Last Minute Cleaning Tips For Showings

1. De-clutter Paperwork. Grab a bag and toss in all the piles of mail and paperwork lying around and place in a closet out of sight.
2. Clear Kitchen Counters. Move dirty dishes into the dishwasher or if it's full and you're desperate, rinse them and hide in the oven (only recommended as a last resort). Store excess appliances in cupboards or closets.
3. Demagnetize the Refrigerator. Remove all magnets, photos and miscellaneous stuff from the front and sides. Put them out of sight.
4. Clear the Toys. Remove toys from the main areas of your home. Grab a laundry basket and fill as you go from room to room and place in the kids' bedrooms.
5. Remove Dust Bunnies. Use a hair dryer to quickly dust bookcases and knick-knacks and use a broom to remove cobwebs. Vacuum whatever falls to the floor.
6. Vacuum Carpets. Spot vacuum high traffic areas and those most in need.
7. Clean Floors. Spray some paper towels with all purpose cleaner, place under your bare feet and slide around the floors to spot-clean dirty areas.
8. Banish Fido. Put all pets outside or in an out of the way room and use a lint brush or balled-up masking tape and run over furniture to pick up loose pet hair.
9. Spruce up Furniture. Drape a clean blanket or an attractive throw over the couch and loveseats to provide a different look or hide worn spots.
10. Shine Bathrooms. Wipe counters and sinks with a damp paper towel and swipe some glass cleaner over mirrors. Spray water on the inside of the shower doors as hard water spots tend to be less visible when wet.
11. Empty Trash Cans. Empty full trash bins into whatever large-capacity canister you have and then place that out of sight.
12. Freshen the Air. You can use air freshener but this only tends to mask an odor. Either get rid of the source or put a small amount of vanilla extract in the oven and warm at 150 degrees.
13. Let the Light In. Open shades and curtains to let natural light in and open up rooms.
14. Last Minute Walkthrough. Grab an empty laundry basket and walk around your home grabbing anything that catches your eye that can be placed out of sight .