Whether it is a small storage compartment or a large basement full of years of accumulated belongings, ZüriClean empties it completely, sorts and disposes of everything responsibly, and hands it back broom-clean. One fixed price, one team, zero remaining clutter.
Get a Quote for Basement Clearance
Everything removed — furniture, boxes, tools, old appliances, any item type
Hazardous materials (old paint, solvents) are handled correctly
Fixed price — confirmed before we start, no volume surprises
Broom-clean handover as standard
Combine with end-of-tenancy cleaning — one booking
A basement clearance is different from item-by-item disposal. It means completely emptying a defined space — your basement compartment, cellar room, or utility storage — regardless of what has accumulated inside. Old furniture, cardboard boxes, sports equipment, tools, broken appliances, forgotten clothing, and paint tins. We take everything.
In Zürich's multi-family buildings, most apartments come with a Kellerabteil — an individual storage compartment in the shared basement. Over the years, these compact spaces have filled up with items that were 'just temporarily' stored. By the time a clearance is needed, the compartment is often packed floor to ceiling.
ZüriClean handles the complete process: sorting what can be donated, correctly routing hazardous materials, disposing of the rest through licensed facilities, and leaving the space broom-clean and ready for handover. And if you also need the flat cleaned before you leave, we can combine both in a single booking — no second company to coordinate.
Old sofas, mattresses, wardrobes, broken shelving units, dismantled bed frames — large items that were moved to the basement during a previous life event and never left. We carry them out through stairwells, load them, and route them to the appropriate disposal. Items in good condition are assessed for donation first.
Boxes of paperwork, old books, clothing in bags and bin liners, rolled textiles. Paper and cardboard are sorted for recycling. Clothing in clean condition goes to donation channels; the rest is handled as mixed waste.
Bicycles, skis, tools, garden furniture, BBQ equipment — metal items are separated for recycling. Functional sports equipment and tools in good condition can be passed to second-hand channels on request.
Washing machines, fridges, TVs, computers, and other electronics left in the basement require e-waste disposal through the correct channels. Refrigeration units containing refrigerants are handled separately. We coordinate all appliance categories within the same clearance.
This is where many clearance companies stop — and where ZüriClean continues. Old paint tins, solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes, motor oil, and pesticides are classified as Sonderabfall (special waste) under Swiss law. They cannot go in the Züri-Sack, cannot go to the standard Recyclinghof, and must be handled separately. We identify and route these correctly — see the dedicated section below.
A standard Zürich apartment's Kellerabteil (individual storage compartment) is typically 5–15 m² and is the most common clearance we handle. If you have a full Kellergeschoss (a multi-room basement or cellar floor of a house), the scope — and the quote — is proportionally larger. Please describe the size and contents when requesting a quote.
Your tenancy has ended, and the Kellerabteil must be empty before the key handover. Landlords in Zürich can and do charge for clearance if the compartment is not vacated. We often combine the basement clearance with a full end-of-tenancy cleaning of the flat — one booking, one deadline met.
A family member has passed away, and their basement compartment — often filled over decades — needs to be cleared. We approach these situations with care and discretion. You do not need to be present for the clearance if you cannot face it. We document what was found and disposed of, and handle the space respectfully. See the sensitive situations section below.
The basement is being converted into a gym, workshop, or extra room. The clearance needs to happen before the renovation team arrives. We coordinate with your contractor's timeline and hand over a clean space.
No specific event — just years of 'I'll deal with it later.' The basement has gradually become unusable, and the time has come to reclaim the space. We help you sort what to keep, what to donate, and what to dispose of.
The landlord has asked you to clear the basement as a condition of lease renewal, or the building is being renovated. We respond quickly and provide written confirmation of clearance completion on request.
Describe the basement — approximate size (m² or running metres of shelving), main contents, access conditions (narrow stairway, parking available?), and your timeline. Photos help us give an accurate price without a site visit. We respond within 24 hours.
You receive a written quote based on estimated volume and content complexity. The price is binding. For larger or more complex clearances, we offer a free site visit to confirm the scope before quoting. No hourly rates — what we quote is what you pay.
We work around your timeline. Most smaller Kellerabteil clearances are completed within 1–3 working days. For larger clearances or estate situations, we discuss timing together. Urgent clearances — for imminent flat handovers — are handled as a priority.
Our team arrives with all necessary equipment — sack trucks, protective covers, sorting bags, and the right vehicle for the volume. We empty the space systematically, sort materials by disposal category, load up, and leave the basement broom-clean. A written disposal confirmation is available on request.
Basement clearance costs are based on: volume of contents (m³), access conditions, types of materials (standard waste vs. special waste), and whether a site visit is needed for larger clearances. We always provide a fixed-price quote before starting.
▌ Beware of unrealistically low quotes. Swiss official disposal fees are high. A company offering a full clearance for CHF 100–200 either cannot cover costs legitimately, or will renegotiate on the day. A transparent fixed price after proper assessment is always the safer choice.
| Clearance Size / Situation | Guide Price from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small Kellerabteil (up to 5 m³, minimal content) | from CHF 280 | Standard items, good access |
| Standard-Kellerabteil (5–10 m³, mixed content) | from CHF 420 | Sorting + all disposal routes included |
| Large Kellerabteil (10–15 m³, full) | from CHF 580 | May require site visit to confirm |
| Full basement room / Kellergeschoss (15–30 m³) | from CHF 800 | Site visit recommended |
| Basement + Estrich (attic) combined clearance | from CHF 650 | Often more economical combined |
| Estate/bereavement clearance (any size) | on request | Site visit always included — handled sensitively |
| Clearance + end-of-tenancy cleaning (combined) | on request | Discounted combination rate |
| Hazardous materials surcharge (paint, solvents, etc.) | + CHF 80–200 | Added to the quote when Sonderabfall presents |
Guide prices based on typical Zürich jobs. Your confirmed written quote is always provided before we start.
| Option | Estimated Cost | What It Requires |
|---|---|---|
| ZüriClean — full clearance service | from CHF 280 fixed price | We come to you — you hand over the key |
| ERZ Sperrgutabfuhr | CHF 300+/hour | Items must be at the kerbside before 7 am — you do the sorting |
| Recyclinghof Zürich | CHF 20/100kg + transport | Own vehicle, opening hours, physical loading by you |
| Self-disposal (Züri-Sack only) | CHF 3–5/bag | Züri-Sack only accepts standard household waste — not furniture or special waste |
| Market average (ofri.ch data) | CHF 400–1'200 typical range | Via aggregator — no guaranteed price |
Swiss basements — especially those in buildings from the 1970s–1990s — frequently contain materials that cannot be disposed of through standard channels. Finding old paint tins, bottles of solvent, pesticides, motor oil, batteries or fluorescent tubes in a basement clearance is extremely common. And none of these can go in the Züri-Sack or to the standard Recyclinghof.
Under Swiss law (USG), the following are classified as Sonderabfall (special/hazardous waste):
▌ A word on asbestos: Buildings constructed before 1990 in Switzerland may contain asbestos in floor tiles, insulation, or adhesives. If you suspect asbestos is present in your basement, tell us at the quote stage. We will not disturb potential asbestos-containing materials — we advise specialist assessment first. Safety first, always.
The most common reason for a basement clearance in Zürich is a move-out situation — and a move-out requires both a cleared basement and a professionally cleaned flat before the landlord handover.
ZüriClean is the only clearance company in Zürich that also provides professional end-of-tenancy cleaning with a handover guarantee. We handle both in a single booking:
We can also combine basement clearance with furniture disposal from the flat, deep cleaning of a specific room, or carpet cleaning if required. Tell us everything that needs doing when you request a quote, and we will build a comprehensive plan.
We do not just remove what is easy. Standard furniture, electronics, hazardous materials, bulky items — all handled in the same clearance visit. You do not need to sort Sonderabfall yourself or make a separate Recyclinghof trip.
After every clearance, we leave the basement broom-clean, swept, dusted, ready for inspection or handover. This is the Swiss standard expectation, and it is included in every clearance we do.
Your quote is written and binding before we start. If we find more than expected — and sometimes we do — we discuss it with you before proceeding. No surprise invoices.
Estate clearances, long-neglected spaces, emotionally difficult situations — we approach all of these with discretion and respect. You do not need to be present. We document and communicate clearly throughout.
No other clearance company in Zürich also provides certified end-of-tenancy cleaning with a handover guarantee. ZüriClean does — making us the natural choice for full move-out solutions.
Some basement clearances happen under difficult circumstances. A family member has passed away. A relative can no longer live independently. A long-term tenant has left, and the accumulated belongings of a lifetime need to go. These situations require a different approach — not just logistics, but sensitivity.
ZüriClean approaches estate and bereavement clearances with the following principles:
If you are unsure whether to proceed or need to discuss the situation first, call us. We are happy to advise without any obligation to book.
Tell us the size of the space and what is in it, roughly. We send a fixed-price quote within 24 hours. No obligation, no surprise charges.
A few photos of the basement contents will help us give you the most accurate price straightaway.
Our guide prices start from CHF 280 for a small Kellerabteil with standard content. A typical 5–10 m² storage compartment runs CHF 420–580. Larger clearances or those with special materials are quoted individually. The Swiss market range for basement clearances is approximately CHF 300–1'200, depending on size and content. You receive a confirmed written fixed price before we start.
A Kellerabteil is an individual basement storage compartment allocated to each flat in a Zürich multi-family building — typically 5–15 m² with a cage or locked door. This is our most common clearance job. We clear Kellerabteil clearances across all of Zürich's city districts.
Items are sorted during clearance — furniture goes to disposal or donation, metal to recycling, electronics to e-waste channels, Sonderabfall (hazardous waste) to licensed special waste facilities. Usable items in good condition are assessed for donation before disposal. A disposal confirmation is available on request.
Yes — and this is something many clearance companies avoid. We identify, separate and route Sonderabfall (paint, solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes) to licensed facilities. A small surcharge applies, confirmed in your quote. We do not put hazardous materials in standard waste — that is illegal, and you could be held liable.
Most Kellerabteil clearances are completed within 1–3 working days of booking. If you have an imminent flat handover deadline, call us directly — we treat urgent requests as a priority wherever possible.
No. Many of our clients hand over a key, and we handle everything. We provide written confirmation of completion and can document the clearance photographically if useful. For estate situations, not being present is completely understandable — we manage it fully on your behalf.
Yes — and we strongly recommend it for move-out situations. ZüriClean clears the basement and cleans the flat in one booking. No second company, no coordination between two teams, one invoice.
If you suspect asbestos in floor tiles, insulation or adhesives (most likely in buildings pre-1990), tell us before we start. We will not disturb suspected asbestos-containing materials. We advise specialist assessment first — asbestos removal requires a licensed specialist and cannot be part of a standard clearance.
Yes. Estrich clearance is often done together with a Kellerabteil clearance — especially for move-out situations. Combined clearances are typically more cost-effective than two separate bookings. Mention both spaces when requesting a quote.
