Cleaning your home effectively is an important way to keep it attractive and well-maintained. This helps create a healthy, welcoming environment for your family members as well as your guests. And when you're ready to sell your home, a clean space helps make your home more appealing to prospective buyers.

Spring is here, which means a lot of people are starting their spring cleaning routines. Our real estate agents suggest the following easy tips for a cleaner home during any season:

• Have an Efficient Daily Mail Routine
  Mail can pile up quickly. As you go through it every day, immediately shred or recycle anything you don't need. Many items you want to keep can be saved via a smartphone app that will let you scan and digitally organize them so you can reduce the amount of paper in your home.
  
  
• Keep On Top of Laundry
  Don't let dirty laundry pile up or let clean clothes languish in the dryer. Commit to a consistent routine, such as doing laundry twice a week. And when you complete a load, hang items up or put them away in drawers immediately.
  
  
• Clean Your Mattress Thoroughly Every Few Months
  Mattresses accumulate dust and dead skin cells as well as sweat and oil from your body. They may also harbor dust mites. Every few months, remove your sheets and use your vacuum's upholstery tool to thoroughly clean every part of your mattress and box spring. Use a garment steamer to kill any dust mites near the surface of your mattress, and then use a carpet and upholstery cleaner to treat any stains.
  
  
• Remove Your Shoes When You Arrive at Home
  Think about where you walk every day, from your driveway at home to parking lots and stores to the restrooms at work. If you want your home to be cleaner, don't track dirt and other yucky substances inside via your shoes. Remove them when you enter your home, and ask your guests to do the same.
  
  
• Don't Forget Your Ceilings
  Clean your ceilings, corners, and light fixtures by attaching a microfiber cloth to the end of a broom. Use a rubber band to keep it secure, and work your way around your ceilings and high objects.
  
  
• Clean and Disinfect Your Toilets
  Cleaning and disinfecting your toilets is a multi-step process. Use a toilet bowl cleaning product and let it sit for five minutes before removing it with a toilet brush. Wipe the toilet seat and handle using disinfectant wipes or disinfect them with a disinfectant spray. After wiping these areas, apply another layer of disinfectant and let it air dry.
  
  
• Sanitize Your Kitchen Sink
  Check the manufacturer's care guide for information about cleaning its specific material. In general, you should regularly wipe your sink using an anti-bacterial spray or dishwashing liquid. To sanitize your sink after cleaning it, fill the basin with warm water and add a tablespoon of bleach. Dip a sponge into the water/bleach solution and use it to wipe down the faucet and handles. After letting the bleach and water sit for at least five minutes, drain and rinse the sink and then let it air dry.

Contact us if you're interested in selling or buying a home and would like to see Richmond homes for sale or Petersburg homes for sale. Our award-winning team has helped buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for 60 years, and we'd be happy to assist you as well.