Sparkle, Baby!

Growing up with a big family in a small house, there was a 2 day a month event that we all looked forward to: the days when the magical fairy known as THE CLEANING LADY would come while we were away at school and work, and make our house sparkling clean. She had a name, Dee, but, like a doctor or a lawyer, she was always referred to by her profession, the cleaning lady. We loved her. She did our chores for us. She made our mom happy. She made everything sparkly and fresh and wonderful, and smelling like...pine.

There is magic in clean. When you prepare your home for sale, the most important thing to do is to clean it. Top to bottom. Clean it like your mother in law is coming, like she's moving in, like you're in the running for a major prize if you can pass the white glove test.

Clean communicates a very important message to buyers: that you care about your home. And, they reason, if you care enough about it to keep it sparkling clean, that means you take care of it. The people at Molly Maid give these tips for cleaning your kitchen:

Wipe down countertops and cabinets (start at immediate right of the stove) Clean face of appliances (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher) Wipe down stove top Clean inside of microwave (yes, buyers do open your microwave!) Soak stove drip pans and knobs in sink Clean inside and around sink Sweep and mop floor

And these step by step directions for super cleaning your bathroom:

Remove rugs/wastebaskets Remove everything from tub/shower Place bath mat in tub/shower Wet tub/shower walls with warm water Apply tile and grout cleaner, allow to sit Spray/clean everything with all-purpose cleaner except toilet, vanity, shower/tub, mirror Fill bucket with 1/4 cup all-purpose cleaner and water to prep for floor cleaning Stand on bath mat and scrub tub/shower walls and door (use grout brush in-between tiles as needed) Apply tile and grout cleaner to tub/shower floor and scrub Clean shower rack/soap dishes Clean shower track or curtain liner Rinse off walls of tub/shower and dry with microfiber cloth Vanity: spray tile and grout cleaner in sink, soap dish Spray countertop with all-purpose cleaner

Scrub sink Use grout brush along faucet and drain Rinse the sink and your rag Wipe the vanity countertop Wipe down cabinet fronts Clean mirror: spray glass cleaner on soft cloth and buff Shine the faucets Wash the floor with solution in the bucket Allow to dry Replace rugs, bath mat and wastebaskets

To these instructions, I add my own tips:

Pack it up! Anything you pack away in advance will help to de-clutter your space which makes it look larger, and, as an added bonus, you will have less to pack later when you move.

Pick a fragrance! Your cleaning products, air fresheners, candles and home sprays should have one fragrance. Nothing is worse than a house that smells like lemon-and- lavender-and-pine-and-Febreze-and-bleach-and-vanilla-and I have a headache just typing those words!

Wash your windows! Inside and out! Pull back the curtains, roll up the shades, and let the sunshine in. If the weather is nice, keep the windows open for a few days and air out the house. Light, bright and airy is our goal.

It may be tempting to hire someone to do the work for you, but I have always felt that cleaning can be therapeutic, and it can be the first step in saying goodbye to your house. Take time as you clean to think about the many wonderful times you have enjoyed in your home, and smile to yourself at the memories. It is time to move onto a new adventure in a new home and let another family's story begin.....

Sparkle on!