You’ve cleaned, decluttered and painted to get your home ready to sell. But there’s still one job left – make certain your home smells great for every showing.
Here are four things to keep in mind to ensure your house smells fresh and clean for potential buyers:
Stuffiness.
Open the windows and air out stale, musty rooms. Steam clean carpets and curtains, wash all bedding, and store stinky athletic gear and out-of-season clothing and shoes away.
Pets.
Dogs need brushing and baths. Scoop cat boxes daily. Keep bedding and cages clean. Steam clean all furniture where pets sleep and play with their toys.
Food odors.
Clean your oven, burners, and sink drains. Grind a small lemon slice in the disposal and let the water flow. Clean out the refrigerator and take trash out daily.
Mold and mildew.
If you can smell moisture, others can, too. Check pipes and floors for leaks. Toxic mold can grow anywhere that contains cellulose, poor light, and low air circulation. Wash towels frequently. Replace cleaning sponges with fresh scrubbing tools.
Wash dirty clothes and bed linens frequently. Take baby diapers and other disposables to the outside trash every day. Don’t cover odors with sprays or scented candles.
A good rule of thumb is – if you can’t remember when you cleaned it last, clean it now.
