Ensuring your home is clean is one of the most important aspects of selling property.
A dirty, untidy home will turn away untold buyers and cost you thousands of dollars by diminishing your sale price.
As an experienced agent in our neighborhood, I’m always at pains to stress the importance of cleaning and tidying a home before entertaining a walk-through. Let’s face it, no one wants to see your dirty dishes dumped in the kitchen sink.
Many of my clients take my advice to heart – their homes are super-spotless and their bathrooms and kitchens gleam. It’s awesome!
So, I was fascinated to read a New York Times article that talked of the difference in cleaning and disinfecting. And I won’t lie – the smell of germ-busting bleach sometimes lingers a little too long.
The article made this very important distinction: “Cleaning removes things: dirt, crumbs, germs, dog hair, from surfaces. Disinfecting kills things, typically viruses and bacteria.”
I’ve listed a few quick cleaning tips for you to consider when preparing your home for a walk-through. And I’ve included some of observations from the Times, too.
- There’s no need to disinfect your kitchen countertops daily unless you’ve been cutting up raw meat.
- Illness is the only good reason to regularly disinfect your bathroom. Most times, soap and water gets the job done. Use a microfiber cloth for a smear-finish on shower glass and mirrors.
- Watch out for products with quaternary ammonium compounds, or “quats”. The Times says these chemicals can increase our resistance to antibiotics.
- If you go hard-core with the chemicals, make sure you have good ventilation. Fumes from using quats, bleach and ammonia are harmful.
- Don’t spray and wipe away immediately. Let the soap or chemicals do their work. Let the solution sit for up to 10 minutes before wiping it away, preferably with a paper cloth.
- Only mix water into bleach – any other chemical risks a dangerous reaction. Bleach breaks down in water quickly, so you have to use it within hours. Storing it is pointless.
- If you hate the thought of all these chemicals in your home, check out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for advice on how to create your own botanical disinfectants. The most popular is household vinegar mixed with water.