Need Cleaning Advice

Updated on March 23, 2009
J.M. asks from Southbury, CT
22 answers

Hi everyone, this one might sound strange but I need some help.

We are finally moving out of an apartment and getting our own house, we are very excited. However the house is old and needs a really GOOD cleaning. To top it off the past residents were a little animal crazy, when we went to see the house we found out there were 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 ducks, 1 parrot, and like 10 chickens and roosters. The back yard was torn up, full of feathers and poop, there was even a chicken running around the house with poop on the floor.

I am not sure what diseases there are to be concerned about from the chickens, but I want that house to be spotless when my two little girls move into that house.

I was thinking of bleach/water for all tiled and linoleum flooring to sanitize once I have scrubbed it. Then for all the carpeting, vacuum, spot treat, and then shampoo and steam clean with a pets stain remover and deodorizer. Do you think there is something else I should do other than scrub all surfaces down including walls with soap and water?

Also do you think we should just rake up and rototill the back yard, or would just raking it up and planting seed be ok?

Thanks ladies! I appreciate the help!

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J.L.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,

How exciting! But what a big cleaning job you have ahead of you. I'm wondering, regarding the carpeting, can you pull it up? I imagine if the house is old, you have hardwood floors underneath. Although, they might be damaged from all of the animal excrement. I feel pulling up the carpeting is the most effecient way to really sanitize the house. I think bleach/water is fine for the all of the tiled and linoleum. Will you paint? I find that painting really helps get the previous tenants/owners smells out. Regarding the yard, I can't help you there, I'm clueless!! Good luck!

PS - what kind of dresses do you sew? I'm really interested in learning how to sew since I buy my daughter lots of handmade dresses on ebay/etsy.

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L.H.

answers from New York on

I would be more concerned about the chicken running around inside than I would be the cats and dogs. Chickens carry samonella and the whole SARS epidemic in China was caused by chickens. Cat feces can carry toxmoplasmosis and dog feces carries ring worm, which isn't have as bad as chicken poop. You realy should invest in professional disinfectant cleaners with bleach rather than to try and make your own. Remember when using any bleach or heavy cleaners, you need to have ALL the windows open so you don't pass out. Also you will need to clean with gloves on. The carpet has to be replaced, because there is no way to completely remove urine from it. You might want to go with the hardwood floors and area rugs until you can afford wall-to-wall carpet. Also the rugs are a breeding ground for fleas. The yard should be cleaned up and reseeded. Put hay over the grass seeds so the birds don't eat it before it takes root.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from New York on

Pull up the carpet and get a steam cleaner and do every surface. good luck

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A.C.

answers from New York on

I think all your ideas are great. With all those animals, you might just want to rip out all the carpet because you don't know what lies underneath, especially if the dogs had had any 'accidents'. Clean out the air ducts because of all the fur and feathers. Make sure to wipe down your walls. It might also help to hire an exterminator to see if there are any pests around, indoors and outdoors. Check for ticks, termites, bedbugs, etc. With so many animals, you just want to make sure that all pests are cleaned out before you bring your little girls to your new home. Good luck!

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L.S.

answers from Buffalo on

Hi J.,
I have an easy way to fumigate your home for bugs: just put 10 drops of non-toxic Melaleuca Oil in a quart of boiling water. Let the water simmer until gone. Any bugs in the home will be dead in a matter of hours.

Also, do you want to stop the growth of bacteria, mold, fungus or virus that might be in your home? Invert an open bottle of Melaleuca Oil on your furnace intake filter. Your fan will diffuse the oil throughout your air ducts over the next 12 to 35 hours. Growth of any harmful virsu, bacteria, fungus or mold will be stopped.

The main ingredient found in many of the cleaning products I use is also Melaleuca Oil.

Contact me at ____@____.com for more information.
L.

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N.B.

answers from Jamestown on

Use a mixture of Lemon juice, white vineger, liquid dish soap, and water for the floors and walls. The carpet you can shampoo with Oxy clean and vinegar added to the shampoo.

Good luck,
Nanc

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M.M.

answers from Buffalo on

Hi,
It sounds like you are going to have a lot to do. I'm sure it will all be worth it, what an exciting time. However, I would seriously consider replacing the carpet, I don't think all the cleaning and scrubbing in the world would get it entirly clean. You also might want to, because of the harmful chemicals associated with almost all carpet cleaning products. It's so hard to know for sure what could be harmful and unsafe for our children. I would recommend doing some research to find out what cleaning products are safe. There are also alot of naturally made cleaning products you may want to consider. Good luck.

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J.R.

answers from New York on

All that Cleaning with commercial cleaners are loaded with chemicals...Not good for thelungs or skin... The best products I have found are from Melaleuca...all natural NO chemicals or Toxins...Superior products at reasonable prices...You can even get paid to shop for their products...
I'm a Registered Nurse I use them & absolutely LOVE them and I earn a monthly income using them...

Discovering Melaleuca is like finding a new store with better products at a better value. You're not adding to your monthly shopping budget, just taking a portion of what you already spend at the grocery store and spending it more wisely. We carefully craft products you use everyday with the highest standards of safety, health, and wellness in mind. Take a look at a few of our amazing products!

Contact me to find out more... ____@____.com

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A.D.

answers from New York on

Hi J., Sounds like you have a good plan for a BIG job. The bleach and water is good and I would add a disinfectant to all surfaces. The poop in the backyard should serve as a fertilizer but I would turn the soil before planting. I do not know of any diseases related to chicken poop but you may want to look it up. I know that bird droppings are bad for the lungs. Best wishes in your new home! Grandma Mary

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C.S.

answers from New York on

Look into melaluca Not sure of the spelling. Great cleaners with your health and wellbeing in mind. The prices seem steep but with the amount you use and the cleanness you get its worth it.

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M.M.

answers from New York on

I would turn the soil in the yard definitely. Also, it may be expensive for you but I would never keep any carpet like that. germs fester in carpets and anything that has animals like all of those running around should be chucked. I am a mother of two, grandmother of two. Health is extremely important and carpets are a hazard. Do what is best for everyone in your family - chuck the carpet.
M. M

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K.R.

answers from New York on

Hi J.-
I would call the department of Health as ask a specialist what they would recommend. You can probably call an agency that deals with animals and ask them as well. Your pediatrician will also be able to give you some advice. You need to be careful with bird poop. The bird poop breaks down to ammonia and can be lethal without proper ventilation.
Good Luck
K.

L.B.

answers from Boston on

Hi J.,

I would pull up the rugs. The rugs sound disgusting. There may be beautiful hardwood floors under them!!!! Much easier to clean! Even if they aren't in perfect shape you can use area rugs until you can have them refinished.

Sarah

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M.L.

answers from New York on

Forget about germs (though I totally agree it sounds really, really icky!), but if anyone in your family has any allergies at all (or your girls have the chance of developing them), then I think you have longer-lasting concerns than the germs.

With that in mind, I would definitely rip up all the carpeting and padding. Get it out before you move in. After that, I would bite the bullet and pay a professional cleaning service to come in. In fact, I would have put that in the contract for the sellers to pay for--I would suspect it is too late for that. And I agree about dismantling and cleaning the light fixtures, and all the other things you would probably not think of.

As for outside, I would talk to some lawn professionals. You can have them come in for quotes just to get some ideas of what you and your husband can do.

Good luck! Big job, but so exciting to get into your first house. :)

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A.H.

answers from New York on

Bleach should definitely work, but I would also get an air purifier and put it on high for a full day before you move in.

On a side note, you should look into sewing for a living! Check out etsy.com - it's a website that sells only handmade items. You shouldn't have to be in a job you hate, especially since you seem to have a talent in something that many people wish they had, but do not.

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J.Y.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,

With all that you mention above, you may want to consider hiring a maid service and tell them everything you just wrote. They will know exactly how to clean your home and will do a great job. The downside is that it will cost you some money. However, keep in mind that if you and your family are the ones cleaning up feces and other animal residue, disease is lurking. Just think of the rest of the mess you aren't seeing.

Good luck with your new home, I wish you all the best!

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K.J.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,
Wow! That is a lot of animals. Congratulations on your new home :o) I'd use bleach and water on all appropriate surfaces (especially the bathrooms and kitchen) and that should be good enough. As for the carpets, if possible, I'd replace them. If there are hard wood floors underneath, you could use area rugs if replacing isn't an option at this time. There seems to have been a lot of animals running around that house and you don't know how often they've had accidents on the carpet. Even if the carpets were cleaned, they could be moldy/germy. Another option is to have a professional cleaning crew come in. Explain the situation to them and have them sanitize the place. Congrats again, and best of luck in your new home.

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C.R.

answers from Syracuse on

I have 5 boys, a husband, my inlaws,2 dogs and the chickens and the cows stay outside :) Anyways people are always surprised at how clean and wonderful smelling our house is with all that traffic...my answer is simple enough...HOMEOLOGY by Gold Canyon...all green, NO CHEMICALS!! and to top it off it's aromatheraputic(so you look for things to clean...plus it's safe your your kids and pets). There is a Floor Cleaner for all floors tile-hardwood...you spray and mop w/a microfiber mop...it's that easy!!! Also there's an All Purpose for cabinets, counters,leather, your car...you name it, the Glass cleaner is AWSOME and good on faucets, windows, mirrors, stainless, appliances, porcelain...and so on...there is also a Cleanse srub...I love them all!!!!!! They come in large bottles and they sell refils that you add water to...less waste...all green!!! Boy I sound obsesive compulssive over here...but I love a clean home...anyway...the website www.mygccandle.com/5boys and shipping is a flat 5.95!!!
If you try them, you'll love them...if not I hope you find something else that works for you!!!!!! and CONGRATS and your new home!!!

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V.S.

answers from New York on

All I have to offer is pull out the carpets. We moved ia place that had a dog, it smelled fine, a few spots. 6 months later we pulled up the carpeting to find mold! the floor section had to be replaced It was disgusting to think that all that time we had been living with moldy carpet padding and under that, moldy hardwood.

D.D.

answers from New York on

I have some experience with this because my brother's house needed extensive cleaning before being put up for sale (8 large dogs, 14 cats, 3 birds, and several bunnies and reptiles). The house reeked and was filthy.

First we pulled up all the carpeting and padding which was disgusting. That got rid of most of the smell in the house. Because he was selling we had the floors sanded and refinished.

We washed the walls, floors, and all the cabinets (inside and out) with lestoil and warm water. We did a second washing of all the walls and floors with bleach water. Make sure you take down and wash all the lighting fixtures because there will be a ton of fur and junk on and inside them.

As for the yard, well it was a disaster too. We had someone come in and rototill the entire yard. We raked it out and planted some grass.

It was a lot of work but in the end 99% of the pet smell was gone and the house sold at a good price.

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A.S.

answers from New York on

With that many animals,you should definitely rip out the carpets and padding, and take a good look at the floors underneath. If they let the chicken run around and poop in the house who knows what the dogs and cats did! Carpet padding harbors and provides a great breeding ground for bacteria to grow because it doesn't get any air to dry it out completely and quickly. A friend of mine bought a house that was carpeted throughout and had to pull out the carpets, pads, AND subflooring because the previous owners' cat never used a litter box and urine soaked all the way down, destroying the subflooring. Yes, a single cat left to its own devices destroyed all the flooring in the house, except bathroom and kitchen.

As far as the yard goes, chicken poop is great fertilizer!

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,
Congratulation on your new home!!
Get a good steam cleaner and some Oxi clean. Add water to the oxi clean and make it into a thick paste. put in on what ever your trying to clean and let it sit a for a few (even longer for tougher stains) minutes. That should help take out a lot o muscle work. Sounds like you'll need it for the rest of the house.
My doctor recommended an air freshner that's better that lysol. I just got it this weekend so I'll have to get back to you with the name. But it kills mold all virus even HIV... I know hard to believe. I've been going to my doctor for years and she so good. She's one of those doctor who would never promote something if she herself didn't believe.
GOOD LUCK...feel free to email me if I forget to get the info to you

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