Icomb Hill Cottage
Site Background
Project Overview
In the summer of 2025, Housekeeping 247 Ltd was commissioned to undertake an end-of-tenancy deep clean of Icomb Hill Cottage, a Grade II listed stone-built residence located in the village of Icomb, nestled in the Cotswolds. This property, notable for its historical importance and expansive, unconventional layout, demanded a bespoke cleaning approach that respected both its heritage and structural character.
The clean was completed by a specialist three-person team over a focused 10-hour shift. While the scale and complexity of the property ideally warranted a two-day clean, we committed to completing the entire job in a single day. This required an extra special effort, working intensively with only two 15-minute breaks to maintain momentum and ensure a high standard of finish.
The project called for precision, professionalism, and methods sensitive to the building’s unique features.
Setting & Heritage Context
Icomb Hill Cottage is situated within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by rolling countryside and traditional dry-stone walls in one of Gloucestershire’s most conservation-focused villages. Icomb itself is modest in scale but rich in history, with origins traceable to the Domesday Book. The cottage exemplifies a blend of 17th- and 18th-century Cotswold vernacular architecture, complemented by modernised interiors and ancillary outbuildings.
The Grade II listing of the property required careful attention throughout the cleaning process, especially in the handling of historic stonework, timber beams, mullioned windows, and other original architectural details. The adjacent outbuildings, including a stone stable, garden store, and converted utility spaces, added further scale and complexity to the clean.
Layout & Usage Complexity
Unlike typical residential properties, Icomb Hill Cottage’s layout resists straightforward room categorisation. The upper floor includes a mixture of sleeping and dressing areas, alongside multiple transitional spaces such as expansive dressing rooms and landings. The ground floor features formal reception rooms, a drawing room, study, and combined kitchen/dining areas that flow into service spaces like a boot room, utility, and shower area.
This adaptive layout required our team to evaluate each space based not only on its intended use but also on surface sensitivity, accessibility, traffic patterns, and cleaning priority.
Client Brief & Prior Condition
The outgoing tenant engaged Housekeeping 247 Ltd to restore the property to a professionally clean, move-in-ready standard after several years of occupation. While the structural condition of the home remained sound, a deep clean was necessary due to:
Accumulated organic dust and grime in less accessible corners and low-traffic zones.
Delicate surfaces including exposed timber beams, limestone flooring, ironmongery, and painted woodwork requiring gentle, non-abrasive cleaning methods.
Period features such as fireplace surrounds and handmade tiles demanding detailed and careful attention.
Numerous utility and storage areas that had gathered residual debris and appliance residues.
Scope of Work
Crew Deployment & Time Management
For this project, a three-person specialist team was deployed, each member assigned to specific zones and tasks to maximise efficiency across the expansive property. Given the challenging timeline of a single-day turnaround, clear communication and coordinated workflows were essential. Roles were divided to cover reception rooms, utility and service areas, and upstairs bedrooms and dressing spaces simultaneously.
Equipment & Cleaning Tools
Our equipment selection was tailored to suit the diverse surfaces and cleaning requirements throughout the cottage:
Vacuuming: Carpets were thoroughly hoovered using a combination of machines, including lithium-powered handheld and backpack vacuums for portability and detailed work, alongside powerful Sebo commercial-grade vacuum cleaners for larger carpeted areas.
Steam Cleaning: We employed Kärcher SC4 and SC2 steam cleaners to tackle stubborn grime on hard surfaces, ensuring chemical-free sanitation where appropriate.
Pole Systems & Brushes: Commercial-grade pole systems were used for high and hard-to-reach areas. Specialized brushes, including radiator and edging brushes, enabled precision cleaning in narrow or delicate spaces.
Chemical Treatments: For intensive cleaning of kitchen and bathroom areas, a carefully controlled selection of chemicals was used. This included oven-specific cleaning agents for degreasing, phosphate-based washes to remove limescale and soap scum from bathroom tiles, and high-strength acid cleaners for toilet bowls and tough limescale deposits. Limescale removers were applied judiciously to protect surfaces while restoring cleanliness.
Protective & Heritage-Sensitive Methods
Given the Grade II listing and the presence of delicate historic features, cleaning methods prioritised surface protection. Non-abrasive materials and gentle agitation were preferred, and chemical use was carefully moderated to avoid damage to stonework, timber, and painted surfaces.
Zone-by-Zone Tactical Breakdown
The property was divided into logical zones to streamline cleaning:
Reception & Formal Areas: Dusting, vacuuming, and steam cleaning combined to refresh woodwork, stone hearths, and upholstery.
Kitchen & Utility Spaces: Intensive oven cleaning, appliance wipe-downs, tile washing, and sanitising of surfaces.
Bathrooms & Shower Areas: Removal of soap scum, limescale, and deposits using specialised chemicals and brushes.
Bedrooms & Dressing Rooms: Vacuuming and dust removal with careful attention to delicate fixtures and fittings.
Execution & Challenges
Operational Flow
With only one day allocated to complete the full deep clean, execution had to be tightly structured and continuous. From the moment we arrived on site, each member of the three-person team moved with purpose, working in defined zones with a shared focus on quality and efficiency. Communication remained fluid throughout the day, with team members coordinating on shared resources like steamers, pole systems, and chemical supplies.
We began with a walkthrough to assess any areas that required immediate prioritisation—such as high-traffic flooring, soiled bathroom fittings, and appliance interiors—then launched into a top-down clean. This method ensured falling dust and debris wouldn’t impact spaces already completed. Finishing touches were saved for the final two hours, allowing for polish and inspection of all rooms before sign-off.
Technical Challenges
The layout of Icomb Hill Cottage presented unique logistical challenges. The irregular flow between rooms, absence of conventional hallway structure, and presence of transitional spaces like dressing rooms and multiple landings meant cleaning couldn’t follow a linear sequence. Instead, we worked dynamically, adapting as we moved between interlinked areas and revisiting spots where equipment rotation or drying time required it.
Accessing tight areas such as under bespoke cabinetry, behind radiators, and along exposed beams required the full range of our tools—from edging brushes and radiator wands to handheld vacuums. Furniture had to be moved carefully, especially in spaces with antique or custom pieces, to avoid surface damage or floor scratching.
Material Sensitivity & Product Management
One of the major challenges was ensuring the appropriate handling of mixed materials across the property. The building featured a range of sensitive surfaces—painted timber, limestone, old ironwork, glass, and hand-laid tile. Our team continuously assessed which areas required a chemical-free steam clean and which could safely withstand targeted chemical treatments.
In bathrooms, we faced significant limescale buildup in toilets, taps, and tiled recesses. These were resolved through the use of high-strength acid-based solutions and phos washes, applied in carefully controlled amounts and neutralised post-application. Similarly, the ovens and kitchen tiles demanded a staged chemical degreasing process followed by steam treatment to restore shine without compromising grout or finish.
Time Pressure
Despite ideal conditions suggesting a two-day clean, we maintained our commitment to a single-day turnaround. This created a constant push-pull between pace and precision. The team kept moving at speed, pausing only twice for short 15-minute breaks, while never compromising the attention to heritage features or cleaning standards. Time management became as critical as technique.
Results & Client Outcome
Final Presentation
By the end of a long 10-hour day, Icomb Hill Cottage had been transformed—cleaned from top to bottom to a professional, move-in-ready standard. Despite the physical intensity of the work and the tight one-day schedule, every corner of the property was addressed with care, method, and consistency. From the deep-cleaned bathrooms and polished reception rooms to the refreshed kitchen, utility areas, and dressing spaces, the results were clear, cohesive, and visibly thorough.
All carpets had been properly vacuumed, beams and ledges were cleared of dust, and delicate materials were preserved while brought back to their best. The cottage’s complex flow, historic detailing, and sensitive surfaces required ongoing assessment and real-time decisions, all managed without sacrificing pace or attention.
Client Satisfaction
The client left us a glowing public review on Trustpilot, commending the thoroughness, professionalism, and impressive results achieved within a single day. Positive feedback like this validates the pressure we place on ourselves to deliver more than just a clean—it reflects the pride we take in respecting a property’s integrity, character, and future use.
Professional Standards Maintained Under Pressure
Despite the relentless schedule and high demands of the day, our team maintained composure, discipline, and focus throughout. At no point was quality compromised. There were no shortcuts or skipped areas—every detail was handled with the same level of care from start to finish. The pressure was constant, and tensions naturally ran high at times due to the scope of work and ticking clock. But professionalism never faltered, and internal communication remained strong.
Team Effort & Recognition
By the time we stepped back and closed the van doors, we were physically exhausted. Ten hours of non-stop work with just two short breaks is no small feat. But we finished in good time, with no slacking and no compromise on quality—a testament to the grit and work ethic of the team. Every member gave everything to get the job over the line, and each deserves full recognition for the effort, resilience, and commitment shown on the day.
Project Summary
The successful completion of this deep clean—within a single day, on a heritage property of this scale and complexity—is proof of Housekeeping 247 Ltd’s capacity to deliver under pressure. It demanded precise planning, physical stamina, adaptive thinking, and an unshakable commitment to standards. The Trustpilot review and the condition we left behind speak for themselves.
Reflections & Lessons Learned
Pushing the Limits of What’s Possible
Icomb Hill Cottage was, in many ways, a benchmark project—one that tested our limits physically, mentally, and operationally. The decision to complete what was realistically a two-day deep clean in just one day required total commitment, smart pacing, and seamless teamwork. It reminded us of just how much can be achieved when the objective is clear, the team is aligned, and every person brings their full effort to the task.
What We Learned
Planning is critical. Success hinged on a clear pre-clean strategy: understanding the site, allocating tasks, preparing kit, and agreeing on a sequence. This reinforced the value of arriving not just on time, but mentally and logistically prepared.
Pace and professionalism must co-exist. Working fast does not mean working rough. We proved that a rapid, intensive schedule can still leave room for finesse—provided communication stays open and standards stay high.
Morale matters. Long hours and high pressure naturally create tension. But humour, respect, and a shared goal helped keep spirits up. Short breaks, check-ins, and a common sense of pride kept the energy going.
The right tools make the difference. Our investment in handhelds, Sebos, steamers, and chemical solutions paid off. Each tool had its moment, and using the right one at the right time avoided delays and protected surfaces.
Moving Forward
This project has already had a positive ripple effect: the Trustpilot review has strengthened our online credibility, and the photos and notes from this job will feed into our internal training and marketing materials. More importantly, it reminded us why we do what we do—because the standard we leave behind matters.
Every clean is different. Every house has its story. But this one left a particular impression—not just for its architecture or its setting, but for the level of determination it demanded from us. It was hard work, and we were tired by the end. But we left proud.
