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Central Florida | 4 Posts
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January
3

Cleaning for an Open House

In order to drive buyer interest and offers, you'll need to put in the effort to ensure your home makes a lasting impression. Our real estate agents always say cleaning is the single most important thing you can do in the days and weeks leading to an open house. And we don't mean tidying up. You'll likely need to clean like you've never cleaned before. If you're preparing for an open house, we prepared a quick list of areas many homeowners miss during the cleaning process:

  • Start From The Top
    When preparing for an open house, every single surface in the house must be cleaned. Because we tend to focus on what's at eye level, it can be helpful to start at the top of the room to ensure you don't miss any fixtures. Ceiling fans, the top of window fixtures, and picture frames are often missed. Once you've cleaned the top of the room, start working your way down.

  • Don't Forget Your Baseboards
    Because of their position on the floor and near vents, baseboards are great at accumulating dirt, dust, and pet hair. And it's easy to miss! We generally recommend giving your baseboards a good scrub when cleaning the floors. This will help cut down on hidden pet odors as well! 

  • Give Your Garbage Disposal Some Attention
    When was the last time you cleaned your garbage disposal? Chances are you've overlooked cleaning this appliance for some time. If it's been a while, it may even have an odor. We recommend a half-cup of baking soda, one cup of white vinegar, and a chopped citrus peel. Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes before turning on the water and running the disposal.

  • Wipe Out The Bottoms Of Your Kitchen Cabinets
    Remember, buyers will be opening every cupboard door in your kitchen, so ensure everything is tidy. Take the time to wipe out the bottoms of each cabinet. Get rid of any food stains or spilled spices and seasonings that may have accumulated over the years. 

  • Make Your Faucets Sparkle
    To help your kitchen and bathroom look as clean as possible, use a bit of baby oil when wiping down stainless steel sinks and faucets. You'll be surprised at how much it will make them shine and sparkle.

  • Clean The Coffee Pot 
    It's easy to turn a blind eye to the condition of appliances we use daily, but if your coffee pot is looking nasty, you'll definitely want to store it away or, at the very least, wipe it down. The appliance should only be on display if it complements the aesthetic beauty of your counter space.

Cleaning for an open house is a big project, but it's definitely achievable throughout the weekend. Contact us today for more tips on preparing your home for the market. Our team is ready to help you list your home or help you find local open houses to attend if you're looking to buy this year.

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/26/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/26/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 7:24:06 AM EST) or GAMLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 6:59:13 AM EST) or Stellar MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 1:59:13 AM EST) or SPC MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 6:19:40 AM EST) or Martin MLS (last updated Wed 03/25/2026 11:38:11 PM EST) or Indian River MLS (last updated Wed 03/25/2026 11:30:25 PM EST) or Daytona MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 6:55:38 AM EST) or Northeast Florida MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 12:18:43 AM EST) or Beaches MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 6:42:51 AM EST) or BORMLS (last updated Wed 03/25/2026 11:15:44 PM EST) or Golden Isles MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 7:04:48 AM EST) or Amelia/Nassau MLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 7:20:16 AM EST) or Dixie Gilchrist Levy MLS (last updated Wed 03/25/2026 11:42:17 PM EST) or NFLMLS (last updated Thu 03/26/2026 6:06:01 AM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS ® may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.
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