Full house deep clean, what do I need?

[BarbaraofSeville]

I've set myself the task of spending the Easter weekend cleaning the house properly and obviously some preparation is needed as I don't want my good intentions waylaid by not having the right kit to make it as easy and successful as possible.

No judgement about whether or not this is necessary or essential please, as far as I'm concerned, shops like B&M are open so i'm allowed to make an appropriately socially distanced visit to buy anything I need. I have access to most supermarkets plus B&M etc, as in whatever is open - I mention B&M because there's a big new one near me, so they're likely to have everything I might need cheaply.

I'm looking to roughly follow the Organised Mum Method bootcamp thing and then try and keep on top of it. As far as I can see the two main problem areas are dust everywhere and grotty grout in the bathroom. And I mean properly dusty and grotty, not some tinkly little 'please excuse the mess' as you enter a near spotless showhome but there's one pair of shoes not put back on the rack and a bit of toothpaste on the bathroom taps. Think student house never cleaned from the start of freshers week to graduation. I don't apologise for that either. I have a lot on, I don't like cleaning, I almost certainly have ADD or similar so really really struggle with organisation etc, but I overcome a lot of obstacles with determination and this is what I'm determined about at the moment. So, cease the day and all that. I'm going in.

But what puts me off is that when I've tried cleaning in the past, it just never looks clean, the dust and streaks come back and I need it to work, or else I'll just stop bothering.

So I need something that works, not a bit of bicarb and elbow grease. I'm experienced in working with chemicals and already have boiler suits, endless supply of eye protection and industrial strength rubber gloves, the works.

Tips for the grout? It's supposed to be white but there's a lot of brown and I've read about making bleach and bicarb pastes and letting it sit and scrubbing off with a toothbrush, does that work? Better suggestions? I've read about wrapping toilet paper round the taps and letting it soak in so I'll give that a try.

Would a steamer of some description work? I can probably borrow one from someone - either DM or MIL probably have them and they can leave it in the garden and we can collect it and make a socially distanced welfare check at the same time - they're both widowed pensioners so I see no harm with having a chat in the garden for a few minutes, several metres apart of course.

On to the dust - it's everywhere and it just seems to come back within seconds of dusting. It's also all over the walls. I'm thinking broom down the walls, reaching up with the vacuum hose, what do people do? Something like an old fleece over a broom, would that work?

Finally, cleaning leather furniture, any tips for that? I've just thrown away some dried out wilko leather wipes that are probably useless.

Tia.

Bloody hell that was a bit of an outpouring. Sorry

Short version. If you found out your student offspring had not cleaned their accommodation the whole time they'd been in it and you'd taken it upon yourself to do a big clean to make sure the deposit was returned, what would you be loading in the car to get the job done? .

For leather furniture order some saddle soap from amazon. I used it on a cream leather corner sofa and it’s amazing, also nourishes the leather at the same time. It’s a gold tub and about £8.

I’m watching for tips on the rest, I usually get motivated to do a clean around April/May but I’m busier than I’ve ever been at present so any tips are useful.

I'd be loading the student offspring in the car, so they could get on with it. If they are old enough to make the mess, they are old enough to clean it up.

I was joking about the student offspring, I'm doing the cleaning, I'm just trying to be clear that this is cleaning real dirt not 'a clean house not cleaned for a few weeks' type dirt that people usually ask about or was on that 'How to deep clean your house' programme a couple of weeks ago, where the house really was spotless but there was a tiny little bit of grot behind one of the taps.

Thanks for the saddle soap tip, that sounds promising.

Well you will never stop dust returning, that's something you need to keep on top of. I live in a very dusty house due to a dog and dp having psoriasis. Dusting has to be done most days. I would use a damp clothe to wipe things down to get rid of dust first if it's really bad. Dry clothes don't pick up enough. Hoover as much as you can away first.
For the grout I would just use cheap thick bleach. Pour it on and let it sit for a couple of hours. I would recommend keeping the house well ventilated and possibly wearing a mask for that if you will be doing a lot. Bleach is great for deep cleaning most things in the bathroom and things like mould if you have any.
Fairy liquid is great for removing grease. Fairy liquid and water solution. Will probably take a few goes if it's really bad.
Mr muscle spray foam is great for cleaning the cooker, and dettol washing machine cleaner is good too.

Of you want to go natural, vinagar and lemon are good cleaners but I can't stand the smell of vinagar

Magic sponges OP, I thinl the Flash ones are called magic erasers but you can get generic non brand ones, they're really Good for cleaning things like the bath and sink, radiators and in the kitchen for getting that greasy film off of things. Be careful on some surfaces, I've taken the paint off the wall with one before ...
Things like zoflora don't actually clean, they disinfect so make sure you use an actual cleaning product (I have no real recommendation, I just use fairy liquid for most cleaning and it seems to do pretty well)
Good look OP nothing better than the feeling of satisfaction when you've got a nice clean room

Washer drawer. Clean with hot soapy water. Then in your washer drum put in some baking soda and white vinegar and put on a 90. I find cif or stardrops clean cleaner gets rid of scuffs, stubborn Mark's quite well from wood work, cupboard doors and the shelves and window frames etc. I also use it in the bath to get any Mark's off. I use disinfectant, zoflora or fabulousa in a spray bottle with water for all surfaces to disinfect.

Just remember that cloths used in the bathroom shouldnt be elsewhere. Same as the kitchen.

Viakal for bathroom limescale.
The pink stuff for stubborn marks
Lots of cloths
Micro fibre cloths for damp dusting - then you don’t need sprays
Vacuum bags ready
Washing powder for washing all throws,towels etc
White vinegar spray good for windows
Method shower spray and a squeegee to keep it clean after.

HG for mouldy grout if you can get it. Cream cleaner for lots of thing. Massive pack of those scouring cloths.

I second HG mould removal spray! Spray, leave as long as you like, rinse, perfect grout lines... It does the job for you!

For mouldy grout nothing is better than neat bleach, applied with an old toothbrush. leave for half an hour then gently brush through the grout and rinse off with shower. Grout comes up like new and the diluted bleach when rinsing off gets the tiles clean too.

Windowlene spray for mirrors and windows inside and out. Nothing else works as well.

I agree with PP that nothing cuts through grease better than washing up liquid. If you need to scrub tiles, use it neat on one of those dark green scourers, then wash off with magic cloth in hot water and rub dry.

Proper beeswax polish with lavender or lemon for the wood.

Method is nice for wood floors if you like the smell of almonds.

Distilled white vinegar for limescale - soak kitchen roll in it, wrap around taps, wrap clingfilm round too.

Some cheap toothbrushes - great for nooks and crannies.

I find cream cleaner (eg Cif) better than spray and it doesn’t get in your throat either.

Scrubbing brush for floors.

Biological washing powder is great - use it (diluted) for spots on carpets etc.

Astonish oven cleaner is magic stuff

Another vote for HG mould spray. Genius stuff.

HG mould remover spray for grout and shower mould.
Flash and viakal bathroom sprays
Massive bottle of white malt vinegar- that and windowlene did wonders degreasing my repulsive kitchen last weekend (think windowlene has vinegar in it). Method kitchen spray is nice but wasn't strong enough.
Beeswax furniture polish.
Stainless steel scouring pad.
Toothbrushes (cheap/old)
I've got an extending broom with duster attachment from Muji which is good for doing walls/ceilings. I don't know if their online shop is working but I think Flash or someone did a similar one.

One of those lint rollers- good for stubborn cat hair
My house is dusty too and I have to dust regularly with a damp cloth or pledge.
Loads of old cloths/microfibre cloths. I soak mine in Dettol and hot water before washing them.

The Stardrops range is very good. I would especially recommend the orange All Round cleaner and the white one with ammonia for tougher jobs.

If you can’t get your hands on the HG mould remover the Cif one is pretty good.

You've got loads of advice already but:

Barkeeper's Friend is great - slightly abrasive so be careful and I have no idea what's in it but great for kitchen sink, some worktops and fridge (check materials first)
Microfibre cloths are game changers (and Method cleaners once place is clean but probably stronger cleaner before that).
Dishwasher tablet is brill for oven door.
If grout is really bad and still not clean after advice from above, sometimes it needs to be scraped out and redone.

Good luck - try not to get overwhelmed. Think only of one step at a time.

Meant outside of stainless steel fridge for barkeeper's friend! Don't get it near food!

If you ha e a real dust problem you need to wipe everything down with clean damp cloths otherwise you’ll throw the dust up in the air and you’ll. e wiping it for ever.

Start at the top of the house and work downwards.

If clutter is a problem try and deal with that first. It’s harder to clean when it’s messy.

I'd hoover the walls, top of doors and woodwork first, then start on the actual cleaning. Take it one room at a time so it's not as overwhelming. Star drops range is very good and cheap.

Thanks for all the replies and tips.

Have managed to get Viakal, Elbow Grease, Pink Stuff, Stardrops white vinegar spray and leather cleaner (couldn't see saddle soap in a shop) and already have plenty of bleach, bicarb, microfibre cloths, Elbow Grease washing up liquid and probably a load of other stuff.

Have also (appropriately social distance) borrowed a handheld steam cleaner from a relative so I think I'm sorted now, except I couldn't find proper white vinegar, only the Stardrops spray, which I assume is diluted? Might try to get some more of that next time I need to go to a normal supermarket (B&M was useless BTW, they had almost nothing, but there was a 'One Below' nearby which had everything.

Tidy first. Four categories: black bin, recycling, charity shop, keep.

Start at the top and work down. So, upstairs rooms first and in each room at the ceiling, then walls and surfaces, then floor.

Use water as hot as you can bear (wear gloves).

Fairy liquid with a squirt of bleach works wonders on most things. Don't mix bleach with any other products though.
You‘ll need something for limescale if you're in a hard water area.

Enlist the help of everyone old enough to be useful.

Kilrock Gel for limescale build up around toilet rims and elsewhere (you paint it on and wipe it off and it's AMAZING)
The Pink Stuff for stainless steel, oven doors/shelves/bottom, pretty much anything you want to clean. The paste in the tub is better than the spray.
Scrub daddy - great for getting marks off but doesn't scratch (good for stainless steel etc)
Elbow Grease - again great for oven doors and anything greasy!
Fairy power spray is similar to elbow grease but I also use it to 'soak' pans before I wash them
LimeLite for water marks/limescale on shower glass and taps
Two cloths - one wet one dry - when you're cleaning the bathroom. Microfibre is best like these spontex ones - www.spontex.co.uk/product/microfibre-bathroom-kit/ - use one to clean and one to dry, leaves it lovely and shiny.
Echoing PP - zoflora is nice but it's not a cleaner, so use proper cleaning spray/products to clean and then wipe over with zoflora afterwards if you want. Or to get the smell, just put a capful in some hot water in the sink/basin and the whole room will smell of it.

If the bath/shower sealant is mouldy I genuinely think it's best to just take it off and re-seal. I've never found a way to convincingly clean sealant.

Make a list of EVERYTHING you want to do and tick things off as you do them. Then moving forward, I have a weekly cleaning 'rota' whereby I do a room/area each day - each day is only 20-30 minutes but it means everything is clean all the time without having to spend an entire day/weekend cleaning. It also gives me the weekend off (although what even is a weekend at the moment?!)

Aforementioned cleaning rota. Please ignore my hinch-isms - I'm out of that phase now but the names have still stuck!
Pine = toilet duck
Snow = carpet deodorant spray