Spring has arrived, and you know what that means. Yes, rain showers, pretty flowers, and pastels, but also it means spring cleaning. Whether you are looking to sell your home, or just want your home to be spic and span like it was when you moved in, spring is the perfect time to make it shine.
Clean the top 5
A thorough cleaning by you or a professional service is the best way to make a great impression with home buyers and the perfect way to make you fall back in love with your home. According to professional home stager, Cheri Russell of 2B Staged, there are 5 areas in your home that need to be cleaned before a showing, but are often forgotten:
- Windows
- Mirrors
- Clean the walls
- The light switches
- Light fixtures
Declutter every room first
Before spring cleaning any room, declutter it first. Get three tubs: a throwaway tub, a recycle tub, and a winter storage tub. Organize any clutter and find a spot for it or throw it in the appropriate tub. Clean off the tops of all dressers, counters, and tables before you start the heavy scrubbing.
Gather or make some safe cleaning products
Every day, we are subjected to the cleaning materials that others use in their businesses without any control over whether they are safe for our health or the environment, but we don’t have to do that in our own homes. Using environmentally safe products that don’t present risks to our health is especially important. If you want to know for sure that it is safe you can use:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Lemon juices and peels
- Essential oils (lemon, sweet orange, and lavender are especially nice)
- Hydrogen Peroxide
One of the best all-around cleaners for everything under the sun, and certainly great for cleaning windows is:
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp of Dawn dish soap
Start cleaning at the top
This may seem like a no-brainer, but always clean from the top down. Start with a long duster to clean the corners of the ceiling, the tops of the door frames and pictures, and around the light fixtures. If you have ceiling fans then clean them before anything else. Of course, get the tops of your cupboards and fridge before starting on countertops and flooring.
Clean by task not by room
While it may seem to make sense to clean by room, it is actually more efficient to clean by task. Whether you are removing cobwebs in the corners, cleaning the baseboards, or washing the windows, go to every room and finish that specific task before moving on to the next room.
The exception
Even though cleaning the floors is likely one of the last tasks on the list, you do want to vacuum any carpeted rooms before your dust! Vacuuming will lead to your tables looking like you forgot to do something, and you don’t want that!
Get an estimate
When you can get a free estimate, why not? Call the cleaning service of your choice and get an estimate. Paying someone to clean your home may be well worth the money and certainly worth the time it saves you.
Spring is also the ideal time to sell your home if you have been thinking about it, and one of the most important things you can do to get the best price for your home is to give it a thorough cleaning. It gives home buyers the message that they are considering a home that has been well-cared for. And, even the best of homes with all the bells and whistles that lack essential cleanliness may be passed over for one that leaves a good (and clean) impression.