Spring Clean Your Home (Since You're Probably Stuck at Home, Anyway)

With everyone spending more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic, now is a perfect time to do some spring cleaning. Even the keiki can pitch in with simple chores. And if you're thinking of selling your home this spring or summer, a clean home is still important, even as Open Houses have gone virtual. Today's 3-D tour and video listings use highly sensitive cameras that can pick up scuffed walls, dingy bathtubs and dull windows. 

Ensuring that your home makes a good (virtual) first impression is key to standing out in the digital crowd. A dusty, dirty home can give homebuyers the impression that if basic housekeeping has been neglected, larger problems may be lurking in the home, too.

So, if you’re considering putting your home on the market this spring or summer, you’ll want to tackle these easy — and inexpensive — spring cleaning tasks first. Short on time? Focus on the kitchen and baths — typically, these are the rooms that can make or break a home sale.

Even if you don't plan to sell your home this year, as long as coronavirus is hanging around, it's a good idea to keep your home a thorough cleaning. If you have extra time on your hands, why not apply the Marie Kondo method and de-clutter your space as you clean?

Make your windows sparkle

Bright, natural lighting is at the top of almost every home-shopper’s list. To make sure buyers see your home in its best light — literally — clean window panes, sliding doors and window screens with a mixture of equal parts warm water and vinegar to remove dust and grime. Pro-tip: Clean your windows on a cloudy day for a streak-free shine. If you can, remove your window screens and hose them down before cleaning with the vinegar solution. Tip: Adding privacy film to your windows is an easy DIY project that you can complete in a short amount of time - without a trip to the home improvement store.

Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment on dusty drapes. If you have dark or heavy curtains, consider swapping them for sheer curtains that will allow more light into your home. Don’t forget to give your light bulbs some love, too. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth on a cool bulb to remove dust and instantly brighten your rooms.

Clean up the kitchen

A newly renovated kitchen can net sellers big bucks, but if a total overhaul isn’t in your budget, all it takes is a little elbow grease to make your kitchen more inviting. While only very serious homebuyers may be entering your kitchen right now, you'll still want to make sure that they won’t be greeted with unpleasant odors. To rid your refrigerator of smells, remove all food items and spray surfaces with a mixture of one cup vinegar and two cups warm water. Wipe dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Pro tip: Add a few drops of lemon-scented essential oil to your homemade cleaner for a fresh, citrusy aroma.

Don’t neglect the garbage disposal. To quickly and easily ban bad smells, toss in any of the following: small pieces of cut lemon, cubes of frozen white vinegar or ice cubes and salt, and run the disposal.

Beautify your bath

Humidity is the enemy of bathrooms, so keep it at bay with a fan, dehumidifier or open windows. To remove mildew from caulk in the bath, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or baking soda all make excellent natural cleaners. If you’re not able to remove mildew from the shower or tub, consider re-caulking it yourself — it’s an inexpensive task, but patience is required. To remove mildew from a shower curtain liner, soak it in warm water and bleach, then run through the washing machine using warm water.

Finally, ensure that floors have been vacuumed or swept before opening the virtual or actual doors to the potential new owners of your home.