A thorough scrubbing is in order, though hiring professionals may be worth the cost When you leave a flat, you are expected to put it back to the condition in which you found it. In the case of my last place, that condition would be "quite grubby, with half an inch of builders' dust everywhere". Unless you have negotiated otherwise with the landlord, you will be expected to remove any fixtures and fittings you have installed - including blinds, curtain rails, shelving, light fittings and wooden floors.
And you will need to clean the place. What you are basically doing is a thorough spring clean. Once the removers have gone, go through each room and remove any rubbish. The rooms will be empty, so it will be easy to see what needs doing. Living rooms, bedrooms and hallways will probably need nothing more than dusting surfaces, and sweeping and mopping the floors. In the kitchen, wipe all cabinets, inside and out, using a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner. Pay attention to the outsides of cupboard doors, which can get very greasy.
If the new occupants are buying the cooker (or if you are selling it), spray the interior of the oven with Dr Beckmann Active Gel Oven Cleaner, and while it is working its magic, clean the hob. Then clean the oven. Whether leaving or selling the fridge, empty it. Clean the interior using a solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water (1 tbsp to 1 litre of water), then wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
Finally, sweep and mop the kitchen floor. There's nothing more off-putting than a grungy bathroom, so clean the bath thoroughly using an all-purpose cleaner. Also wipe all tiles, mirrors and other fittings. Remove the black mould that accumulates on tiles and around fittings with a solution of half and half bleach and water, scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Clean the toilet thoroughly, squirt some toilet cleaner in the bowl and leave. Polish the taps with a dry cloth so they sparkle. Then sweep and mop the floor.
There may well be a landlord's inspection before you move out. If you spend a couple of hours doing the above, you shouldn't have a problem. Of course, there is an even simpler way of sorting this out - hire either your cleaner or a cleaning company to do all this for you. Sometimes - especially if you are trying to relocate your home and family abroad - throwing money at a problem is the only way to go.
The Housewife's Handbook, by Rachel Simhon (Bloomsbury) is available from www.amazon.com