If a parent is leaving a Middleton home for something smaller, and most of the house can’t come along, help with the rest is a phone call away. Call and we’ll connect you with an independent local cleanout company for a free quote.
Downsizing out of a Middleton house
Most downsizing cleanouts happen in two passes: first the move, then clearing whatever stayed behind. Middleton calls itself “The Good Neighbor City,” and plenty of longtime residents have been here since it was far smaller than today’s roughly 23,000 people. A house lived in that long tends to hold a lot.
It helps to let your parent choose what comes to the new place before anyone else claims things. Measure the new rooms, pick the furniture that fits, and then let family take keepsakes. Only after that should a cleanout company handle what’s left. Our downsizing and senior move cleanout page covers the timing in more detail.
Keep, give or let go: a simple way to sort
Three piles are usually enough. What’s moving, what’s going to family or donation, and what’s leaving for good. When a parent is in the room, going one drawer or shelf at a time is kinder than tackling a whole closet at once.
If you want a room-by-room list, the clean out a parent’s house checklist is a good place to start.
Where Middleton households can donate
- Habitat ReStore West, 6201 Odana Rd: furniture, tools, cabinets, windows, doors and appliances under 10 years old. Drop-off is Tuesday through Saturday, 9 to 3. No paint, carpet, electronics, recliners or futons.
- St. Vinny’s on Odana Rd: St. Vincent de Paul Madison also offers free home pickup of furniture and household goods.
- Medical equipment: canes, walkers and shower chairs your parent no longer needs can go to a loan closet such as Access to Independence in Madison. Call first to check what they’re taking.
- Books and movies: Friends of Madison Public Library takes books, CDs and DVDs in good shape at 201 W. Mifflin, but not encyclopedias, textbooks or musty books.
Old prescriptions: the MedDrop box at Middleton Police
Unused medications can go in the free MedDrop box at the Middleton Police Department, 7341 Donna Dr. Needles and sharps aren’t accepted. It’s worth clearing the medicine cabinet yourself before a cleanout crew arrives, so nothing ends up in a trash bag by accident.
Disposal for Middleton residents
Middleton became a village in 1905 and a city in 1963, and it runs its own services, so the City of Madison drop-off sites aren’t an option. They require proof of Madison residency. Dane County’s facilities on Maahic Way are the fallback:
- The Dane County Landfill at 7102 Maahic Way takes resident loads. It won’t take appliances with Freon, propane tanks, electronics or hazardous chemicals.
- Dane County Clean Sweep at 7020 Maahic Way handles household hazardous waste for $15 per trip.
For bulky curbside pickup, check with the City of Middleton’s public works department. Their rules are their own.
Cleanout company or dumpster?
A dumpster is cheaper up front, but you do all the lifting. Bin There Dump That lists a 10-yard bin at $400 for seven days, and ZTERS lists $625 to $715 for ten days. A full-service estate cleanout in the Madison area has published ranges from about $1,225 to $6,400, and prices vary. See estate cleanout cost for more, or read the FAQ.
Madison Cleanouts is a referral service. When you call, we connect you with an independent local cleanout company that gives you a quote and does the work. We also cover nearby Verona and Waunakee.
Next step
Once you know your parent’s move date, call and we’ll line up a quote for clearing the Middleton house. Or send a short request.
