Cleaning tips needed - preparing house for sale!

[whatsthatnow74]

Hello,

Over the next few weeks we're going to be getting our home ready for sale. I've identified areas that need a lick of paint and some that just need a good clean to make them sparkly for the estate agent photos.

What would people use to:
Make sinks/taps sparkle (Particularly stainless steel sink in kitchen)
Clean unsealed (beige) floor wall tiles in bathroom
Clean soap scum from shower screen
Clean a VERY dirty oven
Clean Victorian floor tiles in hallway

Plus any other tips gratefully received!

TIA

For metalwork, I swear by barkeepers friend, I'd also give it a go on the tiles (but test in an inconspicuous area first)

Thanks @helly29!

I’ve used Bar Keepers Friend in the past with decent results so I’ll get some of that. I’ve ordered some e cloths too.

Floor tiles - damp and rub Cif on and leave for a good while. Mop off with clean water then remop with something smelly! (nice!)

Toilet.cleaner is meant to be amazing for.shower screens.

Sorry about the random full stops

Viakal the shower with a bathroom scourer and leave. Rinse and dry with a cloth.

Make sure the grout and sealant around the bath/shower is clean, either a grout pen or neat bleach soaked onto to cotton wool and left on the stain for a few hours works well. Mouldy bathrooms can make the house feel 'unloved'

Tbh re: the oven I would get a professional in to do it.

I normally clean mine myself but prior to my last move got a company in to do it.

It took 2 hours but it was like new (inside the oven, vertical and horizontal racks, integrated baking trays etc), all the hob inc gas rings.

They had all the chemicals (more potent than you can by domestically ), soaking trays/bags, tools for fiddly areas, masks/gloves etc.

Cost me about £175 but I think I'd have spent about £60 on all the products alone.

I couldn't have done it to that standard myself to be honest even if I'd spent a day doing it.

Not cheap but money well spent (I had a large 2 oven range cooker with 6 rings and a grill top for reference).

Other tips (on house 7 here) obviously deep clean, declutter, fresh flowers in prominent places and make sure any odd jobs are done.

Finally don't forget the outside. Fresh coat of paint on the front door if needed, some nice pots, wheelie bin storage etc - kerb appeal to make people feel good before they walk in the door.

Great, thanks, some good ideas.

@derigeurmortis I think the oven cleaner plan makes sense. We’ve got a similar thing -double range cooker - I think it’ll make a big difference to get it done properly.

Pink stuff will do all your things you want cleaning

oven pride for the oven. leave overnight.
redo yucky silicon in the bathroom/ conservatory

Make sinks/taps sparkle (Particularly stainless steel sink in kitchen) - Shiny Sinks you can't beat it never a smear in sight
Clean unsealed (beige) floor wall tiles in bathroom - Flash to clean them and then a wipe over pre any viewings with either Method Almond Floor Cleaner (smells amazing) or a Zoflora scent pick one you like
Clean soap scum from shower screen - Vikal leave it on for a fair while before then tackling if it's ingrained use a window scraper. I saw another poster recommended cleaning your sealant if you can't redo it use bleach on a soaked kitchen towel
Clean a VERY dirty oven - either go professional or Oven Pride
Clean Victorian floor tiles in hallway - as above Method or Zoflora

Make sure you air the house as much as possible get rid of any lingering cooking smells etc or if you have pets and make sure any pet bowls are clean. Fabric conditioner in a spray bottle mixed with water and spray on curtains helps to smell fresh. Make sure bins always emptied and work tops wiped down and as clear as possible. I always pop some bleach down the loos as well but you could put Zoflora etc down.