10 Household Cleaning Tasks That Are Better Left to Professionals

It's unlikely that there are many people who handle all their cleaning tasks without outside help. Even if you don't hire a cleaning service regularly, you've probably enlisted an expert at some point to take care of a task you couldn't or didn't want to handle yourself. No matter how committed you are to cleaning, there will be moments when you require assistance.

In our view, household chores generally fall into three main categories.

For routine or weekly tasks, most of us go the DIY route. Even if you hire a cleaning service to assist with laundry or dislike cleaning bathrooms, you're likely still scrubbing a tub or folding clothes occasionally. Many people also take on carpet steaming or climbing onto roofs to clean gutters—but let's be honest, those folks are probably a bit out of their minds. We’re here to give you permission to call in the pros for certain tasks in the latter two categories, especially when they’re time-consuming, frustrating, or even risky.

Don’t feel bad about it. It’s much smarter to invest in professional help than to risk injury while playing chimney sweep or expose yourself to harmful mold spores while trying to clear black mold from your basement. If you have the means, don’t waste your Saturday washing windows. Go out and live your life instead!

Here’s our list of 10 cleaning tasks that we officially give you the green light to skip.

10: Drapes and Blinds

Experts recommend that you regularly vacuum, dust, and wipe down your draperies and blinds. Metal and vinyl blinds should be removed and scrubbed with a car-washing brush, according to them. We suspect only about four people actually follow this advice. The rest of us could definitely use a professional window-treatment cleaning from time to time.

9: Carpets

You probably already know that a quick, halfhearted vacuuming session once a week, while it makes things look tidy for a short while, doesn’t actually provide a deep clean. You’re picking up surface dirt, but most of it stays stuck close to the ground. When it’s time for a more thorough cleaning (about once a year), you might consider renting a steam cleaner to tackle it yourself. It might be cheaper, but it’ll take forever, and the results won’t come close to what a professional carpet cleaner can do. They have the right equipment, so let them come to you.

8: Windows

You probably don’t give much thought to cleaning your windows. Unlike counters and floors, windows don’t show dirt as easily—over time, they just become a little more foggy until, one day, you realize your natural light is fading. Cleaning windows (both inside and out, plus screens and sills) can be quite a task. While a professional cleaning might seem expensive, consider it more of an occasional investment.

7: Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Mopping hardwood floors may not be anyone's favorite task, but it’s fairly simple and doesn’t take much time. Refinishing those floors, though, is a whole different ballgame. Sure, you could try it yourself, but why go through the back-breaking work with such a narrow margin for error, especially when you risk damaging your floors? It’s better to call in the experts, sit back, and watch your worn-out floors get a fresh new look.

6: Upholstery

Upholstered furniture takes a lot of wear and tear, especially if you have pets or young children. Aside from spot-cleaning spills and vacuuming pet hair, there’s not much you can do to drastically improve the look of your sofas and armchairs — and using the wrong cleaner could even cause damage. This is where professional upholstery cleaners come in. They have the tools and expertise to get the job done effectively and quickly.

5: Air Ducts

The Environmental Protection Agency is still undecided on whether dirty air ducts cause health issues or increase dust. However, if you decide you want your air ducts cleaned, please leave it to the professionals. Without extensive training, it would be nearly impossible for you to do it properly.

4: Chimneys

Your chimney needs cleaning at least once a year, ideally before the cold weather and heating season begins or whenever you notice creosote buildup on the chimney walls. If you’re even remotely considering cleaning it yourself, stop right there. Do not attempt it. Hire a professional chimney sweep. The only thing worse than spending a weekend cleaning your house is getting stuck in your chimney while doing it.

3: Gutters

Gutter cleaning should ideally be done twice a year (usually in the fall and spring), and if your property has plenty of trees, it’s probably not a fun job. Some people claim gutter maintenance is a DIY task, but we do not agree with that at all. Why climb a ladder with a bucket, hose, and trowel when you don't have to? We think there are about a million better (and safer) ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

2: Major Organizing

If you're someone who struggles with organization, it's often possible to fix the issue yourself with enough time and space to work on it. However, if your disorganization is creating chaos or making it hard to see your office floor, it's time to seek help. Professional organizers do more than just remove clutter — they can help relieve stress and replace it with a sense of calm and order.

1: Mold

This isn't just about being lazy or pressed for time; tackling mold removal can be dangerous to your health. While minor shower mold can be cleaned up with a quick wipe, any area larger than 10 square feet — especially if it’s the toxic greenish-black variety — should not be handled on your own. Step back, take a deep breath, and call in a professional mold remediation service immediately. These experts will inspect the area, properly clean it, and ensure the mold doesn’t come back.