Crawlspace and Under-Deck Cleanout: Clearing the Hidden Stuff

Homeowner pulling a tarp of stored items out of a crawlspace toward a Trash King bin.
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The crawlspace and the gap under the deck are where things go when there’s nowhere else. Leftover lumber, old patio chairs, a broken barbecue, half a bag of fertilizer. Years later it’s a dark, cramped pile you have to clear on your knees.

Get in safely, know what to watch for and sort the haul so the bin only gets what belongs in it.

Check the space before you crawl in

Shine a strong light into the space from the opening first. Look for three things.

Water and wiring. Standing water near old wiring or extension cords is a hazard. Fix the water problem or call an electrician before you go in.

Signs of mice or rats. Droppings, nests, shredded insulation or chewed bags mean you need the cleanup steps below before you start pulling things out.

Old pipe or duct wrap. WorkSafeBC lists pipe insulation, boiler and furnace insulation and deck under-sheeting among possible asbestos sources in older homes. If you see wrapped pipes or ducts, leave the wrap alone and get it tested before any work near it.

Tell someone you’re going in, wear gloves and knee pads and keep your phone on you. A headlamp keeps both hands free.

If rodents have been there

HealthLink BC’s cleanup steps for rodent areas:

  1. Ventilate the space for 30 minutes.
  2. Wear rubber gloves, goggles and an N95 mask or a respirator with P100 filters.
  3. Pour disinfectant or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) onto droppings and nests. Don’t use a sprayer. Let it soak for 10 minutes.
  4. Wipe it up with paper towels. Don’t sweep and don’t vacuum.
  5. Double-bag the waste, seal it and dispose of it as local bylaws allow.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends an N95-level respirator when cleaning droppings in a confined space, and a crawlspace is about as confined as it gets.

What you’ll find, and where each thing goes

Bring everything out to a staging tarp near the bin and sort as you go. Here’s how the usual finds break down.

Table sorting under-deck finds into bin, sort-first and drop-off columns.
Sort on the tarp, then load. Source: Metro Vancouver.

Into the bin

  • Old patio furniture, cushions and umbrellas (hold out cushions with droppings until you’ve cleaned them up as above)
  • Broken planters, lattice, rotted boards and plastic sheeting
  • Boxes of household clutter and damaged storage bins
  • Rolled carpet and old mats

Sort the wood

Lumber offcuts are common under decks. Metro Vancouver defines clean wood as unpainted, unstained and untreated. Keep clean offcuts in their own pile. Pressure-treated, painted or stained wood is a separate stream. Keep treated wood out of clean-wood and yard loads. Tell us about treated or painted wood when you book, since it needs special handling. Our wood recycling page explains the difference, and you can tell us what you have when you book.

Scrap metal

Old bike frames, metal furniture and broken barbecues with the tank removed can go to a scrap yard or to a Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centre such as United Boulevard, where metals are free to drop off.

Drop-offs, never the bin

  • Paint and stain cans: Product Care paint depots or most Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centres, such as United Boulevard.
  • Gas cans and fuel: most Metro Vancouver centres, such as United Boulevard, take gasoline in a ULC-approved container up to 25 L.
  • Propane tanks: free at most Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centres, such as United Boulevard.
  • Pesticides and garden chemicals: Metro Vancouver centres such as Langley and North Shore accept domestic pesticides only, in the original labelled container.
  • Tires: a tire retailer or a Tire Stewardship BC collection site.
  • Batteries: free drop-off at most Metro Vancouver centres, such as United Boulevard.

Our list of what not to put in a Metro Vancouver disposal bin covers the full set.

Getting things out of a tight space

Crawlspace openings are small, so plan the exit before you start.

Homeowner pulling a tarp of stored items out of a crawlspace toward a Trash King bin.
Drag it out on a tarp and sort before it hits the bin.
  • Slide a tarp in and pile smaller items on it, then drag it out.
  • Keep one person outside to take items through the opening.
  • Break down large items inside the space only if you can do it without touching pipe wrap or under-sheeting. Wear eye protection.
  • Stage everything on a tarp beside the bin, sorted into the piles above.

Keep it from filling up again

HealthLink BC’s rodent advice doubles as a storage plan:

Diagram of rodent-proof storage: lumber 30 to 45 cm off the ground, 15 to 20 cm plant clearance and 6 mm vent screening.
Store it so mice don’t move in. Source: HealthLink BC File #37.
  • Store lumber and firewood on stands 30 to 45 cm off the ground.
  • Remove unused piles of lumber.
  • Don’t store old furniture outside.
  • Cover crawlspace vents with 6 mm metal screening.
  • Trim plants so 15 to 20 cm above the ground next to the building stays clear.

Pick the bin and plan the spot

Stored items and deck debris usually go in a 15-yard or larger. If there’s concrete or dirt, it goes in its own 10-yard bin, which is about 12 by 8 feet with low walls. Sizes vary a little between bins. If you’re also taking the deck down, see our guide to fence and deck tear-down debris for sizing.

Your driveway is the first choice if it fits. If it needs to sit on the street, boulevard or lane, check with your City first, since rules and timelines change often. Our bin placement checklist covers access and clearances.

You do the crawling and loading. We set the bin down and come back for it when you call. Call 604-433-5865 or email quotes@trashking.ca to book.

FAQ

Is it safe to clean out a crawlspace myself?

Start with WorkSafeBC’s asbestos advice. It says a home built before 1990 is likely to contain some asbestos and should be tested before work that could disturb it. If you find wrapped pipes or ducts, have them tested before you work near them. Also check for water near wiring and for rodent signs before you go in.

What do I do about mouse droppings in a crawlspace?

Follow HealthLink BC’s steps. Ventilate, wear an N95 mask or better, soak the droppings with disinfectant for 10 minutes and wipe them up. Never sweep or vacuum.

Can old lumber from under the deck go in the bin?

Yes, but sort it first. Clean, unpainted wood is a different stream from treated or painted wood. Tell us about treated or painted wood when you book, since it needs special handling. Tell us what you have when you book.

Where do the paint and gas cans go?

To a drop-off. Most Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centres, such as United Boulevard, and Product Care depots take them. They never go in a rental bin.

What size bin do I need?

A 15-yard or larger is the usual pick for stored items. The 10-yard is for concrete and dirt. Call us with a rough list and we’ll confirm.

Sources

Bin Rental Services in the GVRD

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