And armed with dust masks, gloves, long sleeves and a lot of garbage bags, Ward further bravely undertook to take the curtains down, and started shop-vaccing the place from top to bottom to get rid of decades of cobwebs. When Maria and the kids joined the next morning, the place already looked better.
We tore out the carpet in the bathrooms and the hallway, underneath which was an underlay that was turning into powder and then beautiful narrow plank hardwood. Maria took care of the powder with the vacuum, and vacuumed three more rooms from ceiling to floor - there was a half a centimeter of dust on each of the wood panels in what will be Louise's room - and cobwebs, cobwebs and more cobwebs everywhere. Ward meanwhile cleaned windows with the kids - Ian and Louise found the whole project exhilarating and wanted to help with everything. Layers of dirt came off the windows and the windowsills. But afterwards: we could actually see the outside! What a difference.
A contractor and a demo/asbestos removal company also came by, to discuss plans and projects, and to prepare quotes. After which the kids were absolutely done, and we went home for dinner - Louise falling asleep in her food.
On Sunday morning we went back: Ward to take down the walking bars and handles installed throughout the house while Maria undertook the daunting task to try and wash some of the tar and nicotine off the doors and doorframes...
To give an idea, the result of the top halves of three panels of these doors:
was this:
Five buckets of the same stuff later... the day can be fittingly ended with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV9l-OHMobU
(Chef'Special - THANK YOU!!! :) )
Let the smoke removal guy try and do his best tomorrow... :).
Next stage: three days of smoke removal, and final decisions on which contractors to go with. Onwards, and ikebana!
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