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Did you clean your old house before you moved out?

(165 Posts)
Mollygo Tue 14-Sept-21 19:47:00

Always left it clean and it was a standing joke that the removal men would even pack a rubbish bin complete with rubbish.
Like Lexisgranny we move to a house where there wasn’t a single lightbulb left behind.
The people had moved locally and always smiled or stopped to chat, evidently seeing nothing wrong in removing the bulbs.

grandMattie Tue 14-Sept-21 19:46:10

I always do. I remember so well when we moved to Jersey for DH’s job, I had a 2 month old baby, every kitchen cupboard was disgusting! I sat down and cried. No loo paper, no light bulbs…
Since then I have done my best to be kind; plumbers, doctors, dentist etc., addresses and phone numbers. Never wine. Yet, perhaps next time.

Grandmajean Tue 14-Sept-21 19:43:21

We hve moved six times in 50 years. All but one were fine ( although two were brand new so only builders' mess ) The filthy one had chips and other food where the cooker had been , loft unemptied and the last horror wasn't discovered until days later. There was a covering of snow when we moved in and when it melted we found used children's toys all over the garden ! I had an 18 month old baby and was miserable !

Charleygirl5 Tue 14-Sept-21 19:24:59

A week before I moved to my present abode I spilt coffee on my pale green carpet so I ended up getting it professionally cleaned! I left that house spotless. This house had been cleaned but not to my standards. At least there was nothing left behind.

M0nica Tue 14-Sept-21 18:48:30

Katyj I did the same.

Grandmabatty Tue 14-Sept-21 18:47:27

I've moved a lot and the majority have been left immaculately, but two have been awful. The last house I moved into as a single mum was grotty. The walls were totally scribbled on by their children, it took my cousin all morning just to clean the oven and hob and I found rabbit poo under the kitchen flooring.

Katyj Tue 14-Sept-21 18:44:29

Yes of course. Left a card and wine too. My next door neighbour told me they’d commented to her saying the house was in immaculate order.

Amberone Tue 14-Sept-21 18:39:54

Living in military accommodation meant everything was inspected before we left after each posting, so everything had to be spick and span. That's stayed with me always, so yes, the house is spotless when we move out.

annodomini Tue 14-Sept-21 18:34:06

Of course I did! I wouldn't want to have the reputation of having left the house in a mess!

Lexisgranny Tue 14-Sept-21 18:32:24

I have always left houses spotless when moving and also left a welcome card and some flowers.. Not so, the previous occupants of one house we moved to, and they had even left bare wires hanging from the ceilings and walls, there wasn’t a light bulb in any room and they knew we would not be arriving (in mid December) until late afternoon!

Audi10 Tue 14-Sept-21 18:31:09

Every house we have moved out of has always been cleaned to a good standard, exactly the same as when we were living there, I just couldn’t leave behind dirt for others to walk into, I don’t think you are being picky at all tidyskatemum, but even if I went into a new home I’d be cleaning again before I put my mark on things, ( excuse the pun )

VioletSky Tue 14-Sept-21 18:18:05

We haven't moved for a long time but I cleaned our old house and we moved into a nightmare with 4 children.

I did know that the previous occupant was an elderly lady in a house much too big for her to manage so I didn't mind and just got on with it but if people are capable cleaning is the right thing to do.

I have to say though, we thought some old clothing was hanging from a bathroom pipe under the window and when we got it down it was actually used incontinence pants. We did manage to have a laugh about that later though.

Smileless2012 Tue 14-Sept-21 18:15:24

Ours was too Teachername. Spotless when we lived in it and spotless when we left.

The first house we bought after we were married was filthy tidyskatemum the bathroom window was so bad I had to use a sponge/scourer to clean the muck offangry.

Teacheranne Tue 14-Sept-21 18:09:54

My house was spotless when I left it as well, a friend came to help and we hoovered each room as it was emptied by the removal men and wiped out the kitchen cupboards etc.

I bought a property that was empty after a redevelopment so luckily that was very clean and fresh.

tidyskatemum Tue 14-Sept-21 18:06:39

We have just moved after 28 years in our old home. I was scrupulous about making sure that every room and every fixture was clean and tidy ready for the new owners. So I was shocked to see the state of our new property when we arrived. Cleaning had obviously been missing from the old owners’ list of priorities - thick dust on the blinds and skirting boards, greasy oven, scruffy carpets - and the shed was a complete disaster area. We’ve spent the whole week since we arrived cleaning everything in sight. Is it just me being picky or should I expect more?