thread.

 

[WaylonJ]

Yes and responses from wild card posters shilling some product. Advice from one and a link then from a sockpuppet.

 

[psulongago]

In Reading? You will need a firearm as well.

Speaking of Reading and firearm, friend's daughter, nurse, worked at both Temple hospital and Reading hospital. Asked the difference, she said better aim at Temple.