Another soul-crushing day cleaning hoarder houses in the Chicago area

Man, been in the Chicago area my whole career and some days it just hits different, like today I spent 6 hours in this hoarder house digging through 10 years of newspapers and fast food wrappers just to get to the kitchen counters. Wore out two pairs of gloves on the grime alone, and the smell? Forget it, even the OdoBan couldn't touch that level of funk. Clients like this think a $200 deep clean will fix everything, but it's a full-day crap-show every time. Saw a post on r/CleaningTips about depression houses that nailed it, and yeah, it takes everything not to just walk out. Guy in the Cleaning Business Owners Facebook group mentioned using a Bissell Big Green for the carpets, might have to try that next time to speed things up. Anyone else feel like the emotional toll is worse than the physical?

Haha, sounds like my last gig, ended up finding a dead mouse in the wall void, bonus surprise!

SharkBite fittings are trash for plumbing, but for cleaning? Who cares, just seal it and move on.

Hoarders are the worst, charge double or walk.

Frustrated as hell with these clients who don't even help, just sit there judging.

Insurance companies screwing us on claims for damaged gear from biohazards.

Same here, feels like we're therapists with mops sometimes.

Big corps buying up cleaning franchises, killing the little guys.

I feel you on the emotional part, had to take a break after one.

These jobs make you question why you started in cleaning.

Man, that Chicago grime is no joke, respect.

Same boat, depression cleans drain you more than anything.

After 8 years, I finally set boundaries, no more hoarders under 5 hours.

Boundaries are key, learned that the hard way.

Went home and showered three times, still smelled like regret.

Shared pain, brother, these days test your soul.

Big box stores pushing cheap cleaners that don't work on real filth.

I get the rage, but hey, at least it's steady work in this economy.

Hoarder jobs? Skip em, life's too short.

Try the enzyme cleaners, they cut through the bio stuff better.

Recommend watching Melissa Maker on YouTube, her hoarder tips saved my sanity.

Haha, once found $500 in cash under the couch, made the day.

The struggle is real, especially in old houses.

Warning: always wear respirators, lungs don't grow back.

Yeah, protect yourself first.

These stories make me glad I stuck to windows only.

Collective sigh, we all been there with the endless trash piles.

Pro tip: charge a hazard fee upfront.

Hoarders gonna hoard, but we gotta eat.

Laughed so hard at the glove story, too real.

Feels bad man, hope tomorrow's better.

Proud of you for powering through, that's the trade.

One day at a time, keep at it.