How to Get Your House Ready When Leaving on Vacation
We have friends who have blessed our family by loaning us their beautiful home a few hours away, in the mountains. It’s been wonderful for our family to get away for quality “face-time,” and our friends may never comprehend the impact that it’s had on our family. Face time is so important, and getting away to a new and different place is inspirational.
Unfortunately, there were a few times when we’d leave to head out of town where I left our house a mess. Dishes in the sink, clutter everywhere. Talk about depressing to come home to! I’m sure many of you can relate. It’s funny because my kids will say, Mom, why do we have to clean before we go? I just remind them, one day when they are an adult with a family – they will know! :)
Today I want to share a few tips that I’ve learned when leaving town.
How to get your house ready when leaving on vacation
1. No matter how many dishes are loaded, start the dishwasher. Don’t let food sit in the sink.
2. Wipe down the counters (and if you have time the cupboards) with Mrs. Meyers Clean.
3. Do a quick SWEEP and SWIFFER of the kitchen floor.
4. Start in the living room and pick up and organize.
5. Clean off the dining room table and leave a simple centerpiece.
Vacuuming is a luxury, and most times don’t get it done as I’m rushing out the door.
I love walking into the house when I get home and having everything spotless.
It may depend on your personality, if you’re really uptight about coming home to a clean house, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How do you get your house ready for vacation?
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I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
I always vacuum all the rooms before leaving. I also organize and clean everything too
I always make sure everything is neat before I walk out, but part of my vacation plan is to always schedule the cleaning lady while I’m gone! Nothing like walking in to a clean house that I didn’t have to scrub!
Girl. I have a NEED to leave the house clean. And if I let one of the church girls use it as a retreat space, I make sure they know to leave it how they found it…especially clean sheets for me to get into the night I come back.
do you realize the photo of the wall behind your kitchen peninsula looks for all the world like a great big smile?
:)
We do the same thing. Aside from dishes, wiping down kitchen counters, and vacuuming, a must for us is to put clean sheets on the beds and finish all of the laundry. I also clean the bathrooms and let bleach sit in the toilet bowls. My husband insisted we do this many years ago and I thought he was crazy, but after coming home to a clean house that first time, I was sold on it. It really makes coming home from vacation feel like a mini vacation.
Oh good lord…ok….I completely agree with you in having the house clean before heading out. I wish I could say that I do this but more often than not my house looks like a bomb went off. Packing for 3 kids, 2 of them being toddlers and myself can be overwhelming.
I’m hanging your list on my fridge…perhaps my husband can do that while I pack for the kids and I don’t have spend more time telling him what else needs to be done. Lol
Great post!
I admit to being a bit obsessive when it comes to cleaning prior to leaving home. I’m like a crazy woman. I love coming home to clean.