How to clean your home before selling

You’ve made the decision to up sticks and get your home on the market. But how can you help make it more appealing to potential buyers? Properties with curb appeal that look well-maintained and ready to move in attract more interest and sell faster. Forget major DIY and expensive fixes; all you need is a weekend and the right cleaning supplies.

To clean your home before selling, tackle one room at a time. Remove stains from carpets and upholstery, and deep clean the rooms that matter most to buyers: living room, kitchen and bathroom. A spotless house photographs beautifully, gives the impression of more space and light, and helps buyers picture themselves living there.

This guide provides a handy checklist, with cleaning tips, honest stain removal advice and some recommended products that do the hard work for you.

Ready to get started? Here’s Dr. Beckmann’s guide on how to get your home viewing-ready.

Dr. Beckmann’s pre-house viewing cleaning checklist

Here is our guide to getting your house gleaming in time for house viewings. Your home will look so good, you might want to take it off the market!

1. Keep calm and organised

Don’t panic and try to clean the whole house in one frantic go. Work through it calmly, one room at a time, and give yourself an hour or two the day before each viewing rather than a mad dash on the morning.

Keep your cleaning supplies, rubber gloves and cloths in a caddy so you can move around the house more easily – this is so simple, but such a time saver.

If you are well prepared, all you need do on the day is a quick sweep and vacuum, and you’re ready.

2. Declutter

Get rid of as much clutter as you can from each room to make it appear more spacious. It also makes it easier for buyers to imagine their own belongings in the space.

Organise storage areas and even wardrobes to showcase the space available. If there are personal belongings you can do without until the move, pack them up and keep them out of sight or put them in storage – this can also save you time when you are packing.

Remove any pet bowls, beds and litter trays from view – not everyone is a fan of animals.

3. Create a fresh-smelling house

We stop noticing our own home’s smell, but buyers pick up on it in seconds. Open all the windows and let in some fresh air in the hours before they arrive.

In the kitchen, empty and clean inside bins, and blitz the fridge to rid the room of stale odours. If your washing machine has a musty note, Dr. Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean freshens it from the inside out.

If you have pets, pay particular attention to removing hair. And use a neutralising spray to remove pet odours.

Skip the heavy air fresheners – clean and neutral is better than overpowering scents.

4. Remove stains from upholstery and soft furnishings

No buyer wants to think about the added cost of replacing carpets. If there are any spills or stains you haven’t got around to removing yet, now is the time. Dr. Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover lifts stains in three minutes with its unique built-in brush. It’s ideal for spot cleaning and makes all the difference.

Even if you’re not leaving soft furnishings, like curtains, behind, they still make an impression. The Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils Survival Kit removes over 40 of the toughest stains, including common culprits like red wine, muddy footprints and cooking grease. For stains on sofas that can’t be covered up, use our Upholstery Stain Remover.

Change all bedding and pop scatter cushion covers in the wash to freshen them up. Laundry Detergent Sheets are mess-free, easy to use and protect vibrant colours.

5. Deep clean the living spaces buyers notice most

Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, so give them a deep clean.

Oven cleaning is the job everyone loves to hate, but don’t put it off. A grimy oven door can be very off-putting. Dr. Beckmann’s Oven Grill Power Gel makes light work of it, with no pungent odour.

Degrease the hob with a specialist hob cleaner, wipe down kitchen counters and clean cabinet fronts with Dr Beckmann’s multipurpose cleaning sheets.

Clear out the fridge (yes, people do tend to take a peek!) and clean the interior with our Fridge Cleaner, which includes NEOFRESH® technology to neutralise bad odours. And use a dishwasher cleaner to get it smelling fresh.

In the bathroom, remove stubborn limescale from the taps and the shower screen using a specialist limescale remover or a spray made from white vinegar and warm water. Leave for a few minutes, rinse, then buff with a clean cloth to bring back the sparkle.

Lemons are an effective source of natural cleaning power. Use half a lemon to clean chrome taps, and add lemon juice to a bowl of water to shift stains in your microwave in three minutes.

An old toothbrush is an essential part of your cleaning kit, ideal for grout, plugholes and awkward corners.

6. Clean windows to maximise natural light

Bright rooms feel bigger and more welcoming, so clean windows are worth the effort. Use a specific window cleaner or mix white vinegar with warm water in a spray bottle, spritz the glass, then buff dry with a microfibre cloth or a sheet of paper towel to remove streaks.

Clean windows inside and, weather permitting, outside, too: the difference in how much more light floods in may surprise you. And it will also help curb appeal.

7. Don’t forget skirting boards and the finishing touches

Run a damp sponge along the skirting boards to remove dust. Some homeowners swear by using toothpaste or bicarb to remove stains like crayon from walls and paintwork.

Wipe the light switches (they collect more grime than you’d think), and dust the light fixtures. Use a sticky roller on lampshades to remove dust and lint.

There’s no need to spend a lot, but a bunch of fresh flowers from the supermarket is such a lovely welcoming touch.

8. Refresh your outdoor space

Don’t underestimate curb appeal, as it can sway a buyer in minutes. Take a few hours in the front garden to sweep the path, clear away fallen leaves and any debris, and give the front door a quick wipe. A tidy garden, a jet-washed patio and a couple of well-kept flower pots tell buyers the whole property has been looked after, inside and out.