Fullhouse 24an independent reference on home and household

An independent reference on home and household. Not a property management company and not connected with the former site on this domain. Leave gas and electrical wiring work to professionals; if you smell gas in Russia, call 104 or 112.

Practical

Practical articles

The first article in this section explains how to deep-clean a flat or a house without excess chemicals. We describe a general order that suits most homes: sort first, then dust from top to bottom, then the kitchen and bathroom, and finish with the floors and airing out. We do not name specific products or brands — choose them by following the instructions on the label.

Cleanliness comes not from the strongest product but from the right order. Water, a cloth and time remove most of the dirt.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • A free day or two evenings — a deep clean is best not squeezed into an hour
  • Gloves, several clean microfibre cloths, sponges, a bucket and a brush
  • One or two all-purpose products in their original packaging with instructions
  • Bags or boxes for your things: keep, give away, throw out
  • Open windows or a way to air the room well

  1. Sort your things before cleaning

    First clear everything unnecessary off the surfaces, otherwise you will be wiping around objects. Sort things into three groups: keep, give away, throw out. Do not try to sort the whole home at once — start with one room.

    Hypothetical example: the kitchen table holds post, chargers and plastic bags. Post goes into one folder, chargers into a drawer, bags into one big bag. The table is clear in ten minutes.

  2. Clean from top to bottom

    Dust and crumbs fall downwards, so start with high shelves, cupboards, light fittings and curtain rails and finish with the floor. Only wipe light fittings when they are switched off and cool.

    Hypothetical example: if you wash the floor first and then wipe the cupboard, the dust ends up on the floor again and the job has to be repeated.

  3. Start with water, then products

    Warm water with a little mild detergent removes most dirt. Use stronger products only where you cannot do without them, and strictly according to the instructions on the label.

    Hypothetical example: finger marks on doors and light switches come off with a damp microfibre cloth and no extra product.

  4. Never mix household chemicals

    Never mix different products or use one after another without rinsing with water in between. Chlorine-based products combined with acidic products or ammonia are especially dangerous: they release hazardous gases. Keep chemicals in their original packaging, out of reach of children and animals.

    Hypothetical example: you have treated the bathroom tiles with a chlorine product and want to remove limescale from the tap with an acidic one. First rinse the first product off thoroughly with water, air the room and only then move on to the second — or leave it for another day.

  5. Kitchen: from the cooker to the fridge

    Switch off the cooker and small appliances. Wash the cupboard fronts, extractor hood, worktop and hob. Empty the fridge: throw out expired food, wash the shelves and keep raw food separate from cooked.

    Hypothetical example: raw meat on the top shelf above a salad is a reason to move it down into a closed container so its juices cannot drip onto ready-to-eat food.

  6. Bathroom and toilet

    Switch on the extractor fan or open the door. Start with the clean zones — the basin and mirror — and finish with the toilet, using a separate cloth or sponge for it. Check tile grout and corners for mould.

    Hypothetical example: one sponge for both the basin and the toilet spreads dirt around the whole bathroom. Two sponges in different colours solve the problem.

  7. Floors and hard-to-reach places

    Vacuum or sweep, then wash the floors from the far corner towards the door. Do not forget the space under the bed, behind the sofa and the skirting boards.

    Hypothetical example: if you start washing by the door, you will walk over the clean floor and leave footprints. From the far corner to the door, and the floor dries without marks.

  8. Air the rooms and check the result

    Air all rooms well, especially after using chemicals. Put products and equipment away. Go through the checklist below and note what is left for next time.

    Hypothetical example: if a sharp smell of cleaning product lingers in the bathroom afterwards, you used too much of it or did not air the room enough.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing different products or using one after another without rinsing
  • Pouring chemicals into old drinks bottles
  • Wiping switched-on light fittings and sockets with a damp cloth
  • Starting with the floor and dusting the high shelves afterwards
  • Using one sponge for the kitchen, the basin and the toilet
  • Working with strong products without gloves or ventilation

Alternatives

  • If you have no time for a full deep clean, split it by room and do one a week
  • If there are small children or animals at home, stick to water and mild products and use strong ones only when they are not around
  • If dirt does not come off by ordinary means — for example, mould across a whole wall — call in professionals: the cause may be humidity or ventilation

Results checklist

  • Clutter sorted, surfaces clear
  • Dust removed from top to bottom, light fittings wiped while switched off
  • Kitchen surfaces, hob and fridge cleaned
  • Raw and cooked food stored separately in the fridge
  • Bathroom and toilet cleaned with separate sponges
  • Floors washed, including under furniture
  • Household chemicals in original packaging and out of children's reach
  • Rooms well aired

Catalogue of articles for English-speaking readers

This section will host standalone articles written for English-speaking readers: on damp and ventilation, home safety alarms, storage in small homes and moving house.

Topics the editors are planning

  • Damp and condensation at home: causes and simple prevention
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: where to fit them and how to test them
  • Moving house without losses: what to check in the old and new home
  • Storage in a small flat: principles, not purchases

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish product or tradesperson rankings, shop advertising, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about bills and meters, kitchen safety and when to call a professional.

  • Collections

    Reading routes: your first flat, getting ready for winter and summer, a home with children and pets.

  • Reference

    A glossary: utilities and bills, building services, cleaning and household chemicals.

Sources

  • WHO — Five Keys to Safer Food
  • EMERCOM of Russia — safety leaflets

Information is accurate as of the preparation date. Housing and utility rules, the way meter readings are submitted and official service guidance change over time, so check current details in the original sources, on your own bill and with your service provider.