About Hearthstead Estate Care

Hearthstead Estate Care looks after older country houses with practical, conservation-minded cleaning shaped around real life. Our work is planned for spaces that are lived in, toured through, or set aside for guests, respecting the materials that give houses their depth. We are based in Surrey and visit estates by arrangement. This page explains who we are, how we plan sessions, and what to expect before a visit.

Work, Methods and People

Origins and focus
Hearthstead began as a small team helping homes prepare for seasonal gatherings. Over time, more owners asked for considered routines that tidy rooms without chasing a new-build sheen. We learned to work quietly around breakfasts, pets, deliveries, alarms, and the rhythms that make a house run. The aim is simple: leave rooms clearer and easier to use.

What we do
Typical sessions cover halls, stairs, landings, drawing rooms, studies, guest rooms and service corridors. We dust edges before surfaces so debris is lifted rather than spread. Floors are vacuumed or swept with soft tools; boards, skirtings, railings, and thresholds receive careful passes. Aftercare notes record anything you may wish to watch. When needed, deeper passes are planned in short blocks to reduce disruption.

Materials and methods
Products are chosen for the surfaces at hand. We rely on neutral and pH-appropriate cleaners, filtered water, microfibre cloths, soft brushes, and non-scratch pads. Strong agents are avoided unless a small test and owner approval are in place. Where polished timber, stone, metalwork, fabrics, or papers are present, tools are matched to the finish and tried on an inconspicuous area first.

Planning the work
Every new house begins with a brief walkthrough. We note access and finishes, then suggest timings that split tasks into manageable blocks. Quiet work runs while rooms are in use; noisier or ladder-based work is moved to free windows. If other trades are present, we agree a route so paths do not cross and rooms are handed back in workable order.

People and roles
Elena leads house planning and day-of coordination. Daniel focuses on floors and stone; Amina looks after detail and fixtures; Rowan handles linen, storage, and access notes. Everyone carries labelled caddies and returns items to their places. If something must be moved for reach or safety, a quick photo in situ helps bring it back accurately.

Communication and updates
Before the first visit you will receive a short outline covering the rooms, timings, and any limits you have set. During the work we keep notes of what is completed and anything you may wish to review. After each block you receive a simple update with photographs.

Schedules and scope
Some households prefer early starts; others find evenings easier. We can arrange weekly passes, fortnightly visits, or short bursts around guest dates. Outbuildings and attics can be included after we have checked lights and ladder safety. If travel or access is complex, we explain options so you can choose what suits the household.

Boundaries and care
Our role is to support the life of an older house, not to over-polish it. We tidy without removing the history written into timber, stone, and metal. Edges are brushed, surfaces are wiped, and thresholds are finished last so spaces remain usable between sessions. Where fine dust tends to settle, we plan returns that keep it from creeping back.

Where we work
We are based in Dorking and work across Surrey and nearby borders by request. If a date is time-sensitive, we arrange a route that suits family plans or events. When a room must stay untouched, we note it and adapt the plan.

How to get started
Send a brief note through the form with rooms to include, finishes to avoid, and any dates to work around. We will reply with a proposed schedule and a clear list of what the first block will cover. Simple, steady work tends to produce the best results for older houses, and that is the pace we follow.