Daily cleaning checklist for showings

Key insights:

• Prepare for last-minute showings and the need for heavy cleaning by continually picking up your space before you leave.
• Consistent, quick cleaning throughout the day will help keep your home in show-ready condition.
• Make sure you only start projects if you have enough time to finish them. If you don’t have the time, hide laundry, mail and other projects.

As a seller, you want to show buyers the absolute best version of your home with super-clean surfaces and immaculate staging. But that can be a daunting task when you’re continuing to live in your home, especially when trying to preemptively plan for last-minute showings.

Follow this checklist to keep your home in show-ready condition so you can feel confident should a last-minute showing come your way.

“Every time” tasks

Keep up with your home by ensuring that you do these tasks every time you use an item.

Bedrooms

• Make the bed every morning — including fluffing pillows and strategically laying blankets.
• Put laundry in a covered hamper so it’s not visible to the naked eye.
• Ensure all night-time items like books, reading glasses and more are stored away.

Bathrooms

• Keep your toilet paper looking nice.
• Make sure the toilet is clean after every use and put the lid down.
• Wipe down the sink, counter and faucet after use.
• If needed, clean the mirror.
• Store all items away after use.
• Fold hand towels nicely.

Kitchen and dining

• Push in chairs after sitting.
• Wipe down counters, sinks and surfaces after use.
• Wash dishes or run the dishwasher if you have time.

Family and sitting rooms

• Fold blankets and fluff pillows once you get up.
• Put away any books, remotes, games, etc.

Mud and laundry room

• Hang jackets and bags — make it a rule that each family member gets only one of each and everything else finds a home elsewhere.
• Take off shoes right outside the door to prevent any dirt or debris from coming in, and line them up nicely or tuck them away. Again, only one pair per family member.

“Before you leave” checklist:

• Do a quick run-through of the house and put away any wayward toys or personal items, and spot clean any missed areas.
• Collect trash throughout the house (don’t forget the bathrooms) and take it out.
• Check the washer, dryer and dishwasher for items. If there are any, hide them away in a closed bin, quickly fold and put away laundry or wash a few dishes.
• Wipe down microwaves, fridges and high-traffic surfaces that show smudges.
• Run the garbage disposal for a few seconds.
• Turn on a diffuser or spray a deodorizer to neutralize any scents.
• Put away any office papers, mail and other personal items that could be lying around.
• Lock away any important documents, jewelry or other sensitive items.

A few extra tips:

• Do a load of laundry and run the dishwasher nightly, even if it’s only a few items.
• If it’s not feasible to hand wash dishes or complete a cycle before you leave for the day, switch to disposable items.
• Consider investing in bins, folders and opaque boxes to quickly store items, hide messes and keep things organized without much effort.
• Start a “closing time” list to stay on top of messes and cleaning tasks.
• If you can, consider hiring a weekly cleaning service and take the deep cleaning tasks off your plate.
• Create a “go basket” where you can quickly stash items and take them with you in your car; put them away when you return home.

One final tip is to print off our checklist, put it in a transparent sleeve and tape it to your door, then check off items with a dry-erase marker before you leave. Once everything is complete, take the checklist with you and re-hang it when you get home.

Keep your home looking pristine

While these checklists may seem overwhelming, remember that everything is parsed out to ensure even the most minor task is given attention. All-in-all, the “every time” checklist will only add a minute or so to your routines and the “before you go” checklist should only add about 10 minutes worth of tasks.

For more decluttering, staging and selling tips, consult with an expert REALTOR today.