Cleaning Secrets from a Top Real Estate Broker You think youve scrubbed everything, but these subtle, often forgotten touches can make your home look amazing—even if you arent putting up a for sale sign. LOOK DOWN....AND THEN SLIGHTLY LOOK UP It happens all the time: Jill Sloane, executive vice president of Halstead Propertys Westside Office in Manhattan, walks into a home that is beautifully decorated and looks magnificent at eye level—and the floors, shes delighted to see, have clearly been Swiffered—but the baseboards are covered in dust. Sloane says its not just people who are shopping for homes who register this, but anyone who comes to your house: Little things can go a very long way toward making a buyer, a visitor or even yourself fall in love with a home. (IF YOU USE FLOWERS) KEEP FLOWERS LOOKING (and Smelling) LIKE FLOWERS Everyone loves fresh flowers, but droopy blooms or a somethings-not-right bouquet? Not so much. Sloane has a secret for getting arrangements to stay fresh: Start with a really clean, clear glass vase. The one you grabbed out of the cabinet and quickly rinsed out before filling with water might look fine in the morning, but once afternoon sunlight is streaming in, you may notice its not sparkling—and that cloudiness (which often is a sign of bacteria) can accelerate the flowers decay. So wash the container with a few drops of bleach and hot water first. UPGRADE YOUR BATHROOM FOR LESS THAN $65 Aside from keeping the bathroom clean, theres another foolproof way to make this space look fresh and inviting. The only caveat: nothing looks worse than those accessories appearing dirty or stained. So every season, machine wash them with detergent and hot water. If they arent pristine, replace them. BEWARE THE SHEET AVALANCHE Weve all shoved things in the hall closet when guests are coming over, just wanting to get the clutter out of sight...and whos going to look in there, anyway? Actually, people searching for powder rooms do open doors—and linen closets are a typical target. The last thing you want them to see is an avalanche of towels and sheets, so homeowners keep everything in neat stacks. (An added benefit is that you wont later be the victim of a linen shower.) The right distance between shelves can make a big difference: Towel shelves should be about 14 inches high; for sheets, about 10 inches should be sufficient. Leave a bar of your favorite soap in the closet to lightly perfume linens; you can also use a sachet. DONT JUST WIPE THE FRIDGE Just as people like to peek inside closets, they also open refrigerators—and you will be amazed at how many clean homes have dirty fridges. Spills that have become thick and sticky, funky smells, and food piled every which way are the biggest problems. Before you put ketchup, mustard or jelly away, wipe off the rim and bottom. Every few days, do a sweep for food thats past its prime. And give the fridge itself a good scrub regularly: Empty the contents, store them in a cooler, turn off the power, and let the shelves and drawers come to room temperature before you wash them, since glass and ceramic parts could crack if they come into contact with hot water when they are cold.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 16:56:13 +0000
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