Tidy up so you can breathe easy while you’re away from home—and make your return that much easier.
Vacations can be exciting, relaxing, and a great way to disconnect—but nothing brings you back to reality faster than returning to a messy home. But tidying up before you leave isn’t only a matter of cleanliness — it’s about preventing problems and ensuring peace of mind while you’re away. Whether you’re hitting the road for work or taking a family vacation, check off these simple tasks before you go, so you can breathe easy during (and after) your trip.
And if you’re prone to wondering about things like, “Did I unplug the curling iron? Is the oven off? Did I open the washing machine door?” take a picture with your phone when you’ve completed the task. It’s a visual reminder you can reference to abate worries while you’re far from home.
1. Clear the Sink and Dishwasher
Tackling dirty dishes is an obvious task, but have you thought about the sink, too? Washing dishes and cleaning your sink will remove possible attractions for pests and breeding grounds for mold or other smells that gather in a damp sink. You don’t want to leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher, either, so be sure to run the machine. You should put away the clean dishes, too; emptying the dishwasher and leaving it open a smidge will help prevent moisture and odors from building up inside.
2. Survey the Fridge and Pantry
Take a sweep through the fridge, pantry, and other food storage areas. Get rid of anything perishable that won’t be good when you return, like leftovers, ripe fruits and vegetables, and open milk. Depending on how long you’ll be away, toss out those soon-to-be-stale open bags of chips, too. There’s less of a concern with non-perishable items, but it’s nice to come home to a fresh start (and eliminate temptations for pests). While you’re doing this, wipe down shelves to remove crumbs and residue.
3. Take Out the Trash
Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes. Try to do the bulk of this before trash day, so that you aren’t leaving a household’s worth of trash sitting while you’re away: it’s not ideal to come back to stinky and full bins, even if they’re kept outside. Then, you only have to toss a smaller amount in the bin right before you hit the road.
4. Empty the Laundry Hamper
Exactly how much laundry you want to do before a trip is a personal preference. Some people like to come back to fresh bedding, a tidy closet and an empty hamper so that everything from the trip can be dumped or sorted right away. At a minimum, take care of things like damp bath towels, kitchen rags, and gym clothes—anything prone to mildew and unpleasant odors if they sit too long. If you have time, consider running a clean cycle, so you’re coming home to a ready-to-go washing machine. And before you go, make sure that the washer and dryer are open or closed, as needed, so that musty particles aren’t building up in the machine.
5. Unplug Devices
You might be looking forward to unplugging on vacation–but don’t forget to actually unplug devices around your home. Disconnecting things like countertop appliances, hair tools, and space heaters can remove potential fire hazards. There are plenty of energy-draining devices you can unplug to save money while not at home, too.
6. Clear Out Your Mailbox
An overflowing mailbox can indicate an empty home to would-be burglars. Empty the mailbox before leaving on a trip, and be sure to sort through mail that’s been piling up. You want to ward off unexpected surprises upon your return, as well as prevent headaches like overdue bills. It’s also a good time to pause mail delivery or ask a friend or neighbor to collect packages, if you know things will arrive.
7. Make Pet Preparations
If you’re leaving pets behind, make sure food, meds, and necessary accessories are stocked and accessible for whoever is caring for them. This will guarantee there are enough supplies for your time away. Even if you take the pets with you, this kind of pre-trip organization can prevent a panicked run to the store upon your return.
8. Secure Outdoor Furniture
Severe weather alerts can be the cue you need to tidy up outdoor spaces to prevent potential damage when you’re at home. But even if the forecast is clear ahead of your trip, bad weather can develop unexpectedly. Before you leave, cover furniture and outdoor appliances to better withstand weather, and secure anything that might be vulnerable to wind–you don’t want to come home to a flooded fire pit, missing cushions or, a window smashed by an uprooted patio umbrella.
