March Madness: The (Sweet) 16 Worst Things We Commonly Haul Away

It’s March Madness — when brackets break, underdogs rise, and the nation is gripped by college basketball March Madness fever. But here at Hauling It Away, we’ve got our version of madness. While others are glued to their TVs, we’re out in garages, basements, attics, and backyards dealing with the chaotic world of junk removal.

This month for March Madness, we’re tipping off with a bit of fun. In honor of the March Madness Sweet 16, we’re sharing our “tournament” of the most outrageous, unpleasant, or downright strange things we’ve encountered over the years. These are the top 16 worst items we’ve ever hauled—and trust us, narrowing it down wasn’t easy.

1. Mattresses Older Than Most College Athletes
You know it isn’t good when a mattress practically folds in half under its weight. We’ve hauled out sagging, stained, and spring-busted mattresses from every decade since the 70s. The worst ones? Stored in damp basements or dusty garages for years—and somehow still used as guest beds.

2. The Infamous “Mystery Fridge”
Imagine a refrigerator unplugged and forgotten in the corner of a garage. Then imagine opening it. Whatever was once food is now an unrecognizable science experiment. The smell alone could send someone running. We’ve dealt with more than one, and it’s a new level of awful every time.

3. Taxidermy That Should Have Stayed in the Woods
Something is unsettling about a deer mount with one antler, crossed eyes, and a crooked grin. Bonus points if it’s wearing a hat or bowtie. Whether it was an honest attempt at preserving a trophy or a relic from a themed man cave, these awkward displays are some of the most bizarre items we’ve had to remove.

4. The Doll Collections That Stare Into Your Soul
There’s nothing quite like walking into a room full of porcelain dolls, especially when they’re covered in dust and arranged like they’re waiting for you. We’ve cleared entire shelves of them—and every time, it feels like the opening scene of a horror movie.

5. Rotten Food From Forgotten Storage Units
Old storage units can be a treasure hunt—but some contain more surprises than others. Once, we opened a box marked “kitchen” and discovered opened cans of tuna and expired sauces… from over a decade ago. We’ll spare you the smell details, but it’s the kind of thing that lingers in your nose for days.

6. Broken Hot Tubs Full of Nature
A non-working hot tub isn’t too bad—until it’s been sitting in someone’s backyard for years, uncovered and filled with rainwater. We’ve had to fish out frogs, insects, and once even a snake before breaking it down and removing it. Nature has a way of reclaiming forgotten things.

7. Doomsday Prepper Pantries Gone Wrong
We’ve encountered pantries stocked with canned goods that are older than most interns. While we admire the preparation, if your canned chili has a label from 1993 and the can is swollen, it’s time to let it go. And yes, it’s as dangerous as it sounds.

8. Rolled Carpets That Should Have Been Burned
The old, rolled-up carpet might seem innocent—until it’s soaked through, growing mold, and stained beyond recognition. Add years of pet accidents or water damage, and you have a heavy, hazardous mess that no one wants to handle. That’s where we come in.

9. The Unplugged Deep Freezer From Another Era
Freezers filled with forgotten meat are at the top of our “worst smells ever” list. This is especially true when they’ve been unplugged in a basement or storage unit for years; if you’ve never experienced it, count yourself lucky.

10. Abandoned Home Gyms Turned Dust Collectors
People vow to get in shape every January, and by June, those treadmills and elliptical machines are covered in laundry. We’ve removed entire home gyms that were never used, including dusty weight benches and old-school Bowflex systems that took up half the room.

11. Clown Statues That Don’t Belong Anywhere
We once hauled a life-sized clown statue with glowing eyes and a motion sensor that made it laugh when you walked past. Needless to say, we moved it fast and didn’t ask questions. Sometimes, it’s best not to know where these things came from or why someone owned them.

12. Waterlogged Boxes of Mystery Paper
One of the heaviest and messiest things we remove is boxes of paper that have been exposed to water. Whether from a flooded basement or roof leak, wet paper turns into a solid block of mush. It’s nearly impossible to lift, falls apart on contact, and often smells terrible.

13. Giant Box TVs That Still “Work”
Some people have a hard time letting go of their old tech. We’ve removed rear-projection TVs that easily weigh over 200 pounds. These monsters were top-of-the-line in the early 90s, but now they’re collecting dust in basements nationwide.

14. Dead Plants That Became Biohazards
Houseplants don’t always thrive. But leaving them in the corner for years turns them into moldy, bug-infested husks. We’ve seen plants so decomposed that they collapse into dust when touched. Some even grow fungus—not the greenery you want in your home.

15. Hoarder Houses Full of “Useful” Junk
We approach hoarding situations with sensitivity and care, but they come with serious challenges. We’ve hauled out hundreds of plastic butter containers, towers of expired coupon inserts, and boxes labeled “miscellaneous” filled with old batteries, broken electronics, and used fast-food napkins. You never know what you’ll find in a hoarder’s home.

16. The “Just Take Everything” Jobs
Some clients tell us, “Just haul it all.” That’s when we find the worst of the worst—biohazards, broken glass, used needles, rodent nests, and piles of who-knows-what. It’s not for the faint of heart, but what we do.

From Chaos to Clean: Why Hauling It Away Is Your Junk Removal MVP
Junk removal might not come with trophies or televised games, but we tackle every job like we’re in the championship. Whether it’s one of the horrors above or just a regular old garage cleanout, we bring the same hustle, respect, and efficiency to every project.
Our team is trained, professional, and ready to deal with whatever mess you’ve got—no judgment, just results. From a single bulky item to a whole-house haul, we handle the madness, so you don’t have to.

Ready to Clean House?
If your basement, attic, or garage looks more like “March Madness” than “Spring Cleaning,” it’s time to call in the pros. Let Hauling It Away be your go-to junk removal team.

We’ve seen it all, smelled it all, and survived it all. Now, we’re ready to help you reclaim your space.

For questions or March Madness inquiries, please call 715-549-3040 or fill out the contact form or for a Free Estimate Click Here.

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