anybody started their spring clean yet?....

mamashaz

Hi Bettyboop, I did this a while back when we were thinking of moving house (in fact, we decided to stay put) and had a couple of people round to give me a quote. They both quoted about £100 and each said it was about 5 hours work for two people (our house has 3 bedrooms and 3 reception rooms). I chose the people I did because they also said they would do the windows which the others couldn't do due to health and safety reasons, and the windows were filthy.

I made a big mistake as I chose a company who specialise in cleaning offices whereas the other ones were 2 women who only clean houses. Despite having the company back twice I was not at all happy and in the end were just glad to see the back of them. I can't say that the other people would have been better because I honestly don't know but if I was to do it again I would choose people who only do houses. These people just didn't seem to see areas of dirt which were obvious to me.

Hope that helps and good luck with the baby!

Mamashaz

arlybarly

hi bettyboop
i clean houses for a living and if i have a one off spring clean like yours i would always go and inspect the house first. i usually charge around 10 quid per hour as this includes all reachable windows inside and out, skirting boards, cooker tops ect all the horrible little jobs people dont like to do themselves. so its usually about 80 100 for 2 of us and we have never had a complaint yet and sometimes they are so pleased that we get tips as well. i would go with the cleaning ladies rather than a company if i was you, hope this helps.

KSB235

Hi everyone, as I've miraculously managed to get a free weekend I've decided to give my flat a bit of a blitz. I've got to wallpaper the spare room but I'm going to give the whole place the major clean it's been needing for a while. However I'm not really sure where to start! Does anyone have any tips on conducting a full house clean over the course of a day or so? I'd like to do everything but I'm a bit daunted and need a bit of inspiration.

Also I was wondering about cleaning products, I've got a few bits of cleaning products left like Mr Muscle bathroom cleaner, but ideally don't want to spend loads of money re-loading my cleaning cupboard, I've read a bit about white vinegar and baking soda, but how would i actually use this in each room to clean?

Hope this makes sense, I'm a relative OS newbie Thanks!

Coz800

I'd like to get started on spring cleaning. What would you include in a list of tasks and do you have any money-saving and time-saving tips please?

lilac_lady

I don't spring clean. I deal with housework as it comes along.

beemuzed

Welcome to OS, Coz800. Plenty of money-saving tips over here!
Try the Flylady thread - loads of cleaning suggestions there. I guess spring cleaning isn't quite what it was in past days, but it is a good feeling knowing that all the corners are clean and dust free (just occasionally!). I think the sunny weather - when we get any - always shows up the dusty bits and windows that need attention. Good luck with it!

Steel_2

I love spring cleaning.

It marks the end of winter for me and makes me feel good. It's almost like spring fever. I get gripped by a sudden desire to 'nest'. Sometimes I do it all ithe major stuff over a weekend, sometimes I spread it out over the course of a week. For obvious reasons the ironing pile can take a while to go down.

I always start a spring clean by sorting out the wardrobes. Winter clothes are washed and be stored away, coats and jackets cleaned or to the dry cleaners, winter boots and shoes heeled if necessary, polished and put away. I include winter bed linens in that too - any eiderdowns, heavy blankets and winter duvets are taken off cleaned if necessary or aired and then put away. Then I drag out the spring/autumn clothing and give it an airing outside if it's a nice day. I start a repair pile in an old washing basket - for example, after a winter of being out on the bed and slept on by the cats, my patchwork quilt is showing signs of wear so I usually end up re-sewing a few split seams of patching it. Then there's the odd item of clothing with loose buttons and seams that have come down.

My spring clean then goes on from there to encompass the bedroom (as all my clothes and linens are held in a huge wardrobe in there) hoover under the bed and behind big bits of furniture, cobwebs in corners and dust on door frames, clean the window inside and out and polishing the furniture. Sometimes the curtains also come down for cleaning.

Then I go on to the next room and do pretty much the same thing. In the kitchen the cupboards get cleaned out and the oven gets a massive blast instead of it's usual cursory wipe. I'm even get on steps to wipe the top of the boiler down.

Sometimes I also do a spot of cleaning and painting out by the back door where the paintwork ends up with scuffs and dirty marks. It takes me about 10 minutes to do the small area that takes the most knocks.

By the end of the clean I evaluate whether the outside space needs a spring clean too. In my case, the doors and windowsills are wiped down (every couple of years the wooden back door gets afresh coat of paint), the paving and patio is washed down with an algae remover and stiff broom and I can't resist sometimes getting out the chairs and table so I can eat breakfast out there if it's a nice sunny morning.

Even my chicken's coop get a spring clean with plenty of disinfectant and a new coat of preservative.

Don't ask me why I go to these lengths every year:rotfl:

As I said, I just get gripped by a desire to nest. Even when I've been working full time and doing horrendous hours, I always still get a desire to do it.

You'd think I'd just want to sleep instead:D

Moneysaving: I use microfibre cloths and mops with removable microfibre pads - I find they collect all the dust and dirt better than a normal cloth and last me years. Furniture polish is usually a combination of olive oil and lemon juice. I use lemon juice to clean the microwave and oven. I use lemon essential oil on a cloth when wiping things down. Usually use combination of bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and boiling water down the plug holes or to clean really scummy stuff. Spray white vinegar all around the shower and toilet bowl to dissolve the limescale.

Penelope_Penguin

Coz800 wrote: »

I'd like to get started on spring cleaning. What would you include in a list of tasks and do you have any money-saving and time-saving tips please?

Welcome :beer: We have a Spring Clean thread here ;) I'll merge this later.

I'm with Lilac Lady - I clean every week, using the Flylady thread for support The current one is here and a new one will start tonight.

Penny. x

rachbc

fly lady really isn't for me though I do a decent weekly clean I do like a spring clean - I get someone in to clean the carpets and then I sort through stuff like the kids toys and clothes to pass on any that are grown out of, clean the cupbards out, steam clean the matresses etc

Coz800

Hello

I'm going to start spring cleaning soon too. Thanks for all the tips so far, and thanks Penelope Penguin for pointing me in the direction of this thread!