COVID-19 has made it clear that cleanliness is paramount in order to stay safe and healthy. But, what steps can sellers make to ensure their home is up to snuff?

The first case of COVID-19 in the US was confirmed in February 2020. As state and local governments began issuing stay-at-home orders and required non-essential businesses to close, one of the industries that didn’t have to close was real estate. Even during a pandemic, people will need to buy and sell their homes. 

If you’re in a position to sell your home, you’re going to have to make sure your house is clean from top to bottom. It’s not just to get the house sold, but it must be clean to protect you, your family, the agents, and buyers from contracting the virus. You can do that by checking out these cleaning tips for sellers in a coronavirus world.

1. Clean and disinfect regularly

You know what they say, a clean home is a happy home. More importantly, a clean and disinfected home during a pandemic is a safe home. Now, as your house sits on the market, you are going to want to keep everything clean. This doesn’t mean you need to deep clean every week. Just tidy up, clean as you go, and always make sure you use a disinfectant after cleaning. Fifty-eight percent of real estate agents highly recommend wiping down high-touch surfaces with a disinfectant regularly, so that is a step you don’t want to skip over.

2. Cleaning fabrics

Hard surfaces are easier to clean and disinfect than fabrics. Sure, clothes, drapes, towels and bedding can be thrown in the washing machine as per the fabric’s instructions, but you can’t do that with all items. Large items like furniture, carpeting, and rugs need a different approach. First you’ll have to use the vacuum to pick up any dirt and debris. Use a carpet shampooer to clean the fabrics (for furniture pieces, you’ll want to use the upholstery attachment). Then you’ll want to use a fabric-friendly spray-on disinfectant.

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

Under normal circumstances, you probably clean your home using some type of rag or dishcloth and do not think anything of it. But, now with the virus plaguing the country, you may not be so confident in using these things. You can use disposable wipes or paper towels, but you can still use the rags and dishcloths. When you’re done using them, you can toss them in the washer with the rest of your clothing.

4. Sanitizing food and packages

Delivery services, curbside and through the mail, are the main way people are receiving their goods because it minimizes the risk of contracting the virus. However, the virus can still remain on cardboard packaging for as long as 24-hours. That’s concerning, yes, but you can either quarantine the boxes for a day or two, or you can disinfect them right away using a non-toxic disinfectant.

Along with disinfecting various surfaces in the home and packages, you’ll also want to disinfect food. It’s recommended to remove the food item from its original packaging and use your own storage containers. If the food item cannot be put into a new container, disinfect the product’s packaging with a disinfectant wipe. For produce, you can use vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed with water. 

Naturally, cleaning your home is an essential part of selling your home, but it’s even more important now. We don’t know when the pandemic is going to go away, but life cannot stop. We can only take safety measures to ensure we limit the potential of spreading or contracting COVID-19. Although regular cleaning and disinfecting your home may be an inconvenience, it’s worth the peace of mind in knowing that you’re doing your part to keep your family and people who come into your home safe, wouldn’t you agree?