When it comes time to sell your home, you want to make sure every room is in tip-top shape—that means clean, neat and free of clutter. One room to pay particular attention to is the bathroom, which can quickly become cluttered with half-filled tubes of toothpaste, shampoo bottles and hairbrushes. Taking the time to clean and stage your bath properly can mean the difference between a quick sale and a home that sits on the market. Here, Redfin offers some tips to help make sure this important room is ready for sale.

Cleaning

The first step is to clean your bath from top to bottom. The extra effort you take to clean the shower head, drains, grout and the corners can produce amazing results. Try using vinegar to clean shower heads and faucets, and vinegar combined with baking soda to clean stubborn stains in the tub, shower, sink, counter or grout.

Remove clutter

Part of the cleaning process is to remove everything unnecessary from the bathroom. When you’re getting ready to put up your house for sale, it’s a good time to get rid of empty containers and old products. Keep only the products you use, and make sure they’re out of sight when possible. People don’t want to see clutter, and they also don’t want to feel like they are intruding on your life. Potential buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home.

Counters

Try to completely clear the counters. Items that you normally leave around the sink or on the counter, such as hair brushes, combs, hair dryers, toothbrushes and toothpaste should be stored in drawers or elsewhere. Smaller items that you use regularly—for example, hair bands, lip gloss or nail clippers—can be stored in decorative boxes on the counter. Additional items that you use, but don’t have adequate space for, can be placed in wicker baskets that can be taken away and stored before a showing.

Towels

Any towels or bath mats that look old and worn should be stored elsewhere. Leave only the freshest towels you have on shelves or in the linen closet. You can invest a few dollars in purchasing new display towels. White or neutral towels that are soft and thick show well. Consider different ways of displaying the towels to give a feeling of elegance. Try layering them across the towel bar and neatly fold the hand towels. Also, make sure shelves are only half or two-third filled. Store your excess items elsewhere. As with countertops, create the illusion of spaciousness in the bath.

Mirrors

The placement of a mirror can add the illusion of space to a room. Adding more mirrors to reflect light also will help to make the bath feel larger.

Wall treatments

Beyond cleaning and creating more space, other things also can be done to improve the look of your bath and value of your home. Take a look at the walls. Is wallpaper peeling? Is paint fading? Are all the tiles in place? Do the walls look dated or contemporary? Remove wallpaper if it’s fading or outdated. Paint the walls in a neutral or light color, such as a pastel blue or green. Replace loose tiles. Once again, keep to neutral colors and styles so that any person can imagine the room as his or her own home.

Showers

You also must pay attention to the shower. Does your shower curtain look old? Are mold and mildew visible on the shower liner? Is the caulking starting to yellow? Replace your old shower curtain and liner. Buy new ones, perhaps a cloth curtain to give the shower an elegant look. If the caulk is showing signs of age, remove it and put down fresh caulking. If you have a shower door, give it a thorough cleaning and remove any soap scum. A mixture or vinegar, soap and hot water can be used with a scrubbing brush to remove any stains or built-up residue.

Toilets

Make sure the toilet is clean. If the toilet seat looks well-worn or dirty, replace it. If the toilet itself seems dated, consider replacing it. A few hundred dollars invested in replacing your toilet could add many more times that value to the value of the house. Many buyers also will appreciate that you’ve replaced an older toilet with a more efficient ultra-low flush toilet. This will save them money on their water bills and make your house a more desirable purchase.

Repair or Replace

It almost goes without saying that everything that is in the bath should be in full working order. Light bulbs that have burned out should be replaced. Clogged drains and slow drains should be fixed to ensure that water flows freely. Exhaust fans should be operational. If a fan is broken or very loud, have it replaced. Leading faucets or running toilets should be repaired or replaced. If faucets or shower heads, toilet rolls or towel rods are old or dated, replace them. The cost is relatively low, and will immediately add value to your bath and your house. The less potential buyers see in the house that they need to replace on their own, the more desirable your home becomes.