(spring) cleaning a 2 bed house - list?

[cottonreels]

My (small 2 bed) house is fairly cluttered but has areas of tidy space too.
I tend to clean certain areas fairly regularly (eg stair bannister, light switches, kitchen worktops) but feel like the house needs a good top to bottom clean. I have an 18mth old and let things slide a while when she was little. I know I need a clear out (but it hurts ) but I also need a spring clean.
How to do it though? Have been toying with getting a cleaner to do a spring clean (and secretly follow her around to see what she does and how).
Also wondering if I could do it myself, one room at a time, but think I'd need some kind of list so I couldnt do my normal half hearted job.
Is there a list on the net somewhere?
Would it be worth getting a one off professional clean? (Id have to tidy wouldnt I?)
I really wish I could stop apologising to friends who call round (sorry its such a mess, but blah, blah, blah!). Can anyone help me?

You need the flylady - google her....

Get a professional in. They will be able to do all the things you can't with an 18M old underfoot, like take all the crockery out of the kitchen cupboards and clean them out.

Don't need much.
Get old fashioned jif cream. CIf?
A limescale remover ike limelight
A multipurpose cleaner.

Several sponges
Several dishcloths. Cotton ones like Kim & aggie use
Several teatowel. Towel ones well washed and soft
Microfibre clothes. From £ shop.

Use jif on everything except floors and worktops. On woodwork, sinks and baths
Then use limelight in all water areas.
Once clean dry everything with tea towel.
Once dry buff with microfibre cloth.
Periodically dry sinks through week to keep them shiny.

Clean hob as above dry & buff.
Brillo any metal parts carefully.

Get a sqidgy wipe (think window cleaners) and wipe down after showering. Then dry taps each time. You'd be amazed!

Or
Tidy religiously and get a cleaner to Hoover & dust weekly. Agency ones aren't very good so try to get a cash in hand recommendation.

Thanks so much for your responses. Ive had a look at the flylady - am loving the idea, but am almost as overwhelmed by the website as by doing the actual spring clean! Where on earth do you start? Do you get bombarded with e mails? Is it really free? Its American so I presume theres nothing really worth buying from the shop?
Am wondering ifd I need a proffessional for a big clean, then start on flylady - or does the flylady start with a big clean?
Great advice mayday, Im calling at tesco later so Ill hover around the cleaning isle for a while I think and see if a few new purchases inspire me!

Flylady does it in small steps. You do either 2, 7 or 15 mins at a time. She says it took a long time to get into this mess and it will take time to get out of it.

Start here with day 1 - shine your sink...