I have offered to blitz someone elses house...

[TinselinaBumSquash]

We are spending Christmas with some family, they havea house big enough to fit us all in and its fine, i love this person we are close.

However, this persons home is filthy and really messy, i have gently braosched the subject as i will be cooking the dinner in the Kitchen and they were fina about it.

Anyway i offered to come round a few days before the big day and give it a blitz while the kids all play together.

So back to the point, it is a large 4 bed house, i have a day to get it looking nice and get the hygeine levels up so i can cook a christmas dinner for 20 people.

What so i need, where do i start.
Any tips of advice welcome. :)

[dietcokesholidaysarecoming]

using this thread for my house and my best male friends house when I finally get my hands on it!

[dode]

My general blitz approach:

equipment wise: a broom, dustpan and brush, mop and bucket, hand scrubbing brush, 3 microfibre cloths, hoover

product wise: Ecover floor soap, Daylesford Multi-purpose lavender cleaner, own brand bleach.

Put a load of laundry on.

Start at the top of the house and at the top of the room.

1. clear cobwebs
   
2. clean windows (lavender cleaner or white vinegar and newspaper)
   
3. clear every surface
   
4. pick everything up off the floor
   
5. wipe down all surfaces (both horizontal and vertical)
   
6. make the bed
   
7. empty the bin
   
8. hoover: soft furniture, with edger around skirting board, then either
   
9. hoover or sweep and mop the room
   

Mop yourself out and close the door. Anything that you find in other rooms that belongs in that room is placed outside the door.

Put the next load of laundry on.

Scrub the loo with bleach and remember to wipe all the taps and handles (loo flush, lightswitches and doors).

Do all the washing up, dry it and put it all away. Empty the cat litter and take the bins out.

Now go back and put all the odds and sods in their right rooms. Put clean towels in the bathroom and make sure the loo roll, toothpaste etc is stocked.

Put the next load of laundry on.

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

Norma - I told my brother I cleaned his kitchen because it was unhygenic - and he agreed

I love cleaning other peoples houses........if only I was as good as doing my own

[BertieBottlesOfMulledWine]

I love it :) I wish someone would do this for me! I quite like having massive deep cleans, especially if someone helps me. Trouble is I'm terminally messy and disorganised and forget to do it every day. So it gets ridiculous before too long.

OP: for clutter you need boxes and boxes and boxes. Sort each room's mess into categories and then sort that box by box.

[DreamTeamGirl]

LOL- I love highlighters- I am such a geek.

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

Oh yes, I'll be printing it off. I might even dig out some highlighters

[DreamTeamGirl]

Pleasure guys

I use that with my daily/ weekly list and usually get most - well at least SOME- done each week.

I find it easier to have a list to work from than randomly wandering around wondering what to do- plus its great to tick things off isnt it?

Good luck Jenai, I am sure you will get all the important things done!!!
Maybe it is worth printing off the list and highlighting the must dos, then good to do, nice to do and finally 'unimportant's'

[Normasnorks]

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree - the problem is that the OP doesn't sound like a 'non-judgey-pants' sort of person....her OP is full of condecenscion!

"get the hygeine levels up"

Each to their own, but I wouldn't want this sort of person around my house at Christmas!

Besides, if she really is an OCD-type cleanaholic, why would she need to post on here for 'tips and advice'?

Sorry, but the title of the post, and the general style of the language all sounds a bit smug and self-satisfied to me...

However I'm sure I will be flamed for this suggestion, so I'll respectfully bow out now..

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

DreamTeam - thanks for that cleaning list. I've tried Flying before - never worked for me - I'm a list person. But have always loved her Crisis Cleaning - and that list is a great addition to go with it.

[alfiesmadmother]

YANBU at all x

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

"I find it hard to believe that they won't be deeply offended when you turn up Anthea Turner-stylee?"

I don't find it hard to believe - I've never been offended when friends have turned up and started tidying/cleaning without even asking.

My brother wasn't offended when I blitzed his kitchen when I stayed with him (It was terrible) (he actually thanked me - and has mentioned is since then thanking me again.

If you're not a natural housekeeper and find it a struggle to keep on top non-judgey pants friends/relatives who walk into you home, clear a space on the sofa, put the kettle on and do a little bit to help you are wonderful. (though I have now thankfully stopped one of my friends from loading even a few rogue mugs into the dishwasher when she comes round or filling the sink to wash the dishes

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

Oh DreamTeam thank you - that's exactly what I needed.

I'm bullying encouraging ds and dp to do their part (to be fair, dp does more housework that I do as a rule) so who knows, perhaps we can get 2-3 days' worth of work sorted tomorrow.

I've tried Flylady before, but never got past oiling the sink

[DreamTeamGirl]

Starting at the top is a really good idea, but in this instance I would start with the kitchen then go up and work down and finish in the kitchen again.

If you want a list
this is amazing- even if you skip a few bits its very achievable in 2-3 days

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

Off to Google. Thank you :)

[Longtinsellyjosie]

You blast it at everything and limescale, soap scum, all sorts - just give up. Without the need for cleaning products. Then you just wipe it off.

I know you can hire them but you'd need to Google to see where near you

[Normasnorks]

"this persons home is filthy and really messy"


I bet it isn't really - you self-confessedly have OCD....

Unless they have raw chicken lying out on the surfaces, I bet it is fine.

I find it hard to believe that they won't be deeply offended when you turn up Anthea Turner-stylee?

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

What do you do with a steam cleaner, Tinselly? And where might one hire such a thing?

[MayDayChild]

Jif and a cellulose sponge cleans EVERYTHING ! leave kitchen sink till very last and don't forget your handcream!
Those microfibre cloths make any surface shiny once cleaned, buff to shine sinks taps and hob

[booyhohoho]

tinselina, my address is......

[Longtinsellyjosie]

Hire a steam cleaner. I am slightly obsessed with the virtues of steam cleaners at the moment

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

Bumping, because I'm planning to do the same. Only at my house

A list would be marvellous.

Tinselina coming round even better

[TinselinaBumSquash]

I need a list of everything i want to get done so i can tick it off, i will go to Tesco that morning and get any cleaning products i need.

Its not to cluttered just needs a complete sort out and clean.

[nancy75]

generally mess is more clutter than dirt - encouraging her to have a big throw out will make it look much better almost straight away.

[TinselinaBumSquash]

Plus they know i have ocd so its not unusual for me to roll up with antibacterial wipes and polish!