Close to half of Minnetonka's housing predates 1980, and the lake towns hold cottages and estates from the resort era. Older homes reward gentle methods and patience with trim, floors and lower levels.
The west metro has deeper roots than its newer subdivisions suggest. Minnetonka Mills, where a sawmill opened in 1852, was the first permanent European-American settlement west of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. Railroad tourists filled Lake Minnetonka hotels in the late 1800s, and wealthy families built summer estates along the shore. Much of Minnetonka itself stayed rural into the 1960s, then filled with ramblers and split levels.
That leaves a wide range of older homes, from lake cottages to postwar houses, and each needs a slightly different touch. This guide covers what to watch for.
Census estimates put about 33 percent of Minnetonka housing units in buildings from before 1970, and about 48 percent from before 1980. That is a lot of homes with original oak or pine trim, plaster walls, older hardwood, single pane or early double pane windows, and duct systems that have been running for fifty years or more.
Around the lake the history goes back further. The railroad reached Wayzata in 1867, bringing visitors from Minneapolis and St. Paul to lake steamers, and the resort era peaked by 1890. In Tonka Bay, the Lake Park Hotel opened in 1879, became the Tonka Bay Hotel in 1908 and closed in 1911. Deephaven was settled as a summer retreat in 1876, and the Cottagewood General Store has served lake visitors since 1895. Along Wayzata's Ferndale shore, families including the Bells, Pillsburys and Washburns built large country estates from the 1890s on.
Original woodwork is the signature of these homes and the hardest part to keep clean. Profiled baseboards, window casings and stair spindles hold dust in every groove. Use a soft brush attachment or a barely damp microfiber cloth, and dry the wood right after. Skip oil soaps on finishes you have not tested, since some older varnishes cloud.
Older hardwood often has a thinner wear layer left after decades of sanding. Grit from winter boots is its biggest enemy, so keep mats at every door and vacuum before any damp mopping. Use as little water as possible, and never leave standing water in the seams.
Plaster walls and ceilings handle gentle cleaning well but chip if scrubbed hard. Dust them with a soft duster and spot clean marks with a mild solution.
Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint under newer coats, and a large share of Minnetonka's housing falls in that range. Intact paint is not a hazard by itself, but dust from chipping, sanding or friction on old window sashes can be. Do not dry sand, scrape or power wash old painted surfaces as part of cleaning, and wipe window sills and wells with a damp cloth rather than sweeping them.
If paint is peeling or you plan renovation work, have it tested first. Cleaning should keep surfaces intact, never break them down.
Older basements were often finished later and can be damp. University of Minnesota Extension notes that warm, humid summer air let in through basement windows condenses on cool basement walls and floors, and many homeowners mistake it for a leak. Keep those windows closed on muggy days and run a dehumidifier.
In winter the problem moves upstairs. The Minnesota Department of Health lists ice dams and window condensation among places mold shows up and advises keeping indoor humidity between 20 and 40 percent in the cold months. Older windows fog easily, so wipe sills dry in the morning.
Attics in older houses also give insects a place to winter. Extension says cluster flies shelter in attics and upper walls in large numbers. Vacuum them where they appear and look for gaps to seal.
A One-Time Deep Clean suits older homes well because it focuses on detail: baseboards hand washed, blinds wet wiped, window tracks cleared, and ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents wiped in place. Tell the cleaner about delicate finishes, original hardware or rooms to skip. Mold or water damage is a job for a specialist, not a cleaning crew. The deep cleaning guide covers the full scope, and the winter guide covers protecting old floors in the snow months.
The questions Minnetonka homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Minnetonka 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.
