S2 Ep3 - How to Clean - a podcast by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

On Season 2, Episode 3 of The Brian and Kindra Show, they discussed cleaning methods & techniques for common household appliances.  

A clean, fresh smelling home is very attractive to buyers! One of the areas our agents often notice odors is in the utility area.  Your washing machine can start to smell sour and mildewy if you leave the lid shut when not in use. Allowing the washer to air out is an easy way to avoid this odor. On a front load machine the seal at the door can become built up with old water/residue. Simply wiping it off after use can help eliminate or avoid odors.  It is even wise to periodically clean your washer.  To clean a top-load washer, there are 4 cycles to run: 1, fill it up with hot water and pour a quart of bleach into the washer, let the cycle run and let it sit for an hour. 2, wash a cycle with NO bleach to clear all the bleach out. 3, run a cycle with vinegar. 4, run another water only cycle to clear out the vinegar.  There are also special cleaning tablets that can be tossed into your machine periodically to freshen it.  

Keeping the dryer clean is also important, particularly as a safety precaution.  The lint trap should be cleaned after every use. Also, you should routinely check the dryer hose in the back and the dryer vents. There are tool kits available to help clean inside hoses to remove lint that is not caught in the trap and accumulates elsewhere.  

Microwaves can get really gross!  A great way to clean the microwave is to put a bowl of water into the microwave (add lemon for scent) and microwave it, letting the steam build up. After, you should be able to easily wipe the microwave clean. If you have a microwave that is above the stove, be sure to clean the grease filter too. This can be an easy job as you can throw it in the dishwasher and the job is done!

With the glass top electric stoves, a little extra TLC can keep your appliance looking new. A good quality cleaner can make a huge difference in your cleaning power!  You can, with caution, use a sharp razor blade if necessary. With gas stove tops, cleaning is harder. The grates alone are hard to clean if residue gets on them. Degreaser and hot water is the easiest way to clean grates on the gas stove. 

To clean a dishwasher, there are tablets you can throw into the dishwasher that will clean it and remove grime. There is also a filter in the bottom of the washer that should also be cleaned out. An easy way to remove additional grime is by adding a cup of white vinegar to the top rack and running a cycle.  Additionally, the garbage disposal is connected to the drain of the dishwasher. You need to make sure you run the disposal before and after you run the dishwasher. To freshen up the disposal, throw some ice cubes and lemon peels in and run it. 

Why are these cleaning tips important? When showing your house and these common household items are dirty, it’s a major turn-off to the buyers, even causing them to be concerned that the home has not been properly maintained. The stove, dishwasher, built-in microwaves, and central heat/air are household appliances that stay with a home when it’s sold. These are important to take care of because they are going to convey to a new buyer that the home was cared for. 

Brian and Kindra hope these tips have been helpful to you. As always, if you have any questions or need help, please feel free to reach out to your local real estate professional.

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