Top Spring Cleaning Tasks to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

The end of spring and the beginning of summer are the best times to put your home on the market. It is difficult to place a value on the memories you made in a house, and when it is time to set a number, you want to ensure potential buyers perceive that worth. To project the top value of your home, it should be as clean as possible for showings.
Real estate agents expect the homeowner to leave their property in broom-clean condition when they are selling. It is proper etiquette to leave your house in the state you would want to receive it in. To wow potential buyers and sell your home quickly, owners must follow the top spring cleaning projects.
1. Dust Everything
If potential buyers walk into a house showing and immediately sneeze, feel congested or get watery eyes, they may view the property as unfit for their family. Dust causes various reactions in different people. The gray puffballs contain toxic chemicals that can also cause cancer and reproductive problems after long-term exposure.
To avoid turning off your potential buyers from dust, you can remove it by vacuuming from your ceiling to your floor. A wet cloth can help the homeowner remove dust from ceiling fans and other objects that a vacuum is not compatible with. To reach small nooks and cracks, you can use a makeup brush to clean out any hidden filth.
2. Scrub the Oven
Kitchen appliances can affect the value of a home. If you have top-notch devices in your kitchen with dirt and grime on them, potential buyers may perceive them at a lower price range. Homeowners can put their best foot forward by scrubbing their oven before putting their house on the market.
You can start by mixing 2 teaspoons of oil-based soap with 2 teaspoons of borax in a spray bottle. Shake the solution well, then remove racks from the oven. Coat the entire appliance with the mixture and let it sit overnight. In the morning, you can wipe away the solution and any buildup with a dishcloth.
Then, you may put the racks in a bathtub or bring them outside for a deep scrub. Place vinegar in another spray bottle and coat the metal pieces with it. Next, sprinkle baking soda on top of the wet racks and scrub them with a cloth. When you feel they are clean, rinse them off with water and return them to the oven.
3. Remove Scratches From Windows
When selling your home, you want to ensure all surfaces sparkle and shine, especially the windows. If you have children or pets, chances are your windows have a few scuffs and scratches. Fortunately, you do not have to replace the glass pane to fix minor flaws.
Homeowners can repair minor imperfections with clear nail polish. Before getting to work, you will need to clean the window to remove any oil or dirt. Then, you can place a small coat of polish over the scratches. This will fill in the grooves and level out the windowpane.
You can also use toothpaste to even out scuffed or scraped regions of glass. The paste contains baking soda, which is minimally abrasive, allowing grooves to blend with the surrounding surface. Use a clean cloth to rub the toothpaste on the flawed area for 30 seconds, then clean the glass with water and soap to remove any smudges.
For deeper scratches, you can skip the toothpaste and turn right to baking soda. You will need to develop a paste of equal parts water and baking soda. Similarly to the process mentioned above, you will use a cloth to scrub the scraped glass for half a minute and then clean it off.
4. Clean Showerheads and Faucets
Potential buyers want to feel like the home they are considering has clean water sources. To project this cleanliness, the homeowner should freshen up showerheads and faucets before a showing.
You can clean your showerheads using vinegar, zip ties and plastic bags. Begin by pouring vinegar into a bag and hold it up to the spout to make sure there is enough liquid to submerge the head. Zip-tie the bag to keep the showerhead covered in vinegar overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and turn the shower on, letting hot water clear the remaining deposits.
When cleaning your faucets, there is one key element homeowners should tend to. The aerator is the small screen at the faucet base that filters any impurities and large deposits in the water supply. You can remove this piece to clean it by unscrewing it with your fingers.
You can soak the aerator in a small bowl of vinegar to remove any buildup or unwanted particles. After leaving the screen in the solution for a few minutes, scrub it with a toothbrush to remove anything the vinegar could not. Then, rinse the piece with water and place it back in the faucet.
5. Scrub the Inside of Cabinets and Cupboards
If you have little kids, your cabinets and cupboards may be messy. They can knock over honey, chip bags, liquids and more. Other than creating a sticky and crunchy disaster, this buildup can invite bacteria and mold.
Mold can produce allergens that lead to hay fever-type symptoms and asthma attacks. If it is present in a home, potential buyers may reject the property. Luckily, you can remove this matter to instill safety and value back into your home.
You can start this cleaning process by combining half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle with a dash of dish soap. Spray this solution over the inside of the cabinets and cupboards and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe down the damp regions with a cloth. You can use a toothbrush or Q-tips to reach corners and cracks to ensure the entire area is clean.
6. Clean Furniture
When you display a property on the market, you want potential buyers to see themselves living in it. To create this image in their minds, you will need to make sure your furniture is clean. You can begin this process by vacuuming pet fur, dust and dirt off couches, chairs and other pieces.
Spray wooden furniture with olive oil and lemon and buff with a soft cloth. You will also want to remove any couch and chair cushion coverings to throw in the wash. Finally, homeowners can use olive oil and vinegar to clean and buff leather furniture, leaving an aesthetic shine.
7. Clear the Refrigerator
Homeowners will want their refrigerators to appear in brand new condition during a showing. To accomplish this look, you will need to remove all food from the drawers and shelves. Clean the inside of the refrigerator with dish soap and water.
If there are sticky, caked-up regions of the appliance, you can pour boiling water on them and use a plastic spatula to lift grime. Then, you can wipe up excess liquid and particles with a dry cloth. After cleaning your refrigerator, unplug the device and leave the door open for a day or two to air it out.
Take It One Step at a Time
Cleaning may be the last thing on your mind when it comes time to sell your home, and it is a vital process. Rather than waiting until the last minute when your stress levels are high, tackle a new project every day. After a week, your home will be ready to hit the market.
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