Spring is right around the corner and it’s a great time to get your home in order, especially if you’re going to sell it soon. A thorough deep cleaning will clear away a lot of dirt, debris, and worthless junk. It’s a wonderful way to fall in love with your home again, or make it presentable to show at an open house.
Regardless of the reason you’re spring cleaning, you know it’s far more than just a simple dusting and vacuum. It’s also a prime opportunity to get rid of a lot of things which you rarely or don’t use at all. You’ll also likely to find a few surprises along the way. Don’t be shocked to uncover a long lost treasure or stumble upon a memento you’d long forgot about.
One thing you don’t want to do is do a lot of work and not get any real results. You want to give your home a thorough cleaning the right way so you don’t miss anything. In addition, you want to do it smartly so you’re not having to do something more than once. It’s a real bummer to find you have to vacuum the floors again because you forgot to those dusty ceiling fans.
GETTING READY FOR A DEEP CLEAN
Now is the time to offload things you don’t use or no longer need. Many people are surprised to learn just how much stuff they have when they start a spring cleaning or host a yard sale. So, get to it and start going through each and every room, all the closets, the garage, and the attic space.
“One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don’t need. Use these resources to clear out your stuff. Plan a garage sale. Learn how to box up items you don’t need. Find out how to donate items that are taking up space. Take advantage of the natural urge that comes each spring to get rid of items that are weighing you down and begin fresh with a more streamlined lifestyle. While we may have a tendency to hoard and hold on to items in the winter, we generally are more ready to let go of clutter when spring arrives. Trust me. Cleaning will be a lot easier when the clutter is gone.” —About.com
Whatever you can part with, be it through a garage sale, donating it, or just tossing it out, get rid of it. Once you’ve gone through each bedroom, each closet, and the garage and attic, it’s time to move onto your drawers and cabinets in the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen.
Be careful when you get to this point, because you might have stashed something away and forgotten about it, such as jewelry tucked away in an old knit cap. The same goes for your files in your home desk drawers, be sure to hang on to things like tax returns.
Spring Cleaning Tips
After the big purge, it’s time to move onto the actual cleaning part. Here’s where you’ll get to areas you don’t normally clean or clean only once in a while:
- Begin outside and work your way in. Start by pressure washing the exterior and then clean out the gutters, and then decide whether or not to give it a fresh coat of paint. This is also a good time to refresh your landscaping with colorful flowers and plants.
- Wash the windows and doors. Clean every pane and every panel top to bottom and side to side. There’s likely to be fingerprints and soil from skin oil on the glass and wood.
- Clean up sliding glass door tracks and moulding. These are areas most homeowners don’t touch and this is the time to give them a little attention. Use a vacuum with an extension, along with soap and water and a sponge.
- Clean under furniture and around appliances. Move what you can and get under furniture and around all the appliances.
- Dust off light fixtures, ceiling fans, and curtains. Dust each thoroughly and replace anything that’s broken and replace old bulbs.
- Deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen. Though you probably clean these regularly, now is the time to tackle those stubborn spots.
- Get to the grout and deep into carpet fibers. Grout cleaner can work wonders, as can a steam cleaning of the carpet. This should be the last thing on your list.
When you’re ready to sell your Sarasota home, give me a call and I’ll be happy to list it. I’ll devise a strategic marketing plan, help you set the right asking price, and negotiate the sale. In addition, I’ll bring qualified buyers to see your property and get you the best price possible.