Raise your hand if you dislike cleaning. I dislike cleaning very much. Those who have known me for a long time know that having clean spaces is not my forte’. It’s not that I mind the act of cleaning. I dislike having to do it over and over and over. I’m more of a ‘one and done’ kind of gal. It gets overwhelming to spend time and effort to clean and within a couple days, dangit if doesn’t need to be cleaned again. I also talk myself out of cleaning with self-talk like ‘I don’t know what product to use’ or ‘I don’t know how to do it the right way’. My family of three males considers cleaning less of a priority than me. I’ve created cleaning schedules in the past but haven’t succeeded at sticking to them. I’ve pondered getting a cleaning service, but I prefer to spend our hard-earned money on other things. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘company-ready’, but for me that’s generally a superficial state of clean.
Though I dislike cleaning, I’ve found through the sales of our last two homes that cleaning and maintenance is essential. In 2016 when we sold our super-cute 950-square-foot bungalow in South Saint Louis, we hired a cleaning service. In addition to that service, I cleaned areas that their service didn’t cover. I also hand mopped the beautiful hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms just before we listed. We received multiple competing offers and sold the house in a day for over asking price. I believe cleanliness was a significant contributing factor.
In 2021, my husband and I decided to sell our 2-bedroom, 2 ½ bathroom 1250-square-foot condominium in Orlando, Florida. We had rented the house out since we moved to Missouri in 2009. With the home market so strong, we decided the time was right. We trekked down to Orlando, children in tow, during Fall Break to get the condo ready to sell. Our realtor advised, among other things, that cleanliness was key. Based on our experience we agreed. To put us in the best position possible when listing, we stayed an extra day and spent hours and hours deep cleaning after making many other updates. We received a dozen offers and sold for thousands over asking price. Now, I’m not saying it was all because of the cleaning; we did a ton of other updates, and it was a seller’s market. I believe, though, had it not been clean and maintained, our sale price would have been affected. I truly believe that even if people don’t consciously realize it, our subconscious recognizes dirt, dust build-up, and other lack of maintenance and it affects our overall impression.
I learned from these 2 experiences that cleaning and maintenance are essential. I also learned, more importantly, that I don’t like to deep clean a whole house all at once. And these two examples were small houses. My house now is bigger than the last two put together. It makes my fingers sore, and my arm muscles burn just thinking about it. I want to prevent my future self being in a position to have to clean at the last minute, so I’ve created a ‘sale ready’ cleaning schedule for myself.
I’ve broken my house up into twelve spaces. Once a month, I focus on one space with a mindset to get it ‘sale ready’. ‘Sale ready’ means that the house itself is clean and maintained and could be put up for sale with minimal effort. I spend most of a day cleaning, but I use whatever time I have and do what I can. I start at the top and work my way down. I focus on the actual house, on things that will remain during a sale.
- Grates: Remove all the dust and other gunk that might have built up. If they are rusty or just gross, remove them to wash in a basin. If they’re really gross (use your judgement on what this means to you), trash them and buy new.
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures: Ensure all the parts are stable and that they’re well-connected to the ceiling or wall. Dust them well, not just the moving parts but the stationary ones too. Remove dusty globes and wash them in a basin or sink. Replace burned out bulbs with LEDs.
- Ceiling and Walls: Remove all the cobwebs and dust bunnies that may have built up, especially in the corners where ceiling meets wall. Oh, and don’t forget that cobwebs can appear in the deep crevices of popcorn ceilings. Use a Magic Eraser or wet cloth to remove splatters and other stains. If you have a cutout, get up there and remove dust and other items that may have been thrown up there without thought. Did you know that Realtors recommend painting every 5 years??
- Windows: Remove window coverings and clean both the window molding, the rod, and the covering itself. Clean the glass on both sides if you can.
- Hardware and outlet covers: Dust can build up in the tiny crevices. Use a q-tip or a flathead screwdriver covered in a cloth or paper towel to really get those crevices clean. Take the cover off and wash it in a basin or sink. When was the last time you took a good look at your towel and shower curtain rods? Rust can be removed, or it might be time to replace them.
- Doors and moldings: Pet doors can accumulate oils and fur. Door crevices, especially for sliding doors, accumulate dirt and debris. Clean it out. Wipe down and clean rust and dust off doorknobs. Replace hardware that can’t be cleaned up properly. Nicks and scratches appear over time. Fill and repaint if needed. Dust floor trim and tops of door moldings.
- Closets: Take everything off shelves and clean them well, including the wire parts of wire shelving. Paint the walls if they have lots of scratches and nicks. This is a great time to get rid of things you never use.
- Flooring: Along with high traffic areas take extra care to vacuum the crevices where the flooring, especially carpet, meets the wall. It’s amazing how much dust can build up there. Rent a carpet cleaner to get that ‘new carpet’ feel again. Scrub and re-seal grout lines and be sure to wear safety goggles.
- Home security pieces: Don’t overlook them! At the least, dust them well.
- Thermostat and other utility pieces: Thermostat buttons can accumulate oils from your skin and dust. Wipe them down.
- Light a candle or plug in a scent warmer. Adding a charming scent makes your home even more appealing.
- Storage rooms: Don’t overlook the storage rooms in your house-basement, attic, etc.
- Outside: Clean out gutters, refresh paint, and rent a power washer to remove all the dirt and debris. Remove hardware and refresh the paint if needed. Replace light bulbs. Schedule a maintenance visit for your a/c unit. Check out railing and posts to make sure they’re stable and solid.
I don’t have unrealistic expectations. I know that I’m going to miss my cleaning day sometimes, and that’s ok. When I follow my sale ready plan my home is more sanitary, safer, and less likely to have unknown issues. It provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. I have peace of mind that at any given time at least a portion of my house is clean. I want my house to be clean and nice for my family, not just the next owner. That’s worth spending the time. It’s like making my house new again, and I fall in love with it all over!
