Cleaning before we go - how much?

[movingwest]

At the risk of sounding like a slattern how clean does our flat need to be before new owners move in next week? We complete on Thursday next at noon, moving out on Wednesday, so I was wondering how much I can get away with need to do on Thursday morning?

[cakeywakey]

How clean would you expect/like your new home to be? I'd use that as your guide.

I know that when we moved last year I cleaned our house from top to bottom when we left it. The house we went into hadn't been cleaned for weeks judging by the state of the kitchen and bathroom. I very cheerfully told everyone I knew - and this is a very small town .

[movingwest]

I would do kitchen and bathroom, but haven't touched skirting boards for months since having DC2!

[MiraNova]

If you don't have enough time to get it as clean as you'd like, then think about leaving a small bunch of flowers, a card, or even some Champagne as a welcome for the new owners. The gesture should offset any shortcomings regarding the skirting boards .

[cakeywakey]

TBH, once the place is empty it's much easier to clean. But I know that you'll really want to save all your energy for giving your new place the once over. A welcome card and bottle like Mira suggests is also a great idea

[lalalonglegs]

I do think you have to leave kitchen and bathroom as clean as possible (unless the couple bought it and your slatternliness was apparent to all ). Anything else is a bonus.

[yomellamoHelly]

I cleaned our old house (proper hoovering to edges and dusting incl. tops windows and skirting) over a week or so before we moved out. But we have 3 kids so was not perfect before the removal men arrived. Windows were done by cleaner about a month before we moved. Had also weeded front garden, cut grass in back and revived window box in month leading up to move. After removal men had been and gone I swept everywhere and cat-licked the hard floors (it was raining that day so all got trodden in) and wiped down kitchen worktops (but not properly) so it looked quite passable. There was nothing glaringly awful iyswim but it would have needed a proper clean/garden sort from the new owners.
Just didn't want to feel embarrassed when returned for post / mis-deliveries etc later. (Only moved a mile away so we have done this a few times.)

[hester]

I cleaned the kitchen and bathroom really thoroughly. The other rooms I did a quick dust and hoovered; didn't do more because I knew they were sending the builders straight in. (They were ripping out the kitchen and bathroom, too, but I still don't like the idea of leaving my dirt behind - it's disrespectful IMO).

We also left a nice note, takeaway menus and a bottle of wine.

The house we moved into was caked with filth and full of their shit...