Before you go away
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Give your house a deep clean before leaving for vacation so you can return to a calm environment and ease back into daily life.
Coming home to a tidy place can lower post-trip anxiety, skip immediate chores, and let you relax rather than feeling bad about messes.
- Do not let the cleaning process stress you out too much.
8 people, independently
- Do laundry and clean your house right before leaving for vacation.4
- Deep clean your entire living space before leaving for a trip.6
- Wash dirty laundry and dishes before departing for vacation so you can return with clean clothes and without needing to immediately do chores.2
Take at least one additional day off after your trip ends to decompress.
It prevents feeling rushed to unpack and provides a 'vacation from the vacation'.
5 people, independently
Replace your bed linens before departing so you can rest on fresh sheets when you return.
Returning to clean bedding provides a nice comfort after traveling.
13 people, independently
- Do all laundry, including changing bed sheets, before traveling home.1
Remove all garbage and empty kitchen bins before leaving home.
Leftover trash can create terrible smells or rot upon your return.
6 people, independently
- Take out the trash before leaving for a trip.5
Remove perishable items from the refrigerator and dispose of waste before departing for any extended period.
Returning to the odor of decaying food, spoiled provisions, or insects drawn to bad produce can spoil the end of a holiday.
- Maybe skip restocking the freezer because appliances may fail or power may go out.
5 people, independently
If short on time, wash dishes and spend 15 minutes cleaning other areas.
It is worth it.
one person who lived it
Perform cleaning tasks the day before leaving rather than minutes before departure.
Cleaning right before leaving can cause you to miss flights or be late.
one person who lived it
When things seem out of control, clean because it is one thing you can control.
It provides a sense of control when other aspects of life do not.
one person who lived it
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Upload phone data such as contacts and photos to the cloud before traveling.
To protect data in case of loss or theft.
one person who lived it
Set aside at least one full day specifically for pre-trip cleaning.
It ensures the process is stress-free.
one person who lived it
Ensure stoves and ovens are turned off before departing to prevent fires.
It ensures you return to an unburnt home.
one person who lived it
Let neighbors know you will be gone so they can look out for your property.
If they are good neighbors, they will be on the lookout.
one person who lived it
Clean your place of residence before going on a date in case you bring your date home.
Nobody can fail to smile at opening their door to see a tidy room.
one person who lived it
Leave some dishes out and keep things slightly untidy when on vacation.
Burglars notice tidy homes; a little mess gives the feeling that someone is home or coming home.
one person who lived it
Check everywhere for items that may have fallen behind furniture or appliances and could rot or attract insects.
One person accidentally let food spoil while gone and had to fight pests ever since.
2 people, independently
Make cleaning the house before every trip a habit, regardless of trip length, to avoid bugs and smells.
Leaving a house dirty can attract bugs and develop smells; one person finds it hard to picture not cleaning before any trip.
one person who lived it
Designate a specific spot for daily carry items like keys and wallet, such as coat pockets in winter or a bowl on the nightstand in summer.
It allows for quick access so you can just put on your coat or grab your things and go.
one person who lived it
Put a simple meal that thaws easily, such as chili, soup, or casserole, in the freezer before you depart.
You can count on it when you return, which helps prevent you from defaulting to takeout or needing to cook or shop immediately.
3 people, independently
Recognize that vacuuming may be ineffective if pets shed heavily and the furnace circulates fur.
One person found that despite vacuuming, returning from a weekend revealed the need to vacuum again due to dog fur circulation.
- Applies specifically to households with shedding dogs and active furnaces.
one person who lived it
Appreciate that coming home to a clean house can feel like entering a fresh new hotel room.
Opening the door to a clean home provides a feeling similar to a fresh new hotel room.
one person who lived it
Wash clothes during your trip or before packing so you return with fewer loads to do.
To avoid facing a mountain of laundry upon arrival.
2 people, independently
Empty coffee grounds from your machine before leaving to prevent mold or fungus growth.
Coffee grounds can grow mold or fungus, especially with added water.
one person who lived it
Share common-sense tips like cleaning before a holiday, recognizing that what is obvious to you may not be to others.
Common sense varies between people, and sharing tips helps those who haven't realized them yet.
one person who lived it
Wash all dishes before leaving to prevent mold or fungi growth.
Leaving unwashed dishes can result in fungi growing on them.
one person who lived it
Place a sealed bag of ice cubes in the freezer to detect power outages.
If the ice loses its shape upon return, it indicates an outage occurred.
2 people, independently
Clean your bedroom specifically before traveling so it is tidy when you come back.
Finding a tidy bedroom upon return is described as awesome.
- Some argue this is weak compared to cleaning the whole house.
- Others suggest cleaning your room every day instead.
one person who lived it
Vacuum the floor immediately before leaving to capture settled dust.
Dust settles to the ground while you are away; vacuuming removes it before people track more dirt in.
one person who lived it
Prepare all morning necessities the night before, including shaving, to streamline your departure.
It saves time and stress in the morning.
one person who lived it
If you are cleaning for others, be aware that some may feel offended by the implication their space was messy, while others may not express gratitude.
One person speculated someone felt indirectly called out for having a mess; another reported receiving no thanks or only a lukewarm response when asking if the clean house was appreciated.
- Some people might get offended if you clean their place, interpreting it as calling it a mess.
- People may not thank you even if you ask if they liked the clean house.
one person who lived it
Use the pre-trip cleaning process to help remember items to pack.
Cleaning often triggers memories of necessary items like earbuds, books, chargers, tumblers, mouthwash, or razors.
one person who lived it