Posted on: Monday, July 7, 2003

Homes up for sale can get clean in a flash

Knight Ridder News Service

Nothing turns a homeowner into Heloise faster than putting a house on the market.

You have to keep the house presentable all the time, because potential buyers can show up on short notice. The Soap and Detergent Association offers these ideas for quick cleanups and preventive maintenance to make the job easier:

• Use disposable wipes to clean toilets and kitchens.

• Put a small amount of scented cleaner in your toilet bowls every night before bed. In the morning, the bathrooms will smell fresh.

• Use a tub-and-tile spray cleaner after every shower so walls stay clean.

• Steam cleaning your microwave oven. Add four tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of water in a microwave-safe, four-cup bowl. Boil for five minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense, then just wipe it clean.

• Wipe up spills as they happen to keep them from becoming bigger cleaning jobs.

• Fill the kitchen sink with hot water and dishwashing detergent before you prepare a meal. As you finish using large pots and pans, you can add them to the soapy water to soak. By the time you're finished eating, they'll clean up quickly.

• Use rugs or mats at all entrances to catch dirt before it reaches floors and carpets.