Obviously, to some extent, it depends on the size of the house, the state that it’s in

and the number of people who are cleaning it. Not to mention how good the

products and equipment used are (pass the twig broom) and how thoroughly they

are used.

Received wisdom says that 4 people cleaning should take about I hour to clean 1,000 square feet thoroughly – which means that it should take one person around 3- 4 hours.

So, imagining that you’ve committed, what’s the best way to do it?

Well, completing one task throughout the house, or ‘task cleaning’ is favoured by many professionals. This simply means completing the same chore throughout the entire house before starting the next.

Not surprisingly, there’s a plan of attack:

• Dust each room including the shelves, picture frames, screens and ornaments – and do it dry if you can. Damp cloths work but they can make things a bit harder.
• Clean furniture fabric surfaces with a vacuum extension or slightly damp cloth, change any bedding and tidy up textiles (plump those cushions).
• Go through the house and clean mirrors and glass with a damp cloth first followed by a dry one.
• Now tackle the counters and surfaces, including things that are frequently touched like light switches and door handles. Use disinfectant or surface cleaner as required.
• Next up are the bathrooms. Go through them spraying cleaner on toilets, baths and sinks. Then go through them again giving everything a scrub and a wipe.
• Kitchen next – you’ve already done the counter and table tops so clean the sink then wipe the inside of the microwave first, followed by the outside of the other appliances and unit doors.
• It’s time to clean the floors in the bathrooms, kitchen and utility if you’ve got one, so sweep first then mop or scrub with an appropriate cleaner.
• Last but not least is the vacuuming. Start at the top doing the bedrooms and landing then down the stairs to the living room and hall.

And that’s it – not too taxing after all. And be kind to yourself – if you miss a bit it’s not the end of the world and you’ll get it next week.

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