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One of the best ways to prepare for a home biohazard cleanup is not to touch anything. Do not remove belongings, even if they are of value or importance, from the area as they are likely contaminated. It’s essential not to use any cleaning products of your own, as the cleaning company will be using chemicals that could interact with your products. 

One thing you can do to prepare is take pictures of your space and belongings that need to be cleaned, especially if you plan on filing a claim with your insurance company. In addition, take time to make a list of items that are valuable, sentimental, or otherwise important. The cleanup company must evaluate these belongings to make sure they are safe. 

Depending on your location, you can bring items to your local dump. It’s important to check their guidelines on what they accept, as not all dumps will take all items. 

In addition, renting a dumpster is an option in most areas. Renting a dumpster will cost around $400 for a week, including the cost of hauling it away. However, it does not include labor to lift heavy items into the dumpster. If you have very large or heavy items, chemicals, or other items that you cannot bring to your local dump, contact a junk hauling company.

When deciding what order to pack your home, starting with non-essential items such as seasonal decor, rarely used kitchenware, and extra linens is always a smart idea. Next, pack decorations and out-of-season clothing. Then move to kitchen items, electronics, and bathroom supplies, leaving essentials for last. Finally, pack a "first-night" box with must-haves like toiletries, clothes, and essential documents.

Since you’ll likely be sorting through and getting rid of unwanted items anyway, this may be the perfect time to also plan for a garage sale. This way, you can think through how you want to price your items and group them for sale as you’re purging them from your home. You may also save on having to hire a service to haul away your items, and you’ll make money selling your items instead! Worst case, you can always drop off whatever you don’t sell at your nearest consignment store or donate to a charitable organization.