Top to bottom, back to front
Clean from the top of a room down: ceiling fans, light fittings and corners first, then shelves and walls, and last the floor. Start at the far end of the house and finish near the door. That way, dust you knock down lands on places you have not cleaned yet. Take things off shelves and out of cupboards before wiping, and give away or throw out what you no longer use.
Room by room
- Kitchen: degrease the stove, hood and tiles, clean the fridge and shelves, and the drain and sink. Switch off the stove and the gas, and let it cool, before you clean it.
- Bathrooms: scrub tiles, grout, taps and floor drains, and let fresh air in to dry the room.
- Bedrooms and lounge: wash curtains if the label allows, turn and air mattresses, vacuum under beds and behind furniture.
- Windows and doors: wipe frames, tracks and handles, which collect a lot of dust.
Jobs to hand to a team, and safety
- Sofas, mattresses and carpets need special equipment to clean deeply and dry properly.
- The water tank should be cleaned and the hidden corners checked for pests.
- High windows and outside glass are risky to reach. Don't lean out of a window or stand on an unsteady chair or ladder.
- Never mix cleaning products, keep them in their own labelled bottles away from children and food, and keep the room ventilated. Don't clean electric sockets or switches with a wet cloth.