When a loved one passes, managing their estate afterwards can feel overwhelming. The process holds no shortage of challenges. Between navigating grief, dealing with paperwork, and facing the estate clean-out, the responsibilities that fall on your shoulders can feel endless. But knowing what to expect can make everything more manageable. In this short guide with Grimebusters, we’ll walk you through what estate cleaning and planning involve, and how our team can support you. Let’s get started.
Give Yourself Time to Plan
Taking time to plan is an essential first step in managing a loved one’s estate after they pass on. During this initial part of the process, gather key documents, including the will, deeds, and property insurance. Having these documents in hand will make the process significantly simpler. Go at the pace that feels right for you and your loved ones, while surrounding yourself with the support you need.
Sort Through Belongings
Once you have important documents in hand, it’s time to begin decluttering and organizing belongings. For many, this can often be the most emotionally (and physically) daunting part of the process. Family members should go through the estate to handle heirlooms, antiquities, and sentimental items. Items designated in the will should also be distributed accordingly. To simplify this part of the process, have a list on hand detailing what to do with any items that haven’t already been cleaned out. While it differs greatly from estate to estate, a good sorting method is to organize belongings into these categories:
- Trash
- Recycle
- Keep
- Sell
- Donate
Handle Specialty Items Carefully
Within these personal belongings, certain items cannot be disposed of regularly. These items should be disposed of safely, using proper precautions. Do not place them in trash bins or dumpsters. You must either take these items yourself or trust a professional estate cleaning service to do so for you. In Edmonton, a few of these items are:
Medications
- Any medications should be dropped off at your local pharmacy. This includes prescriptions, vitamins, inhalers, and over-the-counter medications. Liquid and powder medications should be left in original containers, while capsules can be removed and placed into a plastic bag.
Sharps
- Needles and syringes are medical sharps that can cause injury and/or transmission of disease if not contained properly. These items must be held in a hard container. Then, bring these items into a local pharmacy, Eco Station or the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
Hazardous Waste
- Household Hazardous Waste (HWW) refers to everyday items that can be dangerous if mishandled. Some examples of HHW include chemical cleaners, bleach, batteries, propane tanks, paint, varnish, motor oil, and more. These items can be brought to an Eco-Station.
Deep Cleaning
After belongings have been sorted and removed from the estate, it’s time to get started on the cleaning process itself. For many, this is often the most daunting part of the process. Deep cleaning an estate is often much more extensive than regular cleaning jobs—especially if the property will be listed for sale. Years of daily living can make deep cleaning especially challenging for families to handle on their own. Removing furniture, carpets, and other large items can also be difficult and time-consuming.
While this part can feel overwhelming, a professional estate cleaning service can help ease this burden. They’ll take care of the entire estate cleaning process. This includes removing bulky furniture, scrubbing walls and floors, sanitizing carpets, and more, using commercial-grade equipment.
Your Local Estate Cleaning Specialists
Dealing with a loved one’s passing is challenging enough. While few things can truly prepare you, dignified after-loss care can help. Grimebusters takes care of the entire estate cleaning process so you can focus your attention on what really matters—caring for your family. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can support you through the estate cleaning work.