Nearly half of Indianapolis homes predate 1970. This guide covers how to clean plaster, old hardwood, vintage tile and painted trim without damage, and how to keep lead dust down.
Indianapolis has a deep bench of old houses. Census estimates put about 15 percent of the city's housing at 1939 or earlier, about 46 percent before 1970 and roughly 58 percent before 1980. Beyond the city line, Zionsville's town plat dates to 1852 and Carmel was laid out as the Town of Bethlehem in 1837, so older homes turn up in the suburbs too.
Old houses are not harder to clean so much as different. Their materials are softer, their finishes are thinner after decades of use, and some of their paint calls for real caution. This guide covers what changes.
The Hamilton County Health Department notes that many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint, and that settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep or walk through it. With more than half of Indianapolis housing built before 1980, that warning covers a large share of the city.
Intact paint is not the main concern. The risk comes from dust and chips where painted surfaces rub or wear: window sashes and sills, door jambs, stair treads and porch floors. Cleaning can reduce that dust or spread it, depending on how it is done.
Plaster walls are hard but brittle, and their paint layers are often thick and old. Dust them with a soft, dry microfiber cloth or a lamb's wool duster, and spot clean scuffs with a barely damp cloth and mild soap. Magic erasers and abrasive cleaners can burnish old flat paint and leave a shiny patch.
Tall baseboards, picture rail, crown molding and five-panel doors hold dust on every ledge. Work top down, ledges first, and wipe with a damp cloth rather than a dry one so dust is lifted instead of pushed into the air.
Original oak and pine floors have often been sanded several times, leaving a thinner wear layer than a new floor. Use a damp, well wrung mop and a neutral wood cleaner, and keep standing water off the boards. Steam mops are a poor fit for older finishes.
Small hexagon and subway tile in old bathrooms has porous grout that has usually been patched over the decades. A soft brush and a mild cleaner protect it. Enamel tubs and porcelain sinks scratch under scouring pads and some powdered cleansers, so use gentle products and soft cloths.
Hard water adds to the challenge. Citizens Water averages about 19 grains per gallon in Indianapolis, so old chrome faucets and enamel tubs collect mineral film quickly. Mild acidic descalers on chrome and porcelain, rinsed and dried, beat aggressive scrubbing every time.
With about 105 nights a year below freezing in Indianapolis, an older house spends a long season with the heat on. Radiators collect dust behind and between their fins, and old single-pane windows sweat on cold mornings, wetting sills and tracks. Vacuum radiators with a narrow brush attachment, and wipe window sills dry, keeping the lead cautions above in mind.
Basements in older homes can be damp, especially after the wet weeks of May and June. Keep them tidy and dry with a dehumidifier. A cleaning visit can wipe down surfaces and floors, but it does not treat mold or repair water damage; those call for a specialist.
About 44 percent of Indianapolis homes are rented, and many older rentals are doubles and converted houses with original finishes. Tenants have a reason to care at move-out: Indiana landlords may keep deposit money for damage beyond normal wear and tear. Gentle, correct cleaning of old surfaces protects both the house and the deposit. The move-out cleaning guide covers the full Indiana rules.
If you clear out old paint cans or cleaners from a basement or garage, Hamilton County residents can drop off paints, cleaners and pesticides at the county Household Hazardous Waste center in Noblesville rather than putting them in the trash.
When TotalCare Cleaning comes to Indianapolis, older homes will get the same checklist as any other, adapted to the materials: damp wiping, filtered vacuums, mild products on old finishes and no sanding or scraping of paint. A One-Time Deep Clean is often the right first step, since it washes baseboards by hand, cleans window tracks and wipes vents and fans in place. The deep cleaning guide has the full scope.
The questions Indianapolis homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Indianapolis and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
