Remove personal items left behind and carpets that are too soiled for cleaning. Wear your dust mask and rubber gloves.
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.
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.
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.
Shampoo carpets using a carpet shampooer with steam-cleaning ability and a deodorizing carpet shampoo.
Scour toilets, bathtubs, showers and sinks in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and mudrooms. Use rubber gloves for your protection.
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.