Spring Cleaning Checklist and Tips for Decluttering Your Home

Someone once said, “Happiness is a clean home.” It’s true that few things are more satisfying than having a home that’s squeaky clean and free of clutter. Whether you’re thinking of selling your home, or you just want to start the Spring season off right, using a spring cleaning checklist can ensure that you deep clean your home from top to bottom.

Banish the Clutter

Any good realtor–and famous organizing consultant Marie Kondo– will tell you that clutter in your home can really take away from the appeal of your home and make it a less joyful place to be. To put your best “face” forward, take some time to clear the clutter in your home. A few simple tips:

• Marie Kondo your things. Marie Kondo’s favorite method asks you to evaluate each item and ask yourself if it sparks joy. If not, it’s time to let someone else enjoy it.
• Invest in some containers for organizing. For things like photos and personal mementos you won’t want to let go of, get some storage containers, label them, and neatly pack these things away in a closet.
• Buy some large, trendy baskets. Large, attractive baskets are great places to throw things like shoes, books, toys, and other odds and ends that often wind up all over your house. If you’re expecting visitors, you can quickly throw things into the baskets and they’ll look tidy sitting in a corner, on a shelf, or on a table.
• Hit the high points. Many people say that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. With this in mind, take time to get rid of stuff on top of your kitchen and bathroom counters and commit to finally getting rid of those small kitchen appliances you never use.

Begin the Deep Clean

Now that you’ve decluttered your home, you’ll have an easier time with the deep-cleaning part. Before you dive in, you’ll want to take some time to gather your supplies. Rags, baking soda, white vinegar, and a general cleaning solution like Fabuloso or Castille soap smell great and can take care of most of your cleaning needs. Now you’re ready to start:

• Begin with the bathrooms. Put some extra shine into your bathrooms by cleaning the toilet, shower, sink, and tub. Don’t forget to polish the light fixtures and wipe down the walls and baseboards. Pay special attention to the grout as it quickly gets moldy and dirty which can put off buyers.
• Move on to the kitchen. Pay special attention to the kitchen sink, oven, stovetop, and appliances like the refrigerator. It may make sense to invest in cleaning solutions that clean these items specifically. Make appliances shine, clean out all your drawers, and wipe down the kitchen cabinets, baseboards and walls.
• Make your windows sparkle. Having clean windows can allow more light into your home which creates the illusion of more space. Wash your windows inside and out and take the time to dust blinds and window treatments and polish window hardware. If you have window screens, take them down and give them a good pressure wash.
• Clean the walls and baseboards. If your walls don’t need new paint but could use some sprucing up, use a vacuum to remove dust from the walls and baseboards and then clean stains with a general cleaner or degreaser. It’s laborious but can have a big impact.
• Hit mirrors and light fixtures. Take a few minutes to clean all the mirrors in your home and dust off the light fixtures and fans. This is also a great time to clean the light switch and electrical covers or replace any broken ones. These small things can make a big difference to potential buyers.
• Dust and polish. Go from room to room and dust your entire house. Take everything off of all bookshelves and surfaces and dust underneath. Polish all wooden furniture and other fixtures.
• Don’t forget the floors. Be sure to vacuum and shampoo all rugs and carpets. If you have tile, spend extra time on the grout, or hire a professional to get the grime out of your grout. This can make a big impression.

Tips from Our Goto Stager, Lexi Hamilton, on Eliminating Smells before Listing Your Home

Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our emotions, our memories and on our perception of things. Upon entering a home strong odors can stick with a buyer’s mind. Here are a few simple tips for homeowners with smokers and pets:

• Change your Air Filters.
• Have Linens and Window Draperies Cleaned. If you cannot have them cleaned, remove them.
• Deep Clean Upholstered Furniture.
• Increase Ventilation, Enhance Natural Light & Decrease Humidity. These three simple tasks can also help eliminate house smells.

Learning to declutter, deep-clean, and properly stage your home has a significant impact on whether or not you get the top asking price for your home. If you’re thinking about selling your home, The Lippincott Team professionals can advise you about how to get your home ready. Our professional stagers can offer tips and advice for making your house visitor-ready. Call us at 713-494-1818 or check us out on social!