A Room-By-Room Checklist
What Can (and Can't) Be Cleared From a House? A Room-by-Room Checklist
One of the most common questions we hear before a clearance is: will you actually take this? Most things, yes — but not everything, and it’s worth knowing the edge cases before we arrive so there are no surprises on the day.
Here’s a straightforward, room-by-room breakdown of what we can clear, and the handful of things that need a bit of extra care.
Bedrooms
Wardrobes, chests of drawers, beds, mattresses and bedding are all straightforward — with one important exception. Furniture and mattresses need a valid fire safety label to be donated or resold. If the label’s missing or has been removed, we can still take the item, but it will go for recycling or disposal rather than reuse, which is worth knowing if you were hoping it would go to a good home.
Kitchens
Fridges, freezers, washing machines and other large appliances are all fine — these fall under WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations, and we dispose of them through a properly licensed route. Crockery, pans, small appliances and food cupboard contents are all straightforward too.
Living Areas & Home Offices
Sofas and armchairs are treated the same as bedroom furniture — they need that fire safety label to be donated. TVs, computers, printers and other electricals are all WEEE items and are taken as standard. Books, ornaments, paperwork and general bric-a-brac are no problem at all.
Garages & Sheds
This is where most of the edge cases live. We can take old tools, tins of paint, tiles, and general garage clutter as standard — see our Garage Clearance page for more on this specifically. A few things need handling differently:
- Gas bottles (Calor, camping canisters, etc.) — these need specialist disposal and can usually be taken, but flag them when you book your quote so we come prepared.
- Large quantities of paint, oils or chemicals — we can take a small amount of domestic chemicals and oils as part of a standard clearance, but larger quantities are treated as hazardous waste and may involve an additional cost.
- Rubber tyres — taken, but usually at an additional cost due to specialist recycling requirements.
- Bricks, concrete and rubble — these can be taken, again typically at an additional cost given the weight and disposal route involved.
Gardens
Garden furniture, pots, and general outdoor clutter are all straightforward. Green waste — grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, and the like — is fully recyclable and no trouble at all.
What We Do With It All
Wherever possible, usable items go to charity before anything else — see the local causes we work with on our Charities We Support page. What can’t be donated is recycled through licensed waste sites, and we’re proud to average a high recycling rate across everything we clear. Landfill is always the last resort, not the default.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I'm not sure whether something can be taken?
Just ask when you book your free quote — we'd always rather know in advance than guess on the day. Most household items are straightforward; it's really only hazardous or specialist waste that needs flagging ahead of time.
Do you take asbestos or other hazardous building materials?
Asbestos-containing materials need to go through a specialist licensed removal route rather than a standard clearance. If you think a property may contain asbestos, let us know before we quote so we can advise properly.
Will you take furniture without a fire safety label?
Yes — we'll still clear it, but without a valid label it can't legally be donated or resold, so it'll be recycled or disposed of instead of going to charity.
Can you take a full garage or shed as well as the house?
Absolutely — garages, sheds and gardens are all included in a full house clearance, or can be cleared on their own. See our Garage Clearance page for details on standalone garage jobs.