Whenever we purchase a home to remodel for our company, 18002SellHomes, my husband Leo Kingston and I often find ourselves the proud owners of some appliances that come along with the home. More often than not these appliances are in good condition and perfectly safe, they are simply in need of a thorough cleaning and a little TLC. We’ve learned some tips over the years and this article will give you some good ideas for your own appliances when it comes time to
sell your home.
The main thing is to clean every appliance thoroughly, which means you will want to get yourself a new toothbrush and claim your old one for appliance cleaning purposes! Defrost the refrigerator if necessary, and only use cleansers that are safe around food in the freezer and main compartments. Use the toothbrush to reach into the corners and especially for cleaning the rubber gaskets lining the doors. You can even replace the gaskets on most refrigerators to improve energy efficiency and appearance.
Enamel appliances can be cleaned very well with white vinegar, regular household vinegar with nothing added. Using your toothbrush again, you’ll find it dissolves grease around stove knobs and backsplash, leaving a stove looking great. Replacing the burner trays on an electric stove can leave it looking like new.
This next tip is only for enamel painted appliances. It is NOT for stainless steel. Buy spray wax and wipe it over the whole stove and refrigerator with a dry cloth. You’ll be amazed how this inexpensive secret ingredient will make used appliances look their best.
Despite the fact that they are a fraction of the cost of new appliances, we do not recommend using stainless steel contact paper or stainless steel paint to update old appliances. These techniques do not wear well and eventually look worse than the used appliance before applying either solution. Sometimes it’s simply better to remove the old stove and refrigerator and market a home without appliances, leaving that decision to the new homeowners who may already own appliances anyway.
18002SellHomes also rents homes in Oklahoma City, so we take extra care with the appliances in our rental homes. We have removed all older gas stoves with continuous pilot lights to avoid gas leaks, and we make sure the electrical service is adequate for all existing or future appliances. Extension cords are never appropriate for any appliances.
A good cleaning and waxing and care taken with safety precautions can give used appliances a new lease on life in homes for rent or when
selling your home.