Your Basement Cleared In One Visit, At The Price We Quoted
Narrow stairs, decades of storage, water-damaged loads, we handle it.
Basements in the Fox Valley collect items slowly and give them up reluctantly. Narrow bungalow staircases, low ceilings, boxes carried down decades ago by someone who is no longer around to help move them, all of it becomes our problem, not yours. Junk Nurse handles the full clear-out and sorts on the truck for donation and recycling, so what you get back is an empty basement at the flat price we quoted before we started.
What We Remove
Real Jobs. Real Results.
These are actual photos from Junk Nurse jobs in Aurora and the Fox Valley.
How It Works
Simple. Transparent. No surprises.
Walkthrough and flat quote
Two of us come out, look at what is actually down there, and hand you a flat number before anything moves. No hourly billing and no upcharges after we start.
Careful load-out
Two-person carries for anything over 100 lbs, hand-trucks for wheeled items, disassembly on-site for anything wider than the stairwell. We protect stair walls and corners on heavy carries. Basement pace, because rushing on stairs is how walls get dented.
Sort on the truck
Donation pile, scrap metal pile, e-waste pile, disposal pile. On a typical basement, 20 to 30 percent of what leaves ends up somewhere other than a landfill.
Confirm and settle
Walk the empty space with you to confirm the scope matches the quote, then flat payment. No add-ons after the fact.
Why Fox Valley basements are their own category
Most junk removal outfits treat basements like large rooms. In Aurora, Naperville, Batavia, Geneva, and the rest of the Fox Valley, basements are a different job. Bungalow stairwells narrower than modern doorways. Split-levels with utility rooms blocking the path. Sump pump alcoves you have to work around. Fifty years of finished-basement paneling and drop ceilings that shed on the way out. This is what we plan for before we back up the truck.
The four physical challenges we plan for
Bungalow and older split-level basements often have stairs under 34 inches wide, with a landing turn at the top or bottom. Sectional sofas do not go back up whole, they come apart. Filing cabinets and workbenches come out in pieces. We bring reciprocating saws, hand tools, and enough time to disassemble in place.
Older Fox Valley basements have 6-foot ceilings, drop tiles, and duct runs that force you to walk hunched. Standing furniture on end and carrying overhead is not an option. We work low, break large items down, and route around obstructions instead of forcing them past.
Sump pump alcoves, floor drains, and utility panels are the parts you cannot damage. We identify these on the walkthrough and route the clear path around them. If your basement has a working sump pump, it stays plugged in the whole time and we do not stack anything on it.
A water-damaged sectional weighs three times what a dry one does. Wet carpet padding turns into a stack of soaked slabs. We come prepared for the weight and the mess, with contractor bags, moisture-rated gloves, and enough truck capacity. Visible active mold on structural surfaces gets a remediation referral, we do not touch what looks like black mold on drywall or joists.
What a basement cleanout actually costs
Every other junk removal site in the Fox Valley makes you call for a quote before they tell you anything about price. Here is what we actually charge.
Quarter truckload, 1 to 2 hours. Handful of large items, some boxes, one appliance.
Half truckload, 2 to 3 hours. Furniture, appliances, storage boxes, general accumulation.
Full truckload, 4 to 6 hours. Heavy items, water damage, small demo debris.
Multiple truckloads, full day or multi-day. Photo documentation for out-of-state families.
Volume (how much fits in the truck), weight (transfer stations charge by weight), difficulty of access (stairs, distance to the driveway), and item type (donatable items reduce the disposal fee, heavy debris increases it). We tell you the flat number before we start.
What is in the truck when we leave
Every basement load gets sorted on the truck as we work. This is the actual breakdown from a typical Fox Valley residential basement:
When homeowners call us for a basement cleanout
Most basement cleanout calls fall into one of four situations. Knowing which one you are in helps us bring the right crew size, the right equipment, and the right timeline.
Realtor wants the basement cleared before photos, staging, or the inspection. We work fast, coordinate with your agent's timeline, and leave the space photo-ready.
Contractor needs the space clear before framing, waterproofing, or a full basement finish. We clear everything the contractor will not need and stage the rest by exit path.
Sump pump failure, sewer backup, or storm flooding. We come after remediation to haul out the ruined carpet, drywall, and furniture, so the drying and rebuild can start.
Family lives out of state and the property needs to be cleared for probate, sale, or transfer. We send photos, hold a keep pile, and coordinate with the realtor or attorney on timing.
Common Questions
What if there are hazardous materials mixed in?
Old paint cans, motor oil, propane cylinders, we will identify these during the walkthrough, set them aside, and point you to the right county disposal option. We can still haul the rest of the basement contents without them.
Can you handle a basement with a narrow staircase?
Yes. Fox Valley bungalow basements have some of the narrowest stairwells we work in, typically 30 to 34 inches wide. We disassemble on-site, use two-person carries, and pad the walls. Narrow stairs do not stop the job, they slow it slightly.
How long does a basement cleanout take?
Most residential basements take 2 to 4 hours. Full estate basements with heavy furniture, cast-iron items, or water-damaged loads can take a full day. We give you a realistic estimate at the walkthrough, not a guess over the phone.
What does a basement cleanout cost in the Fox Valley?
Small clear-outs run $200 to $400, typical cluttered basements run $400 to $800, full basement cleanouts with heavy or bulky items run $800 to $1,500, and estate or large basements can run $1,500 to $3,000 or more. We quote flat before we start, no hourly meter running.
Do you handle basements with water damage or mold?
Yes. We remove water-damaged furniture, carpet, drywall, and insulation. For visible active mold on structural surfaces, we recommend a licensed remediation company handle the surfaces themselves, then we haul out the removed materials.
Do you handle estate cleanouts?
Yes, estate basements are one of our regular jobs. For out-of-state families, we send photos of anything we are unsure about before it leaves, hold a keep pile, and coordinate directly with the realtor or estate attorney on timing. Flat quote up front.
Do we need to be home during the cleanout?
For the walkthrough and the first 10 minutes, yes, so we agree on what stays and what goes. After that, most clients leave and come back to a cleared basement. We text photos of anything we are unsure about.
What happens to the stuff you take?
Anything reusable goes to Salvation Army, Goodwill, Hesed House, or other Fox Valley donation partners. Scrap metal goes to a local scrap yard. Electronics banned from Illinois landfills, TVs, monitors, computers, go to a licensed e-recycler. Only the rest goes to the transfer station.
What about very heavy items, old cast-iron boilers, safes, or fireproof filing cabinets?
We handle heavy items regularly. Cast-iron boilers, gun safes, old fireproof cabinets, and industrial workbenches are all fair game. If it is over 500 lbs or fixed to the floor, mention it on the phone so we bring the right equipment.
We Serve Kane & DuPage County
Junk Nurse provides your basement cleared in one visit, at the price we quoted throughout the Fox Valley and surrounding area.
Need Your Basement Cleared In One Visit, At The Price We Quoted?
Free quote. Firm price before we start. Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm.
(630) 294-1340 Real people helping real people.