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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Cleaning before moving house?

49 replies

Flissty · 29/08/2025 07:25

Hello,
We are in the process of buying and selling house (oh the hellish process). I quite like the young couple we are selling to.
My question is - how much cleaning do people normally do once they have moved their furniture out? My understanding (never done this before) is that on completion day there’s very little time, just get the furniture loaded into the lorry and go. But there is always dust and dirt behind furniture - even though I promise I do have a clean house! What is normal, do people move in and expect to clean clean clean or should I be running around vacuuming as the movers shift my stuff? What is the normal expectation when buying a house?
Thanks!

OP posts:
PersephoneParlormaid · 29/08/2025 07:27

The one time I moved house, I took my stuff and left. These days people seem to clean top to bottom and leave a welcome note with flowers and wine/chocolates.

itsachickeninnit · 29/08/2025 07:27

I’d make sure things like the oven and any built in appliances were clean in advance then run vacuum round on the day, and wipe skirting boards.

Silverbirchleaf · 29/08/2025 07:33

Yes, you go around hoovering after the rooms are emptied, and a quick wipe over any dusty surfaces.

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 29/08/2025 07:34

I've left them sparkling - hoover goes in car last!

ArghhWhatNext · 29/08/2025 07:37

Last time I moved I stayed in house and hoovered after van had left then travelled separately. The house we moved to had been left pristine. It didn’t take long (empty rooms). But having once moved into a dirty house, I swore I’d never inflict that on anyone.

Getamoveon2024 · 29/08/2025 07:41

Yes, clean before you go because moving into a dirty house is god awful! Removal men take the last of the stuff, you run round for a final hoover/wipe down/mop, cleaning stuff goes in your car and off you go. I always leave flowers, a bottle of wine and a card. Moving house is so bloody stressful, I think it helps a bit!

Makingpeace · 29/08/2025 07:42

PersephoneParlormaid · 29/08/2025 07:27

The one time I moved house, I took my stuff and left. These days people seem to clean top to bottom and leave a welcome note with flowers and wine/chocolates.

This is what our sellers did for us 10 years ago. We picked up the keys, walked in as the floor was still drying from being mopped by the sellers. It was pretty much spotless. They'd also left us brand new rolls of loo paper next to each toilet! ☺️

I'd like to think this is what I would do too if or when we move next.

Ragruggers · 29/08/2025 07:48

Yes always leave clean if possible.Depending how quickly the removers leave and one suggestion always pay for packing usually done the day before.Insurance will only pay if professionally packed.Pay for a cleaning company worth every penny who will come in and clean.Pray your new home has had the same!!

iirbRosb · 29/08/2025 07:52

Hoover before you go, it won’t take long in an empty house. Kitchen and bathroom can be cleaned the day before and again when empty aren’t hard to clean

Obviouslynotallthere · 29/08/2025 08:00

i left our last house spotless with a card and a packet of biscuits, flowers etc and I. the new house we were welcomed with the same. Made a stressful day much more satisfying when we finally sat down on the sofa in a room full of boxes

Itchyoureye · 29/08/2025 08:21

I just got my cleaner around for 2 hours
it was very clean anyway so more of a nice tart up

Bonden · 29/08/2025 08:24

When I bought my house - I’m ancient- not only was it spotless but the vendors had filled in all the holes made by bookcases fixed to walls, there was new loo roll ready and waiting, and flowers and a card. I was so touched and grateful I burst into tears!

RampantIvy · 29/08/2025 08:27

Silverbirchleaf · 29/08/2025 07:33

Yes, you go around hoovering after the rooms are emptied, and a quick wipe over any dusty surfaces.

This is what I have done every time we have moved house.

In our case there was always a delay between clearing out and getting the keys to the new house so I had time to whizz round with a duster and vacuum cleaner.

Bananafofana · 29/08/2025 08:30

We’ve always left the house immaculate (moved three times). We’ve always had professional packers so while they’re moving boxes out I’m able to vaccuum etc.the last time we had our cleaner come to help me and mop floors and deep clean bathrooms

Iheartmysmart · 29/08/2025 08:38

Being an ex-forces brat, we had to leave each house as if we’d never lived there so I’ve always left houses immaculate whenever I’ve moved. Sadly though I’ve never had the luxury of moving into a clean house, they’ve always been filthy. One particular highlight was a kitchen cupboard that had cat shit smeared all down the side of it and mould in the cupboards where rotting food had been left. I sat on the doorstep and cried.

Hairshare · 29/08/2025 08:54

Keep the hoover and cloths out and whizz round getting up dust when the house is empty. Takes half an hour and makes a huge difference.

RampantIvy · 29/08/2025 09:35

DD, as a student then living independently, has lived in 7 different rentals. Each time the place she left was as she found it when she moved in. You would never know that someone had lived there.

CreepyCoupe · 29/08/2025 09:38

I’d make every effort to leave it spotless.

Oreosareawful · 29/08/2025 09:40

We part exchanged our last house and they held a £100 deposit on the cleaning. If it wasn't spotless we wouldn't get the deposit back.
I left that place so clean and fresh that they wouldn't dare hold the money. It was so infuriating that we moved into the new place and it wasn't clean. It was a new build and we had to complain.

RosesAndHellebores · 29/08/2025 09:44

Packers pack the day before the move and load everything but essentials for overnight: beds, sofa, kettle, etc. First thing the following day professional cleaners clean. Movers collect last bits. Go to new house. Packers unload. New house is immaculate because that was a condition of exchange. Spend first night in an hotel. Arrive at new house first thing and refreshed and unpack/set up. Movers collect boxes within seven days.

Admittedly our last couple of moves ha e been big ones.

Nannyfannybanny · 29/08/2025 09:45

I have left every house spotless, even the one I had repossessed. Last one I was actually washing the conservatory floor and the new people came and sat in there,it was so humiliating! They were early, not us late. Have moved into some disgusting houses, usually younger , don't think the first ones cleaned the oven after we viewed and made the offer..am I the only person on mn who vacuums,is it an age thing.
.

PashaMinaMio · 29/08/2025 09:46

Everyone is mentioning making time to vacuum but in the days before moving, how about wiping out the kitchen cabinets? In some households they can get pretty sticky.

AnneElliott · 29/08/2025 09:47

I ask my cleaner to come and help me and she cleaned as the furniture was moved out. I also left a card, an indexed folder of all the important documents and a bottle of wine.

My dad came and cleaned the cooker as well. Unfortunately our house we moved into was filthy. The sellers had swept up in the dining room but left the pile of dirt in the middle of the floor!

mixedbeans · 29/08/2025 09:49

Have pride in yourself and your house and clean it or get a professional cleaning company in after you leave.

pilates · 29/08/2025 09:52

I’ve always left properties spotless.

I left a card the first time but nothing the second time because they were arseholes.

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