Explore Bathroom Cleaning Tips
Fact: Keeping your home clean while it’s on the market is tough. Especially if you’ve got kids, it can be a constant source of stress. When it comes to keeping your bathroom in pristine condition for open houses and private showings, there’s a lot stacked against you. It’s arguably the most important room in a home to potential buyers. It’s also the most used, usually the smallest, and the most prone to messes.
According to Zillow, bathroom remodels yield the biggest returns in terms of boosting your home’s resale value. For minor cosmetic changes, you can earn a $1.71 increase for every $1 you spend. But as important as they are to potential buyers, keeping your bathrooms in pristine condition for said buyers is a near-impossible task.
Here are some tips that can help you keep your bathrooms in top shape, even for those last-minute showings.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #1: Wipe away water
Keep a water squeegee in the shower, and instruct family members to use it after every shower. Spray shower walls and door with a water repellent to keep excess water and soap scum to a minimum.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #2: Disinfectant wipes
Keep a container of lemon-scented disinfectant wipes under the sink for quick access. Grab one to quickly wipe down countertops, sinks, and faucets just before leaving the bathroom.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #3: Declutter
Marry bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and replace half-used bars of soap with a bottle of body wash. Use a soap dispenser rather than a bar of soap at the sink, and corral all bottles, tubes, and jars in a container under the vanity to keep surfaces clear. Find more tips for clearing the clutter here.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #4: White Towels
According to long-time real estate agent, Darby Seymour, white towels are an inexpensive way to give your bathroom a spa-like vibe. Keep your regular towels on a hook behind the bathroom or closet door, and hang fresh, white towels on the towel rack or roll up on a shelf. “Spa-style bathrooms are very popular right now,” says Seymour, “so anything you can do to give your bathroom that vibe is helpful.”
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #5: Replace Bathroom Lighting
Remove light covers and clean thoroughly. Before you put them back up, check that every light bulb is working. Replace any that are burnt out or are a different type so that all bulbs are the same wattage and temperature. Lighting experts recommend warm white bulbs between 2700 and 3000k for the bathroom. In the master and other full bathrooms, 75 to 100-watt bulbs are ideal. In small half baths and powder rooms, 45 watts is sufficient.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #6: Fragrance Diffuser
Place a fragrance diffuser on the back of the toilet or on the countertop. Choose fresh, clean scents like linen, lavender, or eucalyptus over anything too floral or strong.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #7: Cleaning Vinegar
Pour a capful of vinegar into the toilet bowl and close the lid. Let it sit overnight, and by morning, your toilet bowl will be sparkling clean. Remind family members to close the toilet lid before flushing to prevent dirty droplets from spreading onto nearby surfaces. To keep it looking clean, stamp a toilet gel under the rim of the bowl – this will continue to clean with every flush for about 30 days.
Bathroom Cleaning Hack #8: Swipe away dust bunnies
Keep a box of dryer sheets next to the Clorox wipes in the vanity. Use a dryer sheet to quickly wipe up lint, dust, and hair from bathroom surfaces.
If you’re considering selling your home or in the process already, it can help to know what potential buyers want. If your bathroom needs more than a good scrubbing to entice buyers, consider a quick tub or shower update. Learn more about our hassle-free, four-step process and browse our design gallery for ideas that can make your home irresistible to potential buyers.
