Calling All Sellers: Here Are A Few COVID-19 Cleaning Tips

In light of COVID-19, selling your home will be different than it was before. However, one thing remains - your home has to be clean… And we have some tips to help.

COVID-19 first made its appearance in the US in February 2020. The nation slowly initiated stay-at-home orders and closed down non-essential businesses in an effort to “flatten the curve.” In many states, real estate is considered an essential business, and rightly so. After all, people are always in need of housing, and your friendly neighborhood real estate agent can certainly help you list your home or buy a home. 

If you’re going to put your house up for sale during the pandemic, you need to make sure it's clean and disinfected — not just for your safety, but for anyone who comes inside. We have some useful tips that’ll help make sure your home is clean and safe for people to enter. 

1. Clean regularly

A clean home is a happy (and healthy) home. When you’re selling your house, you don’t have to go crazy and scrub everything from top to bottom every week. Just clean as you go and make sure the high-touch surfaces (counter-tops, door handles, sink handles and so on) are cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant spray or wipe each day. 

Just remember to let the disinfectant dry completely!

2. Cleaning fabrics

High touch surfaces are pretty easy to clean. Just clean away dirt and debris, then disinfect. Fabrics… Well, that’s a little trickier. Clothing, curtains, towels and bedding can be tossed in the washer (use the warmest setting indicated on the item’s care instructions), but things like carpeting and furniture? You’ll need to vacuum all dirt particles, dust bunnies, and cookie crumbs. Then use a spray-on disinfectant, such as Benzarid Hospital Grade Cleaner, Disinfectant, Virucide, Fungicide - 32oz. ($34.95) or Tide Antibacterial Fabric Spray ($5.94). 

3. Don’t be afraid of cloth towels to clean

Your first instinct with cleaning around the house may be to use a washcloth, sponge or rag. But with the coronavirus, you might think that you have to use paper towels because you can throw them. You can use paper towels, but it is perfectly okay to use your favorite reusable cleaning rag. Why? It’s simple — you can toss the cloth in the washer (on the highest setting) just like any other piece of clothing!

4. Sanitizing food and packages

If you’re like most people, you’re relying on online shopping and even curbside delivery services to get products during the pandemic. But, did you know that the virus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours? Pretty alarming, right? That’s why it’s a good idea to spray any packages with disinfectant after receiving them. This goes for packing boxes, bubble wrap, and even tape, too. 

The same goes with food. You’ll want to remove any food from its original packaging and place it into your own containers. If you can’t use your own containers (like for milk, cottage cheese, or condiments, for example), wipe the outer packaging with a disinfectant. You can also use a cleaner made specifically for fruits and vegetables, such as Biokleen Produce Wash ($5.99) or Fit Organic Fruit and Vegetable Produce Wash ($6.87). 

COVID-19 is a problem with no end in sight, but that doesn’t mean our lives have to come to a standstill. Yes, we will have to change some of the ways that we do things and sometimes those changes are going to be a pain… But isn’t it worth it knowing that your family will be protected from the virus, as will your real estate agent, potential buyers, and anyone else who may come to your home? We like to think so!