Cleaning Your House to Sell? Checklist for Homeowners

Use the right cleaning supplies

Your home contains various surfaces, which can include granite, stone, wood, glass, leather, and laminate. Some cleaning products are abrasive and can damage surfaces, so make sure you have the appropriate cleaning supplies to protect surface finishes. Do a walkthrough to assess what products you’ll need.

Kitchen: countertops, appliances, cabinets, hardware, tile, fixtures, floors, walls, windows, doors

Bathroom: toilet, countertops, walls, floors, tile, bathtub, glass, fixtures, windows, doors, vanity, hardware, mirrors

Living room: leather, upholstery, wood, glass, carpet, floors, walls, windows

Bedrooms: carpets, flooring, furniture, TV, floor, walls, windows, mirrors, fixtures

Garage: shelving, storage cabinets, workbench, walls, floors, windows

Room-by-room house cleaning checklist

Kitchen cleaning steps

Step 1: Countertops. Dust off the top of countertops and apply the appropriate cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For granite, marble, quartz, and natural stone, use a product like Granite Gold Clean and Shine Spray for cleaning and polishing.

Step 2: Refrigerator. Remove magnets and kid’s drawings from the front of your refrigerator. If your fridge is stainless steel, spray it with a product like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Polish and wipe it with a clean cloth. Other surfaces can be wiped down with soap and water.

Make sure to remove all the shelves. For tough stains, use a non-scratch scouring pad. Then finish the job with a disinfectant.

Step 3: Oven and stove. Most ranges come with self-cleaning ovens that deep clean with 900-degree heat. Once the oven cools, wipe down dirt with a non-abrasive sponge. If you have an older range, pick up a can of oven cleaner spray and follow the instructions on the label.

Step 4: Dishwasher. To deep clean your dishwasher, remove the racks and clean with soap and water. For odors and heavy cleaning, add a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda or fresh lemon peels, which also removes odors in garbage disposals.

Bathroom cleaning steps

Step 1: Toilet. Pour a toilet bowl cleaner such as Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner inside the toilet and let it soak for about 15 minutes to dissolve stubborn stains. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush the toilet when done. Freshen things up with a deodorizer in the tank.

Step 2: Sink, bathtub, and shower. Clean out hair from the sink and drain. Utilize a drain cleaner for clogs. Soft Scrub® All Purpose Cleaner works well for the sink and tub. Polish the fixtures with a vinegar and water mixture or a product formulated for the finish. Dry with a paper towel and throw away. You can also use glass cleaner on some sink fixture finishes such as chrome. For showers with glass doors, use a tile and shower cleaner for the inside, and a glass cleaner on shower doors.

If your bathroom grout has mold, you can usually remove it with a bleach cleaner spray. Cracking caulk makes an easy DIY project. Just dig out the caulk and reapply with the new caulk.

Step 3: Mirrors. Mirrors make great accent pieces and can give the appearance of more light and a larger space. Glass cleaners are a great way to clean mirrors for a streak-free shine. Just spray glass cleaner and wipe with a paper towel.

Bedrooms, living rooms, and the rest of the house

For the bedrooms, living rooms, and the rest of the house, work from the ceiling to the floor since dust and dirt falls down. When cleaning floors, work strategically from the back to front, so you don’t have to backtrack over an area you just cleaned.

Step 1: Dust and clean the walls. Remove artwork, decor, and nails from the walls. If your wall has a lot of holes, consider patching the nail holes in the drywall. Now you’re ready for dusting. Use a mop with a towel around the mophead or an extended duster used for cleaning ceiling fans.

Remove cobwebs from the ceiling and dust the walls, and baseboards. Don’t forget doors and window frames between the walls as well as ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures. Dust window treatments or remove them for cleaning. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

When you’re finished dusting, prepare a bucket with soapy water and a large sponge, then wipe down the walls. Work in small areas gently cleaning walls and wipe with a dry, clean towel. You can use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove scuff marks. Always work with a clean bucket. If it gets dirty, refill with soap and water. Clean windows inside and out with glass cleaner.

Step 2: Dust and polish furniture. Next, you’re ready to tackle the furniture. Use a feather duster or microfiber cloth. If the furniture is dirty, use a wood clean like Murphy’s Oil Soap. Pledge Everyday Clean Multi Surface Cleaner is safe to use on most hard surfaces, including electronics. Clean TV screens according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For laptop and LCD screens, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For keyboards, use Blow Off or another compressed air dust cleaner.

Start with ceiling fans, hit the bookshelves and shelving units, and media cabinets.

Step 3: Clean upholstery and drapery. When cleaning an upholstered couch, lift the cushions and vacuum using the upholstery attachment. For leather furniture, you can use Weiman leather wipes or Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. Always spray the product on a soft, clean cloth rather than directly on furniture.

Dust window treatments. If they’re dirty, throw them in the laundry if they’re machine washable or have them dry cleaned.

Step 4: Sweep, vacuum, and wash the floors. Move furniture out of the way and clean floors and carpets with a broom or vacuum. Use the brush attachment to get tough dirt on the baseboards and in crevices. Shampoo carpets. If they’re dirty or dated, have your carpets professionally cleaned for an average of $285 to $630 for a 1,500-square-foot home. If they’re in bad shape, and it’s in the budget, you may want to consider replacing your carpets.

Mop floors with a mop, bucket, and the recommended floor cleaning solution. When washing hardwood and laminate, your mop shouldn’t be too damp. Make sure your mop is cleaned and sanitized after cleaning the bathrooms.

Tips for preparing for showings

If you’re living in the home you’re selling, things can get out of place fast. Follow these tips, for a successful showing:

• Make all the beds.
• Place the coffee pot and small appliances on counters under the sink.
• Straighten throw pillows in the living room, porch, and on beds.
• Put away toiletries and fold towels neatly in the bathroom.
• Place an air freshener dispenser in all main rooms.
• Stage your home for sale even if you’re on a budget.
• Place a plant in every room.
• Wipe down countertops and shine faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Check mirrors for streaking.
• Wipe smudges from stainless steel appliances.
• Sweep or vacuum up any dirt or dust balls from floors.
• Make the entryway inviting with flowers in a planter.

Special tips for pet owners

Pets leave reminders of their scent throughout a home. While many of us love pets, you’ll want to open your buyer pool by appealing to non-pet owners, too.

• For the open house, keep pets with a friend or family member.
• Put away their beds, food and water dishes, and litter boxes.
• Wash pet beds with an enzymatic cleaner such as MisterMax.
• Vacuum up pet hair; for shedding, use a product like Animal 2 from Dyson.
• Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and your pet’s favorite furniture and vacuum after 30 minutes.
• For strong odors, use a product like Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator, which is safe for pets.

For additional tips, read our guide on selling a house with pets.

Making a lasting impression with a sparkling clean home

After meticulously moving through each room and ticking off tasks on your house cleaning checklist, you can now stand back and envision your home through the eyes of potential buyers.

But don’t forget the exterior. Deep clean outdoors by power washing the driveway, walkway, and exterior walls. If you have a pool, make sure to clean it or keep the cover on. Tidy up the landscape with weeded and mulched flower beds, pruned shrubs, and swept driveways.

It’s not just about cleanliness; it’s about staging an environment that invites and entices. With this house cleaning guide, you’ve transformed a potentially overwhelming task into a detailed, focused effort.

Remember, a spotlessly presented home can significantly impact first impressions and overall property value. As you await prospective buyers, take comfort in knowing you’ve showcased your home in its finest light.

Header Image Source: (jarmoluk/ Pixabay)