What is Extreme Cleaning? And Why You May Need It One Day

Did you know that, as well as expertise in safeguarding vacant commercial properties, Clearway also offers high-standard extreme cleaning services?

Extreme cleaning. Not for you, you may think; that’s firmly outside your radar.

Hopefully, you won’t need us. But – one day, things could look quite different, and you may need to know who to call. Therefore, we’ve put together this article to explain how and where extreme cleaning will fit the bill.

What is Extreme Cleaning?

There’s cleaning, and then there’s extreme cleaning.

While there’s no set definition, people often consider it a more advanced form of cleaning carried out by people in hazmat suits. The latter is most certainly true. But, it goes beyond what most of us recognise as cleaning.

Extreme cleaning involves specialist, in-depth responsibilities to return the property or land to its original state.

Think about a place that seems beyond help, and that’s where our team comes in. “Standard” cleaning, if we can call it that, may make things worse as it could disturb the site. Those who carry out this task need specific qualities: expertise, experience, courage, and, not to put too fine a point on it, an awareness of risk.

An Example of Extreme Cleaning

Consider, if you will, an empty commercial property. It’s been that way for a long time – say five years. It’s not been cleaned since the last commercial tenants left, and in the meantime, squatters have occupied it.

There’s a great deal of clutter, mess, food mess, animal mess and regrettably, the building has been used as a centre for drug dealing. The property smells horrible. An exaggerated example? Perhaps not. There are “sharps” – discarded drug needles; there is decomposing food and human waste

Is this a job for most cleaning companies? No. Here is where an extreme cleaning team would be required. Staff would need PPE and respiratory equipment, and only those insured and trained to deal with what’s in front of them should go anywhere near this environment.

The Growing Need for Extreme Cleaning

In the UK, while definite statistics may not be precise, it appears that antisocial behaviour is on the rise; squatting is more of a problem than it used to be. It’s certainly much more of a problem in London than previously. Also, violent crime has increased – perhaps due to an underground drug culture.

This all adds up to a broader problem, which has a knock-on effect on society and our built environment.

There’s a growing need for “after the fact” extreme cleaning services, for example, to deal with the abandonment of a drug den, for biohazard cleaning, or for dealing with the aftermath of hoarders and squatters. Likewise, for the grisly but necessary duties involved in clearing up after a death or managing biohazards.

The Clearway team comes armed with weapons-grade products, tools, and equipment to complete a clearing and clean-up job to the highest standards. As a commercial landlord or property manager, this is the know-how you need and deserve – an expert cavalry coming your way to remove each and every trace of the problem.

Our skills are recognised at an accredited level:

Did you know that since 2009, Clearway has been an official Metropolitan Police Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning partner? 

Main Types of Extreme Cleaning

Fly Tipping

The most visibly obvious aspect, and as you are no doubt aware, a criminal offence.

This is a lucrative cash-in-hand job for fly-tippers; councils and the police are in a continuous battle against it. It’s one of the most unpleasant crimes there is. Bear in mind that, left unattended, rats will make their way there, and everything could easily go up in flames, too.

Extreme cleaners know precisely how to deal with what can amount to dangerous waste. It’s not exactly light work, but they will have experienced this situation several times before and will do what to do.

Cleaning Up After Squatters

If you’re a landlord, the thought of squatters has no doubt already crossed your mind.

If so, you are not alone. And, commercial squatting is not illegal. Currently, it’s considered a civil matter.

After they’ve left, and this will almost certainly be as a result of a court order, there could be hundreds of pounds worth of rubbish, including drug paraphernalia, human excrement, and other hazardous waste. Despite shutting off gas, water and electricity supplies, they may take shelter there anyway. The result? Small fires for heat, candles – and, at the risk of being indelicate, there is no water to flush toilets, so there may be a bit of a mess.

The interior will be unsafe, unsanitary, and hazardous. Add in the general dilapidation and disrepair of the property, plus mould as well as damp problems, and you have one big, horrible clean-up project on your hands.

Extreme cleaners to the rescue.

After a thorough risk assessment, they will isolate the area, systematically dispose of dangerous materials, and then work steadily to deep-clean one area at a time. The result will be a complete sanitation and decontamination, with carefully documented and certified processes.

Gideon Reichental

Security and Property Specialist
Clearway

Gideon Reichental

Extreme cleaning addresses hazardous contamination that standard cleaning cannot handle, requiring specialised training and equipment to safely restore properties affected by biohazards, trauma, or severe neglect.

Flood and Water Damage

Water damage can be significant and exceptionally costly, whether caused by a flood or internal leak.

Skilled experts will return your property to its pre-event condition. They will meticulously use drying technology to clean and disinfect the area and remove any odour, making it usable and ready for occupation. In addition, all affected materials will be stripped out.

(Prevention is so much better than cure. Contact Clearway for more information on protecting your vacant commercial premises from the wrath of water.)

Also, bear in mind the following:

Biohazard cleaning – for example, chemical or bodily fluids

Sewage – including the treatment of sewage spills. This includes a complete neutralisation and deep cleaning.

Other dangerous substances – such as paint cans, oil, petrol and diesel, gas bottles etc.

Plus, Clearway’s extreme cleaning services can also focus on:

• Bird fouling and fumigation
• Pest control
• Graffiti removal
• Rubbish chutes
• Bin rooms

Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning

After the Police have processed an accident or crime scene, Clearway steps in to recondition, repair and clean an exterior or interior to its original state.

Our goal is simple but requires immense expertise: to ensure that the area is wholly non-toxic and completely harmless when we leave.

Obviously, this is not an easy task.

Nor is it in any way a walk in the park.

Blood, vomit, faeces, urine and other human bodily fluids are often present, if not everywhere. Again, used drugs needles may be lying around. Sadly – the team could be faced with a body, left undiscovered for several weeks. For these specialist cleaners, dealing with the situation requires an in-depth understanding of what they’re facing, a laser focus on health and safety and an astronomically high level of skill.

They’re also aware that someone has died here, so they will always act with the utmost discretion and respect. Death can happen suddenly and of course, violently; this is a critical service that Clearway provides at a high level and with immense sensitivity.

What Clearway Thinks

Extreme cleaning and trauma cleaning are highly specialised. This goes above and beyond the “normal” call of duty. What we mean is that most people would not wish to get involved in the sharp edge of humanity – which is essentially what this is.

We’re proud of the team carrying out this niche service and celebrate their commitment to what they do.

Just a quick heads up about what we don’t do:

• Carpet cleaning
• End of tenancy cleaning
• Domestic cleaning

We’d be happy to discuss our expertise with you for your peace of mind. You may never need us, but we’re here for you if you do.

Written by Gideon Reichental

Vacant Property Security Consultant

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Gideon is an experienced property specialist with almost ten years dedicated to the field of vacant property security and services. With a strong commitment to customer service and operational support, he has built extensive expertise in protecting vulnerable and unoccupied buildings through practical, risk-based security solutions.

His experience includes directly managing portfolios of more than 200 vacant properties, alongside senior management responsibility for wider portfolios exceeding 2,000 properties. This has given him a detailed understanding of the challenges involved in securing vacant assets, from preventing trespass, theft, vandalism, and arson to helping clients maintain compliance, reduce liability, and protect long-term property value.

Gideon has strong technical knowledge of the measures used to secure vacant properties, including steel security screens and doors, monitored alarm systems, CCTV, mobile response, site inspections, and temporary fire and life safety solutions. At Clearway, he supports the delivery of tailored protection strategies designed around the specific risk profile of each property, helping clients secure and manage unoccupied assets with confidence.