BATHROOM
Mold on the walls. That needs to be addressed asap. Get a spray bottle. Fill it with white vinegar. Spray on mold. Let stand for an hour. Get water and sponge to wipe it off the wall.
Sounds obvious, but de-clutter. Don't keep knick-knacks on the back of the toilet, don't leave items out on the counter-top, don't use those fluffy toilet-seat covers, etc. Fewer things sitting out means fewer things to clean, to move, to get in your way. With all your surfaces exposed and de-cluttered, the task goes pretty easily.
I find that cleaning is much easier and faster when you just do it inline as part of whatever you're normally doing. For example:
I keep a scrubbing sponge on the end of the tub, and periodically, after starting my shower, I'll scrub out the tub before soaping to clean myself.
Whenever I wash up, shave, brush my teeth, etc, I take 30 seconds to wipe down the sink and counter-top after I'm done.
With the room still steamed up, and after I have toweled off from my shower, I toss my towel on the floor and use it to do a quick mop-up. (Not every day, but after a few days, when it's time to change the towels.)
We men who stand when we pee can see all the dust or dirt that collects on visible areas of the toilet, so occasionally, before I flush, I just grab a couple squares of TP and wipe those visible surfaces to keep things fresh.
With these things built into my routine, there's really never very much work to do for cleaning. Maybe once every week or two it's good to take the spray bleach to the toilet and get all the areas that aren't so obvious, and then grab some windex and do up the mirrors and chrome fixtures. All in all, this is only about 5 minutes work since everything else is already done.
OTHER
First, you need to get rid of all the unwanted items. It will clear space and help you manage cleaning. Second, the cleaning task should be made manageable by focusing on one space at a time. The bedrooms and hallways first. Then living room, or any other common area. The kitchen next. And finally the bathroom should be last. This is because you'll probably be using the bathroom while cleaning for water disposable, etc.
The dollar store should have all the supplies you need. Don't insist on paying more for cleaning products made for cleaning specific things, but consider buying items that are multi-purpose. Like vinegar can be used to clean. Alone it can be used to kill mold. When mixed with water it can be used to deodorize. When mixed with dish soap it can be used to get rid of nasty bathroom stains. Just google cleaning with vinegar and you'd be surprised. You also will probably need bleach, and include dish soap.
Make sure to dust before beginning the cleaning process. Sweep after cleaning furniture. Then mop.
When cleaning remember to clean everything. Wall to wall. Sometimes we forget to actually Wilde down walls,doors, etc.
TIPS
good suggestions, i will just add:
DO NOT mix the bleach and the vinegar. that will make chlorine gas, which is poisonous, and it'll also stop both of those products from being effective in cleaning.
other things to avoid mixing/using with bleach include ammonia and all other acids; organic material such as cotton, paper, leather etc; food; pets; your bare skin (wear gloves).
don't breathe in fumes or steam from the bleach if you can help it.
(i know vinegar isn't heaps acidic but the above is still true)
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You are likely going to get a lot of different suggestions.
I suggest starting by picking up all the trash in your apartment. just go around and pick up any trash you see. Empty all the trash cans and put the trash in the dumpster. Then collect all the dishes do the dishes.
Then I would dust with a slightly damp cloth starting with the higher areas first like fans and light fixtures going down to lower ares that need dusting.
I don't know of you have a washer/dryer in your appartment but I would wash/dry/put away all your laundry away. If you don't have those in your appartment then I would do that on a separate day.
I would then mix some vinegar and water to make an all purpose spray. 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water in a spray bottle. You can add a very small amount of dish soap if you have it. If you don't have a spray bottle, you can mix it in a bowl and just dip the microfiber cloth or any cloth but wring it out well so it's just damp not sopping wet. Use that to wipe down surfaces like tables, countertops.
Then I would move on to the floors, sweep first. Then use the dry swiffer if you would like then use the wet swiffer or diluted pinesol to mop the floor. If you're doing a deep clean, I would use the diluted pinesol and just use the wet swiffer to kind of keep up.
you can use the vinegar/water/dish soap solution to clean your shower/tub. If you have any mineral build up from hard water, you can also mix some borax and water into a paste and scrub your tub/shower with that. I would dillute the bleach to clean the toilet.
I would suggest keeping up with trash, dishes, and wiping down countertops/eating surfaces daily. Anything you can do on top of that is just icing on the cake.
Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day, just start back up when you can. Anything you do no matter how small will help. Don't feel like you have to do it perfectly. If it's between doing something imperfectly or just barely, I would always choose that over not doing it at all, assuming you have the energy to do it at all.
I hope you start feeling better soon.
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Make a list of what you’ll do that day, no more than 3 items long. Like today I’m going to clean my bathroom counters, toilet and empty the trash in there. I also have depression and would feel overwhelmed walking into a dirty room then shut down. This helped. Also if you can afford see if someone on a task app is willing to help for a small fee. It sounds like you have everything you need except some diatomaceous earth (drys out exoskeletons) to put where ever you see ants. There are also a lot of cleaning and organizing TikTok’s and YouTubers out there, don’t feel embarrassed! I once cleaned out a home with an avid collector of…womens sex toys he didn’t care for AT ALL!
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KITCHEN
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Do just a little bit at a time.
I would start with trash. Rotten food, empty boxes and wrappers, expired stuff. Then you have a starting point for what stays.
Then disinfect the fridge. Maybe unplug it if nothing is good left and leave it open for a few days. Put a bowl of baking soda on a shelf and change that every couple days after cleaning the shelves and walls inside until there isn't a smell. Same with the freezer, and toss out any ice you might have.
Then do the same with the pantry. Now the food storage areas are done!
Take the opportunity of nearly empty cabinets to wipe them out with diluted vinegar and a rag. Wait for them to dry really well and open before putting anything back in. Same with drawers.
Then do the dishes. I would work in batches based on storage location. Like all the plates and bowls, then cups, leave pots and pans for last cause they might need to soak. Once everything is cleaned, dry it and put it away. Fresh organization!
Do a cursory wipe down of the countertops and sink, as well as perhaps the cabinet doors, just to get crumbs and goo off. Then scour the sink with whatever dish soap you use. Then disinfect the counters properly. And then scour the sink with something with bleach, I would also go into the little crevices with a toothbrush. Rinse it all super duper well, and then when you are sure there are no traces of bleach left, shine it with window cleaner and a clean dry rag.
Last big thing is the floor. Ya know, sweep, mop, etc.
Somewhere in there you can choose to tackle the microwave or toaster, or save it for a more motivated time.
Don't try to do it all in a day if it's overwhelming. One bite at a time.
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I clean people's houses as a side hustle. Here are a few
Move the couches, chairs, and tables to vacuum under them. So many people never do this, and it really shows.
Dust EVERYTHING, including places that you wouldn't think to because you can't see it. Like the tops of doorframes, windows, even electronics (the tops of peoples TVs always get dusty for whatever reason!) etc. I use one of those Swiffer dusters with the extention handle to do this if i can't reach a place.
Get rid of cobwebs. They're surprisingly common even in otherwise clean-ish houses. They tend to accumulate in the corners where the walls meet either the ceiling or the floor. If you're terrified of spiders (like me) you can use a vacuum extension hose to get rid of them without touching them.
Magic Eraser gets like 99.9% of random scuff marks off walls.
Sweeping and mopping a floor goes a LONG way. Everyone hates mopping lol but if you just sweep, you're only getting rid of surface dirt and not that caked on shit that makes a floor really dirty. Just use a swiffer mop or a schmop, splash a little Pine Sol in a bucket, fill it with water and mop the damn floor, lol.
Spray some air freshener when you're done! A room that smells really good is like the icing on the cake 🎂
edit: thought of more...
Dust the air vents. They're probably nasty.
Lemon Pledge and Windex Multisurface work on almost any hard non-porous surface and they both work wonders!
If you've never done much "homemaking" before, I would recommend taking a weekend to do a deep clean and declutter sans scrubbing.
I do this by walking in my front door and going to the right. I go through my whole house like this, dragging bins and garbage bags - recycle, trash, donate, need to put away. And I just keep going. You may find it easier to do this by room, but I found starting on a wall and moving along to be so much easier than a room - I feel overwhelmed looking at a room but seeing what's in front of me is easier to handle. You may also want to read up on decluttering "theories" like Marie Kondo or others on pinterest. I like Kondos "spark joy" thing, and it has helped me get rid of things I didnt need or want but kept out of obligation (like ugly gifts from people I miss) but unfortunately for my sanity I need to keep some things shed advise on tossing so I look elsewhere for organization tips.
Keep a list as you go - you might find you actually NEED things, like another boot shelf or a hook, to make your home more functional. That is the key I find to keeping a tidy home - you have to compromise to keep things functional. (My boyfriend works with cattle. He will come home with cow shit up to his knees and wear the same jeans the next day to avoid wearing them out further by overwashing. Instead of arguing about where he left his stinky cow shit pants, I put a laundry basket underneath the table by our door that houses our keys and a scentsy room spray. He comes in, pants hit the basket, nobody sees them and with a five second spritz nobody smells them either.) You can also write on this list detailed items to clean.
Once you've done this to your home, I promise, it will look way better. You'll likely end up cleaning as you go and you will feel far less overwhelmed. And pat yourself on the back - throughout this whole process, take a page from kondo and be proud of your home and proud of the work you're doing. I hated cleaning my whole life until my boyfriend made me realize that I was lucky for the things I had and to cherish them. Now I take pride in my home and pride in my ability to keep it nice. Be proud of every single step you take in this process.
Now, I've worked as a housekeeper. The first thing I'll do cleaning a home is follow this list:
Garbage and recycling. These things do not belong inside your home. Go through with your bags and get rid of it.
Clutter. An all encompassing category. Toss your charger on your nightstand table. Hang that coat up that's tossed on the couch. Make the bed. Straighten the pillows. Do the dishes. Just tidy it up like your mother in law just sent you a text saying shes on her way.
Dust. Take a rag. Take a spray. (We have lots of wood stuff, so I either take a pine sol or I mix a little Mr clean and water in a rinsed out spray bottle) Go around the house/room/area again and just think "clean the top." Picture frames. TV. Tables. Wipe it down. The first time you do this will be exhausting: afterwards it should be easy.
Four is for floors. Vaccuum and sweep. Mop if it needs, according to your homes needs. We just redid all our flooring, so theres no carpet and all rooms are swiffer friendly. You may need to adjust per room - if you have real hardwood, get a specific cleaner, vs tile, etc.
Spot clean. You should have a good idea by now as to what needs a clean or has been neglected. If you noticed while you were dusting your sills the windows are dirty, now wash them. If you were wiping down your bathroom counters and noticed the sink is grimy, clean it. Etc.
Now, the big thing I've noticed is MAINTENANCE. you can be the best cleaner in the world but if you can only be assed to do it once a month your house is gonna look bad except for that one day you do it. This is what I struggled with my whole life. I could always clean. I just didnt want to. Working in a hotel made me realize the power of just keeping up with it - and even after it all, when I quit that job and worked cattle for a few years and now, home on strict rest for a pregnancy, maintenance is hella key.
Do your dishes every day, dont let it wait till you need that pot to cook. And when you're done just wash out the sink and wipe the counters and stove off. Do laundry when you have a load, not when you realize you have nothing to wear. Do your list every single day, or as often as possible, and itll take you 20 minutes tops. Put things away when you're done using them, not when they're in your way.
You may have to trick yourself into cleaning, like I did for a while. My boyfriend and i were so bad about dishes, we cut our dishes down to almost nothing so that we HAVE to do it. (We had 2 plates and 2 of each silverware and 2 cups for a while.) You might also need to make deals with yourself. For me it was always okay, you dont have to mop today, but you should at least sweep up the dog hair. And aside from the list, you shouldn't be too rigid or you'll disappoint yourself. Some days I pull out the vaccuum for the living room and end up taking all my cleaning time doing under cupboards, stove, behind fridge, the bed, etc. Cleaning is cleaning.
And, finally, find what makes it enjoyable. I put on Netflix shows while I go. Family ones, like shameless or switched at birth. I dont even really watch them - but all the talking in the background makes me feel like i have my family over, which inspires me to mother and so inspires me to clean. For my boyfriend, he puts on Spanish rap and gets in the zone and everything gets done. Find what works for you.
Now, most of my tips are coming from someone who has worked to clean or is home all day to clean. Obviously that's not the case, so I want to stress again the maintenance aspect and getting things cut down over a weekend or day off. Your list can span a normal day, especially when you stay on top of it. Basically dealing with things as they come covers all your tidying and most of your spot clean in regards to spills and the like. And when you learn how to enjoy the process, winding down at the end of the day can be done while you dust.
And, again, motivation and extra tips:
Be proud of what you're doing.
Take pride in your home.
Pinterest is awesome.
Getting organized and keeping it maintained makes the job way easier.
Good luck!
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Clean the filter in your dishwasher and washing machine. Clean the vent hood above your stove. Dust your baseboards. Clean the inside of your trashcans. Remove your toilet seat lid and clean around the connectors/screws.
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I need to mop at least daily, sometimes more, because of the heavy foot traffic from my brood of children and their friends constantly traipsing through the house. I have a mop machine that I run like a vacuum or steam mop, but it actually vacuums up dirt, sprays clean water onto the floor, scrubs it with six round rotating brushes, and then sucks the dirty water into a separate tank. It's the best thing ever. Even if you mop less frequently than I do, it's still a phenomenal investment to buy a floor cleaner.
I wipe my walls with Fabuloso-- an extremely diluted spray solution of two ounces fabuloso to about ten ounces of water, plus one ounce of white vinegar. After wiping, I use a wet magic eraser anywhere that the spray/rag wasn't able to clean, then spray and wipe the area again.
My baseboards get the same treatment but then I try (when I remember) to wipe them afterward with a dryer sheet, as Pinterest tells me this will repel dust. I don't know if this is real, but I want to believe, so I do it. When I'm deep cleaning my bathroom, I use a shopvac in every crevice before I even start wiping, to pick up stray hair and dust. I also use a butter knife whose blade is wrapped in a rag, to clean all around and behind my faucets, because faucet crevices can get really disgusting if they're not deep cleaned often, because they're constantly exposed to water and bacteria.
I motivate myself by reading Flylady's website. DON'T SIGN UP FOR EMAILS. It seems like a good idea at first, but after the first twelve emails before noon asking you if you've shined your sink, you will need to take a break from FlyLady. Just read the tips on the website.
I have a zillion children, so my tips on frequency and depth of cleaning would be useless to more normally sized households with more average levels of filth accumulation. Pinterest usually has charts about how often things should be done; I typically have to multiply that by three because sometimes teenagers are disgusting.
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Wipe down the insides of drawers and cabinets.
Cleaning behind appliances that you can move, like fridge and stove.
If you have any HVAC vents, you can unscrew the panels and vacuum out the dust.
Clean out your dryer vent, because it probably has a lint buildup that could be a fire hazard.
Washing machines, dishwashers, and garbage disposal can all get pretty gunky. You can get cleaning pods or run them through with vinegar (check manufacturer specs). Your coffeemaker, too.
Tops of doors, bookshelves, ceiling fans might have a bunch of nastiness.
Your bed pillows can be tossed in the washing machine as is, and after a year they get a lot of skin/mite buildup.
Sofa cushion and throw pillow covers can usually come off; if they can be tossed in the washer, great- if not, consider drycleaning them. A lot of butts sit on your couch, which may have leaned on dirty walls, and sat on curbs or public transportation seats.
I usually give my windows a once over too, inside and outside if you can reach.
Curtains and blinds tend to get pretty dusty too.
Anything that you touch a lot might look grimy, like lightswitch covers or perhaps a corner doorway.
It's a good opportunity to go through your closet and see what you haven't worn in a year (extra tip: when you do your spring cleaning, put your hangers in the closet backwards. When you wear it, turn it around. Next year you'll know if you've worn it or not, and that might help you cull what's taking up too much space)
While you're at it, replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
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