Top to bottom? How to clean a whole house?

stilernin

I get the keys to a house on Monday, mid pm I expect, and my stuff from storage isn't being delivered until Thurs am. Luckily I am living close by for the time being. The house has been empty since Aug, was probably a student let, and there are still bits of furniture around. Sofas, beds, table etc.

Rear yard has some rubbish in it, but not too bad.

It is mostly carpeted, some better than others. Some walls are quite damp, will be sorting that in the new year, so not thinking about decorating etc here, just a jolly good clean.

Questions are

What is the best order of work to clean the whole place? It is 120yrs old with bathroom and shower room (both reasonable), decent sized kitchen/diner (basic but relatively new).

Will tackle the oven with ammonia (read it on here somewhere) but how long does the smell linger?

Can the beds be cleaned in anyway to be used for the short term?

There are two small fridges which I opened and closed very quickly while I was there which will be on their way out PDQ!!

Anything I should be wary of when I switch on combi boiler for the first time? and the gas oven and fire? (have bought a carbon monoxide alarm thingy)

Windows are basic UPVC double glazed, what is best to clean them up?

Any tips and advice from anyone who has had to do this or just an idea for one area would be very welcome.

I'll let you know how I survive!!

kathyd_2

My tip regarding the cleaning would be to start at the top of the house and work your way down. Work on one room at a time so you can see the rewards of your hard labour. If you keep going from room to room cleaning windows then washing woodwork down it will take ages before you notice any difference. Then close the door and move on to the next room. If there are things that require soaking etc., you could ensure that is done while you're beavering away on your rooms. Good luck. I love cleaning.

Nicki

With the beds, unless they are absolutely rank, I would take the mattresses off and either drag them outside into the fresh air, or leave them standing on their side in the bedroom with all the windows open for several hours. Wash the remaining bit of the bed with a stardrops and water solution. When mattresses are thoroughly aired, put back on bed, and vaccuum them. Treat yourself to a nice thick mattress protector which can be machine washed and put it on the old bed. (BHS do some good ones which are reasonably priced) When you get new ones, you can still use the mattress protector and it will keep your mattresses looking good for longer.

I agree with Kathyd about doing it one room at a time, but I would start with the essential rooms first, and move out from there. I would therefore do: bedrooms which will be used first, then kitchen and bathroom, then living room, and rooms which will only be used occasionally or not immediately last.

With the fridges all may not be lost. Our fridge had a fault a few months ago, and all the food in the fridge and freezer went bad. The stench was appalling, but a good clean with hot water and some detergent, followed by a wipe with Milton steralising fluid did the trick in less than an hour's work.

The mega index has lots of cleaning tips, and it is really well organised so it is very easy to find what is relevant to your own house, so would be well worth a browse for ideas about how to tackle your other problem areas.

astonsmummy

I'd start at the top doing the bathroom last, then downsatirs doing the kitchen last, as you will be changing buckets of water etc so it will get grubby, got that from the kim and aggy how clean is ur house book (rented from the library!)

MATH

I clean a number of rental appartments/duplexes between tennants and always start at the top and work down, doing one room completely before moving to the next.

Room by room I also start at the top ie with the light fitting, dry dusting followed by damp wiping, vaccing followed by mopping/carpet shampooing. A lot of people forget to dust the ceiling and walls but you would be surprised at how much dust clings even to silk emulsion, textured papers and full of grot IMO, buy a long handled soft bristled brush and the job takes minutes.

I would never ever re-use a bed no matter how inviting it looked, you would be amazed at what nasties some tennants store in their matress and then forget to take out when they leave. Fridges and the like can always be brought up nice and I have had to face some shockers in the past - nothing beats bleach IMO use it neat on the real horrors and it's great left soaking mould off grotty grout too.

Enjoy ya scubbing!!

ScoobieGirl

Eww! Don't reuse the beds if can possibly afford a new one, even if it's only a temp cheapest of the cheap. Think of all the strange bodily fluids! Especially from badly behaved students (sorry for the graphic imagery!):rotfl:

If you've got plently of time, go top to bottom. If you are running out of time bedroom, then bathroom, then kitchen, then the rest.

My house was so disgusting & greasy (I think they must have had fry ups every day wafting through the house) I used Cif & plenty of cheap kitchen roll.

I just use soapy water on the UPVC window frames, More kitchen roll and window cleaner on the glass - go horizontal inside & vertical out- easier to see which side the smears are on.

Make sure you take your favorite music round to keep you company - You'll probably feel very fed up about 3 rooms in, and need cheering up!

Zed42

I'd echo the top-down and bin the beds approach!!!

Except ... if there is a load of rubbish to get rid of .... hire a skip and get rid of the rubbish first.

Fridge/freezers can be resurrected (possibly) .... but good luck!!!

lil_me

Top to bottom, and maybe freecycle any spare things worth recycling.

I would do bathroom first upstairs (as you'll be using it when you are there cleaning and that's where most smells etc come from) and kitchen first down stairs for same reasons.

JillD_2

I'd do kitchen and bathroom first as you will want to use them while you are there and then do whatever bedroom you will use. Then just do the rest one room at a time.

Open all the windows to get all the rooms aired.

If you really do need the beds then air them outside if its dry.

Get the boiler serviced by a professional, its not wirth the risk not to. Also they will find out if it woeks ok as you will only have a limited time to go back to the vendors on any problems with appliances.

Hire a carpet cleaner if you plan to keep the carpets. Once you move furniture in it will be so much more hassle to clean the carpets.

Good luck!

furndire

I can't believe it, no-one has mentioned stardrops and starclen and microcloths??? Starclen is a brilliant, and cheap product for cutting through grease.
If you have access to one a steamer is a great piece of kit for cleaning - perhaps you could borrow one. Saves having to get buckets of water and changing them, plus the heat of the steam does a lot of damage to any nasties lurking in the corners.

Mics_chick

Don't let others put you off beds if you can't afford to replace them yet - I agree with Nicki you should be ok with a mattress protector after following her other cleaning tips. Other alternatives are to use a duvet instead of a mattress protector - or maybe look into buying a mattress pad (sell them at Ikea) it will make the bed more comfortable and will be like a new mattress - or finally look into buying a new mattress they're not that expensive if you look around.