What Are the Concerns When Cleaning Up a Family Home? A Survey on Cleaning Parents', In-Laws', and Relatives' Homes (Conducted by Clean Service)

Cleaning up the homes of parents, in-laws, or relatives is something we know will eventually be necessary, but it is often difficult to start thinking about it concretely. Not only are there issues regarding the volume of items and costs, but also how to handle sentimental items and how to discuss the matter with family members. When actually faced with the task, there are many situations that cause hesitation. Particularly in homes that have been lived in for many years, there are often many items left behind that cannot be easily judged, such as furniture, home appliances, documents, photographs, and sentimental items. Cleaning up is not just a physical task; it can be said to be a theme that involves the family's feelings and future lifestyle. Therefore, Elst LLC, which provides home cleaning services such as estate clearing, garbage house cleaning, junk sorting and purchasing, and house cleaning, conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 200 people who have been, are currently, or may be involved in cleaning up the homes of parents, in-laws, or relatives. This survey organizes the concerns felt when cleaning a relative's home, the timing to start thinking about cleaning, and the responses desired when requesting a contractor. We hope this survey will serve as a reference for understanding the worries and preparation points regarding cleaning, not only for those who are planning to clean up their family or relative's home, but also for those considering using estate clearing, junk sorting, or cleaning services, and those gathering information about organizing their family's living space. Table of Contents Q1: Concerns felt, previously felt, or likely to be felt regarding cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes Q2: The best timing to start thinking about cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes Q3: Desired responses when requesting a contractor for cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes Summary: Early discussions and transparent pricing lead to peace of mind when cleaning family and relatives' homes Q1. What are the concerns you feel, have felt, or are likely to feel regarding cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 1) Note 1: This question allows multiple choices, but the options are limited to up to three. This makes it possible to more clearly grasp the concerns felt, previously felt, or likely to be felt regarding cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes. The most common concern was 'not knowing how much it will cost' at 32.5% (65 people). The cost of cleaning a family or relative's home can easily vary depending on the size of the room, the volume of items, the removal of junk, and whether cleaning is required, making it difficult to estimate the amount in advance. Therefore, it is thought that the opacity of the cost aspect, 'how much will it ultimately cost,' rather than the work itself, leads to significant anxiety. The second most common was 'difficulty in judging what to keep and what to dispose of' at 27.0% (54 people). In the homes of parents and relatives, there are often many items left behind, not only daily necessities but also sentimental items, furniture used for a long time, and things that were important to the person themselves. While it is easy to judge one's own belongings, when it comes to the belongings of family or relatives, it is easy to hesitate about whether it is okay to dispose of them, which often causes the cleaning process to stall. Also ranking high were 'the burden of time and physical strength required for cleaning seems large' at 25.0% (50 people) and 'the volume of items is large, and I don't know where to start' at 24.5% (49 people). The longer a house has been lived in, the more items tend to accumulate, and there are cases where it is impossible to grasp what and how much is in closets, storage rooms, and pantries. If work begins without seeing the order of cleaning, both time and physical strength will be required, so it can be said that many people feel a burden even before starting. Furthermore, responses such as 'it is difficult to dispose of sentimental items like photos, albums, and Buddhist altars' at 15.0% (30 people) and 'anxiety about overlooking valuables or important documents' at 14.0% (28 people) were also seen. When cleaning a relative's home, it is necessary to proceed while checking sentimental items and important documents, rather than simply reducing junk. In particular, bankbooks, title deeds, insurance-related documents, and photographs may be needed later, so many people want to sort them carefully. On the other hand, 'carrying out large furniture and appliances seems difficult' at 12.5% (25 people), 'not knowing how far to proceed as pre-need or estate clearing' at 10.5% (21 people), and 'choosing a contractor seems difficult' at 10.0% (20 people) were also selected by a certain number of people. When cleaning a family or relative's home, deciding whether to proceed only with family members or to request a professional contractor is also a point of worry. In addition, 'no particular concerns' was seen at 14.5% (29 people), suggesting that a certain number of people already have a clear prospect of cleaning or have been able to discuss it among family members. Q2. What do you think is the best timing to start thinking about cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes? The most common answer was 'while parents, in-laws, or relatives are healthy and capable of making decisions' at 19.5% (39 people). Cleaning involves not only judging what to keep or dispose of but also checking sentimental items and valuables. Therefore, many people seem to think it is better to start discussing it little by little while the person's intentions can still be confirmed. The next most common were 'when inheritance or estate clearing becomes necessary' at 17.5% (35 people), 'when the living environment changes, such as nursing care, hospitalization, or moving into a facility' at 17.0% (34 people), and 'it is fine to wait until it becomes necessary' at 17.0% (34 people). Inheritance, estate clearing, nursing care, and hospitalization are timings when the need for cleaning is clearly visible. On the other hand, it can be seen that a certain number of people feel it is difficult to take action until the need actually arises. Also, 'when starting to worry about the volume of items or the condition of the house' at 13.0% (26 people) was chosen relatively often. Some people become aware of the need to clean when they notice small changes in their daily lives, such as an increase in items in the house, difficulty in cleaning thoroughly, or items overflowing from storage. At such timings, it is easier to proceed while minimizing the burden on the person and family, rather than rushing to clean everything at once. On the other hand, 'don't know' at 8.0% (16 people), 'when feeling inconvenience or danger in living during a visit home' at 4.0% (8 people), 'when considering moving, relocating, or living together' at 3.0% (6 people), and 'when neighborhood troubles or hygiene issues occur' at 1.0% (2 people) remained in the minority. Although the trigger for thinking about cleaning varies from person to person, there is a tendency to emphasize milestones such as family members' judgment, changes in living environments, and inheritance/estate clearing. Q3. If you were to consider requesting a contractor to clean parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes, what responses would you desire? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 2) Note 2: This question allows multiple choices, but the options are limited to up to three. This makes it possible to more clearly grasp the desired responses when requesting a contractor for cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes. The most desired response was 'clear explanations of estimates and additional costs' at 38.5% (77 people). The work content for cleaning a family or relative's home easily changes depending on the volume of items, the condition of the room, and the ease of carrying items out, making it difficult to have an image of the cost. Therefore, it can be said that many people want to know clearly before requesting how much will be handled and whether there is a possibility of additional costs. The second most common was 'being able to consult about purchasing and recycling' at 23.5% (47 people). When cleaning a relative's home, furniture, home appliances, sentimental items that can still be used, or items whose value is difficult to judge may appear. Being able to consult about the possibility of purchasing or recycling, rather than disposing of everything, seems to not only reduce the financial burden but also alleviate the psychological hesitation of 'is it okay to throw this away?' Also, 'handling the confirmation of valuables and important documents' at 18.0% (36 people) and 'handling the removal of large furniture and appliances' at 18.0% (36 people) were chosen at the same rate. When cleaning a relative's home, it is important not to overlook things that may be needed later, such as bankbooks, insurance policies, and contract documents. On the other hand, large furniture and appliances are difficult to carry out with family alone, and there are physical burdens and safety concerns. From these points, there is a need for contractors who can handle both confirmation work and removal work. Furthermore, 'handling cleaning after the cleanup' at 17.0% (34 people), 'being considerate of the disposal of personal information and documents' at 17.0% (34 people), 'being able to consult about sorting and arranging the disposal of junk' at 16.5% (33 people), and 'helping to sort household goods' at 16.0% (32 people) were also selected by a certain number of people. When requesting cleaning, many people seem to want to consult not only about carrying items out but also about sorting, disposal, cleaning, and consideration for personal information. In addition, 'handling with consideration for mementos and sentimental items' at 15.0% (30 people) and 'working with consideration for neighbors and buildings' at 10.0% (20 people) were also mentioned. When cleaning a relative's home, family feelings and the eyes of neighbors are also involved, so the politeness and consideration of the work are likely to be important points in choosing a contractor. On the other hand, 'can proceed without being present' at 6.0% (12 people), 'easy to consult even from afar' at 5.5% (11 people), 'reporting with photos after the work' at 5.0% (10 people), and 'being able to consult about sterilization and deodorization' at 3.5% (7 people) were relatively few, but they are considered reassuring responses when living far away or when on-site confirmation is difficult. Summary: Early discussions and transparent pricing lead to peace of mind when cleaning family and relatives' homes In this survey, it was found that many people worry about the cost and how to judge what to keep and what to dispose of when cleaning parents', in-laws', or relatives' homes. In family and relatives' homes, not only daily necessities used for many years but also photos, documents, sentimental items, and valuables may be left behind. Therefore, it is necessary to proceed while considering the family's feelings and future procedures, rather than simply reducing items. Also, regarding the timing to start thinking about cleaning, while there is a thought to proceed while parents or relatives are healthy and capable of making decisions, many people start thinking about it only when pressed by necessity, such as inheritance, nursing care, hospitalization, or moving into a facility. However, the larger the volume to be cleaned, the greater the burden on the family in times of emergency. Rather than trying to proceed with everything at once, starting with what can be done, such as checking the storage location of valuables or gradually sorting out unnecessary items, leads to peace of mind. When requesting a contractor, emphasis was placed on clear explanations of estimates and additional costs, being able to consult about purchasing and recycling, and handling the confirmation of valuables and important documents. Especially when cleaning a relative's home, proceeding with family alone often results in a large burden of time and physical strength, and there are situations where one wants to consult a professional contractor, including the removal of large furniture and appliances and cleaning after the cleanup. While cleaning a family or relative's home is easy to postpone, when it becomes necessary, many decisions may be required in a short period. To reduce the burden on the family, it is important to discuss it little by little from an early stage and have a prospect of the costs and work content. Clean Service handles a wide range of services, from estate clearing and garbage house cleaning to junk sorting and purchasing, and cleaning after the cleanup. If you feel 'I don't know where to start,' 'I want to know the estimated cost,' or 'It is difficult to handle with family alone' when cleaning a relative's home, please feel free to consult us first. Click here for the official website of Clean Service Survey Overview Survey Date: May 19, 2026 Survey Target Area: Nationwide Survey Agency: Freeasy Survey Method: Online questionnaire survey Survey Target/Number of People: 200 people who have been, are currently, or may be involved in cleaning up the homes of parents, in-laws, or relatives <> Please clearly state 'Estate Clearing/Garbage House Cleaning Specialty Clean Service' as the source of information. When using on a website, please set the following link as the source. URL: https://www.clean-s.net/ About Clean Service Clean Service is a specialized service for estate clearing and garbage house cleaning operated by Elst LLC. Headquartered in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, we handle a wide range of services, including estate clearing, on-site purchasing, moving, garbage house cleaning, and house cleaning, mainly in the entire Kanto region and the Tokyo metropolitan area. Please rest assured if you want to 'keep the cost of estate clearing down,' 'have junk purchased as high as possible,' 'clean up by a specified date and time,' or 'have valuables and sentimental items searched for carefully.' At Clean Service, we carefully handle everything from sorting, classifying, purchasing, reusing, and recycling while checking items one by one. Our company values estate clearing that stays close to the feelings of the bereaved family, rather than just simple cleaning. We proceed with the work while checking so as not to overlook precious sentimental items and valuables, and aim for a service that you can consult with peace of mind through purchase assessments by our directly managed recycle shop and clear estimates. Point (1) 'Clean Service's Total Support' that consistently handles everything from estate clearing to cleaning At Clean Service, we handle estate clearing, garbage house cleaning, junk cleanup, valuable searches, and simple cleaning all together according to the site conditions. Options such as memorial services for mementos, delivery of keepsakes, moving services, house cleaning/deodorization, and restoration to original condition can also be consulted. The feature is that there is no need to request multiple contractors individually, and everything from estimates to cleaning, cleanup, and payment can proceed smoothly. Even in a hurry, we can handle work on the same day at the shortest depending on the situation, and we guide a policy of not charging additional fees even for weekends, holidays, or express work. Point (2) 'Purchase Discounts and Reuse Support' that makes it easy to reduce the financial burden Clean Service cooperates with directly managed recycle shops to handle purchase assessments for furniture, home appliances, and brand-name goods that are no longer needed. The strength is that the purchase amount can be deducted from the work cost, making it easy to reduce the burden of cleaning costs. We also offer a 'Leave the Work Date to Us Service' that can reduce fees when the work date is not specified. By connecting items that can still be used to purchasing, reuse, and recycling as much as possible, we aim for organization that not only reduces disposal costs but also does not waste resources. Point (3) 'Reliable Estate Clearing and Garbage House Cleaning' supported by careful sorting and strict confidentiality In estate clearing, da