Moving house cleaning guide

Moving out cleaning

When you move out, and everything has been packed away and either loaded into the van for moving or put into storage until you get the keys to your new home, it’s worth organising some form of house cleaning. It could be you hire a local cleaning, a house cleaning specialist or simply roll your sleeves up and do it yourself.

How clean is a seller required to leave the house after moving out?

Legally, a seller is not obliged to clean their home. In fact, sellers can pretty much leave the house in any state they want – no carpet, old sofas left behind. But let’s be honest, it’s just good manners to clean up after yourself. And if you do leave an excessive mess behind, you could get a disgruntled buyer on the phone. And no one wants that kind of hassle on moving day.

How to clean house before moving out

Ideally, clean it after everything has been moved out. Once all your boxes are out, there are few areas that might need a clean:

• Run the hoover around
• Clean the surfaces in the kitchen and bathrooms
• Dust the shelves
• Give the windows a quick clean
• Mop the floor
• Check the fridges and cupboards are empty
• Give the oven a clean
• Add some disinfectant into the toilets

This should only take a couple of hours. If you don’t have time and are too busy ticking off items from your moving day checklist, then consider hiring a cleaner. You can ask the estate agent to organise this, but it’ll probably be cheaper to do it yourself. You can use a regular cleaner or bring in a specialist house move cleaner who will give the carpets a deep clean.

Once all your furniture and moving boxes are out, you might notice that the walls aren’t as clean as you’d imagine. The best way to clean walls when moving out is to simply wipe them down with a wet and slightly soapy cloth. Don’t rub too hard; if the paint is water-based, it might start coming off.

If some of the marks aren’t coming off and you’ve still got the original paint, then you could touch up the walls – but make sure to let the new owners know there might be some wet paint.

How to clean a house before moving in

Now that you’ve left behind your old home all spick and span, it’s time to consider your new property. In an ideal world, you’ll find your newly purchased house as clean as your old one. But if the house is not clean when moving in, it’s worth taking some time to get it nice and clean.

• Carpet clean – This is a priority. It’s even worth putting all your items into storage for a day or two to get the carpets cleaned. A professional deep cleaning can bring most carpets back to life and give them a new feeling. If you wait to do it until after you’ve moved everything in, you’ll probably never get it done.
• Target potential mould – Look out for spots where mould might have gathered – especially if the house has been empty for a few weeks. Anywhere that moisture could have been trapped are key areas – thinking windows, back rooms, sheds, outbuildings, fridges, bathrooms, and attics.
• Check for uncleaned appliances – If the previous owner has left behind any appliances or white goods, they are good place to start your cleaning. Ovens are a must as they might not have been cleaned for years. The same goes for extractor fans and washing machines. Both collect dust over time and neither get cleaned often.
• Deep clean grime-ridden areas – There are some places dirt and grime can accumulate, such as sinks, inside cabinets, and closets.
• Clear out all rooms – Check every room and cupboard – including attics, lofts, airing cupboards, under stair storage, cellars, sheds, and garages and make sure they’re all cleaned out before you start putting your own stuff in there.
• Check for infestations – Check for rodent droppings and other signs of infestations and pests such as fleas if they had cats or dogs. If you find something, make sure to treat the area before putting furniture in.
• Clean outside – Don’t forget the outside. Cleaning porches, sweeping driveways and giving gardens a tidy as soon as you move in can help make life a lot easier in the long run.

If you’re planning your move now, contact us to discuss your house removal or get a quick online removal quote.