5 Pain-in-the-Neck Chores That Are Best Left to Professional Cleaners

Cleaning, for many of us, can feel therapeutic. Pop some headphones in, turn on your favorite playlist, and tune out your stress as you sweep, spray, and scrub messes away. But, while tackling everyday chores can provide a natural dopamine rush, some jobs can actually accomplish the opposite — creating just as much stress as they relieve. 

One way to keep that stress at bay when you’re in chore mode? Enlist a professional for the ones that require a lot of specialized work — or, of course, the ones that would be risky for you to try on your own.

Ahead, five exhausting chores that are best left to an expert. 

A bit of mold in your fridge can be remediated with bleach (just make sure you use it safely, and never mix it with other chemicals). But if the moldy area is bigger than ten square feet (about a three by three foot patch), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urges hiring a mold remediation specialist. Mold can cause some serious health risks, and someone trained to clean it can ensure it’s all removed and that it’s done safely. 

There are a whole lot of effective methods for window-cleaning, and many of them don’t require any special skills. But if it’s been a while since your windows were cleaned — or more importantly, if they’re high up — professional window cleaners can ensure the chore is done both effectively and safely. 

Your gutters help protect your roof and home from water damage — but over time, they can get full of leaves, sticks, and other debris, making them less effective. If you have a ladder you can safely use and there’s a small section of gutter you want to clean, go for it. But if your gutters are high, and they all need thorough cleaning, then consider leaving that job to a trained expert. 

If you have a fireplace, you should have your chimney checked (and potentially cleaned) at least once a year to ensure adequate airflow and safety in your home. To prevent clouds of soot from entering your living space — and risky injuries — always hire a professional for anything chimney-related. A chimney pro is also trained to identify structural problems you might miss as a novice.

Carpet-cleaning tools and products can make a huge difference for the occasional stain, spill, or pet accident. But if your entire carpet needs refreshing — for example, if you just moved into a new place and it smells, or you’ve neglected cleaning it for a while — you’ll probably end up investing hours and a whole lot of unnecessary elbow grease on the job. Instead, hire a professional carpet cleaning service, who can tackle the job faster and probably more thoroughly. (Plus, they’re usually outfitted with tools that can easily clean stairways and crevices.)

Your turn: What annoying tasks do you outsource?