Cleaning old and new house

[LitUpHeart]

We're due to move in a month or so. I'm wondering what level of 'clean' I should aim for when leaving our current house?

My house is clean and tidy, but I imagine when it is emptied of all our belongings on the day of the move that some ahem areas requiring a deeper clean may be revealed.

I am of course planning on hoovering, cleaning bathroom, wiping down surfaces etc. I will also have the oven cleaned. I'm wondering if I should be doing things like cleaning the insides of kitchen cupboards, wiping skirting boards, bit of a whip round with the feather duster etc? Wary of what I will reasonably be able to do on the day with two small DC in tow. What would you expect if you moved in?

Also, what did you do when you arrived at your new house? I'm guessing new toilet seats, clean the bathrooms and all other general cleaning. Any other tips? The people we're buying from are lovely and the house is in excellent condition so I'm not expecting any horrors.

Apologies if this all seems a bit naive. I've not moved house for a long time and I'm just not sure of the etiquette. When we left our old flat I think we had a quick squizz round with the Hoover I'm also in a sleep deprived blur thanks to DS2 who doesn't sleep so I'm going to try and make a list of stuff to do in advance so I don't miss anything. I'll have my stepmum and MIL on hand to help on the day of the move.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[FoxyLoxy123]

My house was skanky when I moved in. To the point that I wouldn't be likely to do skirting boards etc because I have no faith anyone would do that for me and I dont want to waste energy like that. It would be as clean as usual and I would do a final sweep up after everything was out and make sure the bathroom was done day before we left etc but nothing more.

A tv stand had been ripped off the wall here and there were massive holes in the wall and screws and plaster all over the carpet. That was the nicest of it. The bathroom was grotesque as was the kitchen. It was so much dirtier between final viewing and completion!

[Jeremysfavouriteaunt]

I am in rented so will have to get professional cleaners in. I have also booked them to do a deep clean of the house that we are buying, I am getting the oven cleaned too.

[TeaBelle]

I would clean to the extent that there is no sign of anything your ms so definitely clean the cupboards etc as there will be debris in the bottoms. I would leave a home dust free, hair free, sparkling basically. It's only polite. This house was skanky when we moved in and it was upsetting

[OhTheRoses]

I seem to recall that the purchase contract stipulated the house would be clean. Personally I don't think leaving it less than immaculate is negotiable. Your purchasers may discuss the state of the house with the neighbours, presumably people you may stay in touch with as friends.

If you don't have time to make sure it's totally spotless, then engage a cleaning company.

I can't believe you are even asking about whether to clean the insides of kitchen cupboards and wipe skirting. Of course you jolly well should.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I hoover and mop and leave the bathrooms nice. NO ONE has ever left their place nice for me!!

[JT05]

I cleaned everywhere, the range, all the bathrooms, ceilings, skirting so. Within days the new owner had the builders in wrecking and making mess!

Our new house had barely been shown the Hoover!

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

I have deep cleaned every property I've ever moved out of and also had to do the same to the one I've moved in to. I have never moved into a house that had been left anything other than filthy.

I'm planning to do the same this time. Our vendors are being total arses and even our solicitor has suggested that we should expect the house to be a bit of a state on completion. I'm also expecting the vendors not to be ready so we'll have to sit around for probably hours waiting before we can get in to the not in the least bit clean house.

[Chillywhippet]

LitUp, last time I moved 2 years ago, I was shocked at the grime behind the washing machine, under beds etc. I spent most of moving morning picking out peas and tiny pieces of quorn from the grill on the bottom of the freezer (stupid design).

We are moving again so will clean fridge and freezer in advance this time!

Are your step mum and MIL there on moving day as help or childcare? If they are helping they can clean through as the rooms start to empty. Then they can come to new house and check bathrooms and kitchen cupboards so that you can unpack kitchen stuff.

We paid someone to clean behind us as we moved out. She used her own cleaning solution which I didn't like the smell of much. Funnily this helped as it didn't smell like my home as we looked round the empty rooms of a house we had self built and loved and had 3 DC born there.

Great advice on the MN moving house tips page and a great list too. One of the tips is to make up beds first so that when you are exhausted they are ready.

I also packed an bag for everyone with clothes for the next few days so that we weren't looking for swimming costume, trainers etc. Also a box as if we were going on a caravan holiday with tea, mugs, toilet roll, pliers, alun keys, kettle, hand wash etc

[imjessie]

Whenever I've moved I've left the house as clean as if like to find it . Clean carpets and oven . Clean out all cupboards ( do it as you pack ) . Then a good clean as the removers took the stuff out of each room.

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

I'd leave it as clean as poss, but tbh after our recent move my feelings have changed a bit. We emptied out a lot of our furniture in advance so I had a mostly clear shot and did everything - kitchen cupboards, skirting, bathroom was gleaming, etc etc. Spent hours and hours cleaning. Then we moved in to our new house and it was an absolute state, truly filthy - 3 weeks on and I'm still doing extra cleaning. So I've basically spent the last 6 weeks cleaning constantly, am now 34w pregnant and could really do without the extra work tbh. Won't be going so crazy next time we leave, will just leave it reasonable and that'll have to do! Surely everyone cleans when they move in anyway so no point doing it all for them I reckon.

[Kidnapped]

I cried when we got to our new place and saw the state of it.

It was immaculate.

Can't thank the previous owners enough. It is a stressful enough day without having to roll your sleeves up and shift other people's grime.

[LitUpHeart]

ohtheroses Unclutch those pearls, I 'jolly well' will do a proper job. Don't you worry yourself.

Thanks to everyone else who has provided a helpful and sensible response. I am grateful.

Mil and stepmum will be on cleaning duty, thankfully. I have promised to pay them in wine. So I'll probably ask them to do each room as the boxes are put in the lorry.

I'm sorry to those of you who have arrived in new houses to find them in a shitty state. That sucks. I'm hoping our vendors are more decent than that, but I'm prepared for them not to be as well. Added a load of bleach environmentally considerate cleaning products to the Sainsburys order so I can start stockpiling them before the move.

Thank you for the suggestion of packing everyone a bag. That's really useful and I will definitely be doing that.

[LitUpHeart]

chilly Thanks for the moving house page suggestion - off to have a read.

[OhTheRoses]

I don't know why you are being defensive. You were the one who wondered if you actually needs to clean your cupboards and skirtings. I answered your question and noted my surprise that you felt you needed to ask.

[thesnailandthewhale]

Could Mil or stpemum take the little ones to the park for an hour or two, it will be much easier without children around - they will be excited, wanting food / drinks / to 'help' :) Depends on their ages I suppose but it may be more beneficial to have them occupied elsewhere for a little while? Good luck with the move

[eatingtomuchchocolate]

I moved last year. Left my house lovely and clean.
House I moved to was disgusting, had to have it deep cleaned throughout. It was really upsetting.
We viewed in January, did not move until mid June and I honestly think they did nothing for that time
Left the grass, that was over knee high.
It was very upsetting to come to and made the whole process stressful.

[eatingtomuchchocolate]

So I would say leave it as clean as you can so the new people can move in comfortably (sorry posted to quick)

[unlucky83]

I cried when I moved into our house at 7 months pregnant - because it was such a state
We were in a rented flat and I had spent days cleaning (whilst working full time -DP was working long hours) - I cleaned the carpets etc - I left it spotless (I always have -do the same with holiday rents - if nothing else so I can make sure I haven't forgotten anything...)
This house the sale had been delayed for a 3-4 months (lost deeds) - previous owners 21 yo son had been living here on his own - except for a dog....and he had to find his own place to live when the sale went through and wasn't impressed.
It stank of dog - thick matted dog hair on the stairs, 3 months of grime in the shower, shit skiddy toilet, filthy kitchen cupboards - living room carpet had stains I couldn't get out - got a professional cleaner in and he said it was bleached from pet urine being left on it for extend times...I think what sums it up was when I was decorating I found odd splodges on the patterned wall paper - worked out it was where someone had been throwing teabags at the walls.
I spoke to the previous owner about something - and she said she was sorry it wasn't very clean - the removal men had made a bit of a mess
She also hadn't given me a forwarding address and we kept getting letters which were obviously from debt collection agencies etc for months after we moved in...(I returned them)
I wondered if you should have some kind of deposit - say a few hundred pounds - like in rented accommodation - that the buyer doesn't pay the vendor until you agree that the house has been left clean and as expected (light bulbs not taken etc...)
(Next house we bought we arranged to buy certain items off the vendor for an extra amount - they were selling on behalf of their parent who was in a home so they had house clearance people coming in -who accidentally took the stuff we had bought!!! I had to jump through several hoops to get the stuff back - the vendor wasn't that concerned ...)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

So I have a dilemma I am selling my house to a builder who is pulling it down ( the bulldozers are already in two doors down). The garden is clear etc., but exactly how much do I need to clean the house. It is a long and complicated story, but I can't have time off on removal day. Packers are packing everything and my Mum will be here. Is a quick which round with the Hoover enough?

[Glittershoes22]

Agh I have been weighing this up myself. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cleaning and have decided to clean our sold house to 70% of what I would do myself.

a) I hate cleaning and we have a cleaner so house is already fairly clean
b) our buyers live at the end of the road and will be chomping at the bit to get into the house, we have a 3 hour drive to our next house, time will be of the essence and DH will be helping (lol)
c) I am going to have to do a deep clean at the next house (I already had a peek in their kitchen cupboards and they are grubby!) so I would rather save my energy and put my efforts there
d) I figure their removal men will make a mess of the flooring when the new buyers move in so no point getting the floors pristine when they will have to do them again post move.

For the kitchen in our new house I would get my scrubbing brush out to remove any dirt and disinfect kitchen cupboards inside and out. In the house we are moving out of i will hoover up any bits in the cupboard then give them a quick wipe down and remove any visible marks.

But then our buyers have really pissed me off so they dont deserve my full clean but I wouldnt leave them with a slutty mess!

[Chillywhippet]

Lonecat I would just pick up any rubbish and shut the door. If the house is being bulldozed it would be a waste of time effort and bleach

You can leave with a clear conscience and concentrate on making the new place lovely

[Palomb]

The house I left was spotless.. Far cleaner than normal for us! Thankfully, so was the house we moved in to but I know the people from here found a load of crap in their new home which must have been so disappointing for them.

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

Other than in the case where I knew the new owners would be pulling the house fine straight away (in which case, lonecat, I agree: don't bother cleaning), I'd be really embarrassed to leave a house in a state for other people.

[Ilovewillow]

I've always left mine in immaculate conditions, paintwork wiped down, all cupboards cleaned inside and out etc! Unfortunately, I've yet to move into a house in the same condition so have faced the same deep clean when moving in too!

[Ilovewillow]

I've always left mine in immaculate conditions, paintwork wiped down, all cupboards cleaned inside and out etc! Unfortunately, I've yet to move into a house in the same condition so have faced the same deep clean when moving in too!