Moving and renovation
How to clean a flat before selling or photography: what to do before viewings
A flat prepared for sale should above all look emptier, brighter and odour-free. Here is how to proceed, from decluttering to a final check before the photographs.
In short
- Declutter first and clean afterwards, otherwise you will end up cleaning twice.
- Remove odours at the source and by airing; air fresheners only mask them.
- Windows, the bathroom and the kitchen show up most in photographs, so give them the most time.
- Do the deep clean one to two days before the photography and then only maintain the flat between viewings.
- Never mix products containing chlorine with acidic cleaning agents.
Clean a flat before selling it in three steps: first remove personal belongings and surplus furniture, then do a thorough clean from ceiling to floor with a focus on the windows, bathroom and kitchen, and finally remove odours by airing and by cleaning their source. Plan the deep cleaning one to two days before the photography; between viewings, brief upkeep is enough.
How cleaning before a sale differs from other cleaning
With cleaning before handing back a rented flat, the point is that the flat matches its condition at handover so that you do not lose your deposit. Before a sale, the goal is different: in the photographs and during the viewing, the buyer should be able to imagine themselves living in the flat.
That is why the amount of belongings left in the flat matters here just as much as cleanliness. A clean but overcrowded flat looks smaller and darker in a photograph. And because you often continue to live in the flat, you need cleaning that will last through several weeks of viewings.
Step 1: Decluttering (one to two weeks in advance)
Decluttering is the most time-consuming part and it is best to start early. Go room by room and decide for each item whether it stays, goes into a box for the move, or leaves the home altogether.
- Prepare boxes and label them by room so that they are easy to unpack after the sale.
- Put away personal photographs, certificates, collections and distinctive decorations. The buyer should focus on the flat, not on you.
- Clear the kitchen worktop. Leave one or two items at most, such as a kettle.
- In the bathroom, hide cosmetics, toothbrushes and cleaning products in a cabinet.
- Empty wardrobes and built-in cupboards at least partly. Buyers open them during viewings, and a full wardrobe looks small.
- Consider temporarily removing surplus furniture so that the rooms feel more spacious and the passage is clear.
- Take items out of the balcony, the hallway and the cellar, if the cellar is part of the sale.
Only start cleaning after decluttering. Carrying out boxes raises dust and tramples the floor, so doing it the other way round means cleaning twice.
Step 2: Thorough cleaning from top to bottom
Work from top to bottom and from the room furthest from the door towards the door. Dust from shelves and lamps will then fall onto the floor, which you wash last. A detailed list of tasks by room can be found in the article Deep cleaning a flat: a complete checklist.
Equipment and products
- microfibre cloths (separate ones for the kitchen, bathroom and toilet)
- window squeegee and a bucket
- vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool and an upholstery nozzle
- all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner
- limescale remover for the bathroom (acidic), depending on the surfaces you have
- degreaser for the kitchen
- rubber gloves and a step ladder
Read the label of each product, wear gloves, ventilate while you work and test any new product first on a hidden spot.
What everyone looks at during a viewing
- light switches, handles and door frames (fingerprints show up in photographs)
- lights and chandeliers: replace non-working bulbs and wipe the lampshades
- radiators and skirting boards
- the insides of wardrobes and kitchen units that buyers open
- mirrors and glass door panels
Windows: the most light for the least work
Clean windows let more daylight into the flat, and this shows in photographs. Wash the panes on both sides, as well as the frames, sills and guide rails, and take down or wash the curtains. Wipe blinds slat by slat.
It is best to wash windows on an overcast day or when direct sun is not shining on them, so that the water does not dry too quickly. A streak-free method is described in the article How to clean windows without streaks.
Bathroom and toilet
The bathroom is where buyers most often look for signs of neglect: limescale, mould in the grout and odour from the drain.
- Clean the bath, shower enclosure and washbasin, and descale the taps and the shower head.
- Check the grout between the tiles and the silicone sealant. Silicone that stays dark even after cleaning is better replaced, because in a photograph it looks like mould. You will find the method in the article How to clean grout between tiles.
- Clean the drain traps and drains, as they are often a source of odour.
- Wash the toilet, including the rim under the seat and the floor around the bowl.
- Finally, polish the mirror and taps dry so that no water marks remain.
Beware of combining products. The Toxicology Information Centre explicitly warns that toilet and sanitary ceramic cleaners containing sodium hypochlorite or acids must not be mixed, because chlorine gas may be released. Also never mix products containing chlorine with ammonia. The US CDC recommends not mixing bleach with any other cleaning or disinfecting product and opening the windows when using it indoors.
Kitchen
- Degrease the extractor hood and clean or replace its filter according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Clean the oven, hob and microwave, as buyers often open them.
- Empty and wash the fridge, leaving only the bare essentials in it.
- Wipe the cupboard doors, handles and the splashback behind the worktop.
- Polish the sink and tap and clean the drain.
- Take out the bin and wash it so that it does not smell.
Odours: remove the source, do not mask it
Buyers remember odours longer than details. Typical sources are smoke, pets, damp, the rubbish bin, drain traps and upholstery. Proceed as follows:
- Find and clean the source: wash textiles, clean the sofa and carpets, wash the bin and drains.
- Air the flat regularly, in short, intensive bursts. The US EPA warns that when too little outdoor air gets indoors, pollutants can accumulate.
- Check places where mould may form (corners by windows, behind furniture on external walls). If you find any, deal with it before the photography.
- Do not cook strongly scented food before a viewing, and air the flat.
Air fresheners and scented candles only mask the odour and may seem suspicious to a buyer. The EPA also lists air fresheners and cleaning and disinfecting products among the sources of volatile organic compounds indoors and recommends increasing ventilation when using them and following the instructions on the label.
Order of work and timetable
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1–2 weeks in advance | decluttering, minor repairs (dripping tap, loose handles, non-working bulbs), replacing dark silicone |
| 3–5 days in advance | washing curtains and textiles, cleaning upholstery and carpets so that they have time to dry |
| 1–2 days in advance | deep cleaning from top to bottom, windows, bathroom, kitchen, floors |
| Day of the photography | air the flat, draw back the curtains, switch on the lights, straighten cushions and towels, take out the bin, put away small items from the worktops |
| Before each viewing | quick mopping of floors, wiping the bathroom and kitchen worktop, airing |
How long the cleaning itself takes depends on the size and condition of the flat. If you cannot manage everything at once, spread the tasks from the checklist over several days and start with the rooms that will be photographed first.
When to consider professional cleaning
Handing the cleaning to others makes sense when you do not live in the flat and do not have time to travel to it, when the flat is being sold after a longer tenancy or after a renovation, or when the photography date is set by the estate agent and there is little time. It also pays off when decluttering is already done and only thorough washing of the windows, bathroom and kitchen remains.
When ordering, describe the condition of the flat and say whether it has already been cleared, as this affects the scope and duration of the work. In Prague and the surrounding area, Úklid 1-2-3 offers deep cleaning, which covers the windows, bathroom, kitchen and floors. Indicative prices by flat size can be found on the page How much deep cleaning costs.
Frequently asked questions
How many days before the photography should I clean the flat?
Start decluttering roughly one to two weeks in advance, as it takes the most time. Plan washing textiles and cleaning upholstery a few days before the photography so that everything has time to dry. Do the deep clean of the windows, bathroom, kitchen and floors one to two days beforehand. On the day of the photography, simply air the flat, switch on the lights, draw back the curtains and put away any small items that have appeared on the worktops in the meantime.
Should I use an air freshener or a scented candle before a viewing?
Preferably not. An air freshener only masks the odour, and a strong scent may make a buyer feel that you are hiding something. It is more effective to find and clean the source of the odour, that is the bin, the drain traps, textiles or upholstery, and to air the flat briefly but intensively before the viewing. In addition, the US EPA lists air fresheners among the sources of volatile organic compounds indoors.
Do I have to empty the whole flat before selling?
No, flats are routinely sold while occupied. The aim is for the flat to feel spacious and impersonal: put away personal photographs and distinctive decorations, clear the worktops, partly empty the wardrobes and consider temporarily removing surplus furniture. During a viewing, the buyer should be able to walk easily through all the rooms and imagine their own furnishings in them. You can also discuss exactly what to leave with the estate agent who will be photographing the flat.
How does cleaning before a sale differ from cleaning before handing back a rented flat?
When handing back a rented flat, the main point is that it matches its condition at handover and that the landlord has no reason to deduct anything from the deposit. Before a sale, the aim is for the flat to look good in photographs and at repeated viewings. Besides cleanliness, decluttering, light, removing odours and ongoing upkeep between viewings therefore play a large role, if you still live in the flat.
Sources
- Obchodní přípravky – Toxikologické informační středisko (checked 7 November 2026)
- Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach – CDC (checked 7 November 2026)
- Introduction to Indoor Air Quality – US EPA (checked 7 November 2026)
- Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality – US EPA (checked 7 November 2026)
Prepared by the Úklid 1-2-3 editorial team with the help of AI and verified against the sources listed. Manufacturers' instructions and regulations change: always follow the current wording of the source and the product label. This article is general information, not professional or legal advice. This article was translated from Czech with the help of AI. The sources are in the original language.
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