Smoke damage in a forclosure home I purchased had to be cleaned.
Whether you are cleaning foreclosed houses as a paid service for the financial institution that repossessed them or for yourself, you can make some money. Most have been empty for anywhere from a few months to over a year, allowing cobwebs, dirt, bugs and rodents to take over. With the right supplies, hard work and perseverance can transform a foreclosed home into a showplace. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove personal items left behind and carpets that are too soiled for cleaning. Wear your dust mask and rubber gloves.
2. Vacuum or sweep to help rid the foreclosed house of insects, cobwebs and rodent droppings and dirt. Begin with walls and ceilings, then counter tops, closets and shelves. Save the floors for last.
3. Wash ceilings, walls, cupboards, shelves with a disinfectant cleaner. Add the cleaner to a bucket of warm water, following the manufacturer's directions. Use large sponges and scrub brushes. If the walls and ceilings have smoke, grease, or other grime consider adding OxiClean or Borax to the warm water as well. Consider using rubber gloves to clean these surfaces and place towels on the floor to absorb excess water.
4. Mop the floors using the same products used on the walls or the disinfectant cleaner. Use a scrub brush where needed or toothbrush to clean tight areas.
5. Shampoo carpets using a carpet shampooer with steam-cleaning ability and a deodorizing carpet shampoo.
6. Scour toilets, bathtubs, showers and sinks in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and mudrooms. Use rubber gloves for your protection.
7. Clean windows, mirrors, and other glass inside and outside the house. Rubbing windows sprayed with glass cleaner with crumpled sheets of dry newspaper make them crystal clear without leaving streaks.
Tags: rubber gloves, disinfectant cleaner, walls ceilings, warm water
