Every now and then, a call comes in that reminds us just how unpredictable property management can be. Recently, a customer reached out in distress — their tenants had moved out and left behind a disaster. They didn’t know where to start, who to call, or even if the place could be saved.
The property was a three-bedroom rental meant for three occupants. Instead, it had become home to eight people and a dog. From the moment we opened the door, it was clear this was going to be a challenge.
Upstairs, dust and food grime coated every surface. The floors and carpets were heavily soiled, the kitchen sink was clogged solid with what looked (and smelled) like rotting cheese, and the counters were covered in a thick film of grease. Inside the cupboards? Layers of food waste and buildup that had been ignored for far too long.
Downstairs was even worse. The basement had piles of clothing stacked up to four feet high, mixed with bags of garbage that formed a narrow, winding path through the mess. Near the base of the stairs, the dog had chosen the rugs as its personal washroom — and rather than clean up, the tenants simply threw new rugs on top. By the time we arrived, the pile was thirteen mats high.
But the damage didn’t stop there. The tenants had apparently decided to do some extra “renovations” of their own — firing roughly 450 BB pellets into the walls, and deliberately breaking faucets and appliances.
Then came the garage. Over 120 kilos of garbage were piled up in bags, providing a perfect home for a mouse colony of about 30. And that’s where we met the legend now known as “Hercules the Mouse.”
During cleanup, one of our crew members accidentally vacuumed up a mouse. Normally, that would be the end of the story — but not for Hercules. This tiny survivor endured 70 minutes inside a 1500-watt vacuum, only to emerge alive and determined hours later. When the vacuum was brought indoors, Hercules made a daring escape, climbing up through the dark hose and into the room. Luckily, one of our team members — with reflexes worthy of a cat — managed to catch him safely. Hercules was relocated offsite and released, alive and well.
By the end of the job, the property was fully restored — clean, sanitized, and livable again. But it’s safe to say this one will go down as one of the wildest cleanups we’ve ever handled.
Moral of the story: sometimes, being in property cleanup means dealing with the worst of humanity… and the best of mouse-kind. 🐭💪
