Checklist to stage a bathroom for open houses and showings

As one of the smallest spaces in a house, a bathroom should be simple to stage — but that's not always the case.

It's imperative that the bathroom looks, smells and feels clean. If you have more than one, try to limit the family to a single bathroom during the process.

All bathrooms should be cleaned and staged for showings.

• Make the bathroom look user-ready with toilet paper, hand soap and towels. Fold towels when hanging them. Try to match the towels to the room and to one another. If you don't have nice towels, go without them.
• Make sure the bathmats and shower curtains are clean. If the shower curtain is wrinkly, run a steamer over it.
• You can take the shower items out of bathrooms that are not being used. Clean the shower very well and make sure there is no hair in sight. If there is glass, be sure to remove any buildup and clean with glass cleaner.
• Scrub the bathroom top to bottom with bathroom cleaner. Make sure you clean the grout, bottom of the toilet and around the faucet. Dust the air vent and baseboards.
• Clean the toilet bowl but shut the lid when showing the house.
• Keep the counters and surfaces clear of everything but soap and hand towels. Simple art and plants can stay but less is more when it comes to decor.
• Bleach is great for cleaning, but it is not an inviting smell. Use clean-scent air fresheners like sprays or plug-ins but unplug them an hour before a showing.
• Remove trash from the bins and put in fresh liners.

After your family uses the bathroom each morning, you will need to reset the staging.

Pro tip: Try showering and bathing at night to make the reset faster in the morning. Develop a routine to make this process easier.

Have a separate set of towels to use and some that are just for show. After the towels are used, they can hang dry or be tossed in the dryer, folded and stored out of sight. Make sure to wash the towels you are using often.

Pro tip: Gather personal products in cosmetic bags or bathroom totes. Makeup and personal care items should be out of sight. Everyone in the family can use a toiletries bag to keep track of things. Store toothbrushes in travel cases to keep them clean and out of the way.

After everyone has used the bathroom, take a few minutes to reset the staging. Once a week, do a deeper clean.

Common mistake: Make sure to check the other bathrooms before a showing. Mistakes happen, and someone could have used them.

• Dry the counters, shower and floors
• Clean out the sink
• Put away toothbrushes
• Remove products from the shower
• Take hair out of the drain
• Clean the mirrors and counters
• Clean the toilet and shut the lid
• Fluff and fix towels
• Refresh the scent
• Remove trash from bins and re-line them