How to Clean a House Quickly Before Selling
For some, cleaning is one of the most relaxing things to do. For others, this isn’t quite the case, especially when selling a property. Keeping a house clean is essential to cater for showings and open houses if you want to impress buyers (and get offers!).
But keeping a property clean isn’t always a quick task, particularly when you’re selling and buying a property – and have little time on your hands. Therefore, it’s important to streamline your cleaning routine to help you clean a house quickly before showings.
Keep reading to learn how to clean a house quickly before selling, plus tips on how to keep a house clean.
Tips to Clean a Property Quickly When Selling
Follow these tips to help you clean a house faster:
- Keep a cleaning caddy with the main supplies
- Create a cleaning caddy per room
- Designate specific cleaning spots for particular days – e.g. cleaning home windows and glass on Mondays and Fridays, the bathroom(s) on Tuesdays and Saturdays, dusting on Wednesdays, etc.
- Divide cleaning tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly schedules – e.g. doorknobs, countertops, kitchens, toilets, and laundry rooms can be cleaned daily. On a weekly schedule, wash sheets and towels, vacuum and mop flooring, and wipe surfaces. Every month, clean showers and bathtubs.
Household chores, like in-depth kitchen cleaning and laundry, are higher up on the list. These tasks can be done on a more regular basis since they get dirtier more often. If you like to multitask and want to clean a house faster, run the dishwasher or washing machine as you clean other areas of the house.
For each project, start with the biggest or tallest item in the room and move around the room cleaning from this point. In this direction, you won’t miss anything. Also, using this method, you can avoid knocking dust onto already-wiped clean shelves.
What Cleaning Supplies Do I Need to Clean a House?
Cleaning a house is easier and quicker when you have all the necessary supplies.
Here are the main cleaning supplies you’ll need to clean a house:
- Sponge (with a scrubby side)
- Cotton rags
- Microfiber cloths
- Paper towels
- Bathroom cleanser
- Glass purifier
- Furniture polish
- Rubber gloves
- Floor cleaner and polish
How to Clean a House Before Selling
Here’s how to clean a house before selling step-by-step.
Step 1: Dust & Polish
Dust each room, including the top sides of all the fixtures, the undersides of cabinets, and all handrails. Additionally, hit the photo frames, television screens, and ornaments. When it is possible to dry-dust, always do so over wetting the items. Getting furniture wet makes it more challenging and time-consuming to clean. To cast off fingerprints, hose down a microfiber cloth with warm water.
Step 2: Wipe Surfaces
Wipe down all surfaces and counters. Disinfecting areas like bathrooms and kitchens is essential to ensure a house is suitably cleaned. When wiping surfaces, make sure you clean all places that come into contact with your hands, like door handles, mild switches, television remotes, and telephones. These locations are often overlooked but are usually the areas of a house with the most germs.
Step 3: Scrub the Kitchen & Restroom
Use a spray cleaner on tubs, sinks, and lavatories. Then, in the kitchen, wipe down the microwave, cabinets, and appliances (both inside and out). It’s good to get into a routine of clearing out the cupboards of expired items too, like food that has gone bad or medication that’s past its expiry date.
Step 4: Clean Floors
Next, sweep the bathroom and kitchen flooring and any other ground that touches it. To clean the floors effectively, use a microfiber cleaning mop and go round the edges afterward with a cloth. This ensures you’ve cleaned all areas suitably.
Step 5: Vacuum
Then, it’s time to vacuum the bedrooms, staircases, hallways, living areas, and rugs.
Summary
Keeping a house clean while selling is a cumbersome task, but it can lead to a faster sale and a better asking price. When preparing to sell a house, make sure you prioritize cleaning and decluttering.
Are you considering selling your home in Philadelphia or San Diego? At Brotherly Love Real Estate, we buy houses fast for cash. We can buy your property in as little as 21 days, with no closing fees. If your house is in disrepair or has code violations, you can sell your house as is to us for a fair price.
To learn more about selling to an investor, contact us online or call our expert team of real estate agents at (215) 769-9875.