Another List...What to do before you leave?

[Jollean]

Ok so it is down to crunch time you are within days of your big trip (That is me right now)...What all needs to be done before you can leave the house and leave your worries behind?

Here is the start of my list, please add to it!

• Confirm all bookings (Flight, Hotel & Reservations)
• Give your keys to your neighbour
• Empty all garbages
• Unplug TV (They suck power even when your not using them)
• Pack your last minute bathroom items
• Grab your cell phone and charger
• Clean out parishables from fridge
• Make sure oven is off and coffee pot is off - Say it outloud as you check, I hate thinking was it off even after I checked...OCD I know

Hmmm ok that is the start of my list anything else you can add?

 

[OKW Lover]

Stop your mail and newspaper delivery.

 

[pepe of ohio]

WE:

1. Turn down the hot water tank to vacation setting
2. Turn of the water at the meter, we've seen burst washer hoses, not pretty.
3. Set timers for different times, even a small table lamp in the bathroom for an hour.
4. Make sure our mail will get picked up.

 

[Sammy]

Ok, I'll add a few:

- Rinse out sinks and pour baking soda into disposal
- Close all toilet seats (cats are left at home and they like to drink...ewwww)
- Make sure all windows are locked

 

[Cloudwatcher]

I love listening to everyone's last minute things. We live in the middle of nowhere, the only people around are family so we don't worry about mail/newspaper and don't set timers. What we will be doing is turing the hot water heater off (we have a gas one and it worries me at times) making sure all air and heat are turned off. Put chlorine tablets (ones you use for the pool) in the bathroom floor-on a plate, don't want to ruin the floor, and in the kitchen. This helps to elminate oders.

 

[juliana_sd]

Make sure I didn't leave a load of towels or something in the washer
Turn the volume down on the phone ringers and answering machine
Take out the trash! I always forget this.

 

[semo233]

Pay any bills due during trip
Leave itinerary with family
Turn down thermostat

I'm going to check this list before we leave in 12 days to make sure I didn't miss anything!

semo233

 

[Cdnmommy]

Subbing, great lists!

 

[twinnersmama]

Unplug the "little things" - Sonicare toothbrush, air ionizer, etc
Leave phone #s with family

Double check lists, suitcases and documents

 

[DiSZYme]

I had this whole list of things and am so glad I'd written it all down or I would have forgotten something:
Take out garbage
Empty fridge of perishables
Stop Mail
Water and gather plants (gather so that a friend can come in and easily find them for watering while I'm gone)
Change the fish water, gather fish into one spot (I have a few and my plant watering friend is also my fish feeding friend )
Empty coffee maker of coffee and grounds (I didn't do this, once and long ago, and came home to mushrooms growing in the maker. EWWWW. Of course, I tossed it and have never made the same mistake again)
Trim porch plants
Print and pack WDW lists, suggestions, info
Do laundry, put away laundry
Finish up any last minute dishes
Recharge camera batteries, pack recharger, pack extra SD card and upload current card photos
Pack toy camera stuff (I have a few lomography cameras that I wanted to take), trading pins, and snack stuff
Pack diaper bag
Buy...assorted whatevers that we always need before a trip.

 

[burberryplaid]

We have 2 cats and we have a sitter who comes over and takes care of them daily so we make sure there is enough food and litter to last during our stay and make sure their toys are left in a place where the sitter will find them so she can play with them daily.

 

[Dizneydaz]

All great ideas. A few more we (mostly I) do:

1. Pack food for the flight. Make sandwiches (without mayo) and pack them in softsided cooler (Can no longer pack blue packs to keep cold) DON'T LEAVE THEM ON COUNTER FOR Brother-in-law to have for next few days lunch-you only do this once! Add chips, crackers, cookies, and/or candy. We have at least 5 hours in the air. Usually we have more like 8 hours with connections, etc. We get hungry, and bored!

2.Check in online 24 hours before flight. I try to do this right at the 24 hr. mark. Print out boarding passes. Put in folder I keep all my important info in (WDW reservation info, car rental confirmation, any other confirmations, etc.) I keep this folder in my carry-on so it's handy at all times. I also put the stubs from the luggage tags in this folder.

3. Make sure all bags, inc. carry ons, have my name and phone number inside in case lost (This was invaluable last Sept. when I left my camera bag (without camera but with extra batteries and SD cards) under my seat-Delta found it and returned it to me, at home )

4. Change my message on my home business phone. Of course, I don't change the house recorder-don't want those clever burglars to know that we'll be gone.

5. Double check carry-ons have no items not allowed on planes.

6. Make 2 photocopies of any, and all, credit cards, etc. that I'll be bringing on trip. Write phone number of cc co. on copy in case I need to contact them while away from home. Leave one copy at home and bring other copy with me (don't carry in purse, carry on in another carryon)

7. Make copies of any unused WDW tix I'm bringing. Also bring one copy with me and leave one set at home.

8. Make sure to bring any health insurance cards, just in case.

Most of my tips are for "just in case" cases. Hopefully you won't need to use your copies, or health cards, but it never hurts to be prepared.

 

[doodlesmommy]

What great ideas! I'm adding the coffee maker clean-out to the list because getting up at 3:30 a.m. for the airport; I'm going to need it. I don't want to come home to that mess.

Stopping our mail is crutial too. I can't think of anything new to add to the list but can't wait to see what everyone else has. It is always helpful.

 

[Promomx2]

I don't know about you guys but I have to make all the beds and vacuum the whole house. I hate coming home to a messy house and I have to have the house look okay,just in case the neighbor Mom comes in to help feed the cat.

And make sure no dishes left in dishwasher, get rid of any milk or bread or any perishables in the house.

 

[Jollean]

ewww these are all very good!

This one is a really good idea I would not have thought of, thanks Daz!

3. Make sure all bags, inc. carry ons, have my name and phone number inside in case lost (This was invaluable last Sept. when I left my camera bag (without camera but with extra batteries and SD cards) under my seat-Delta found it and returned it to me, at home )

 

[Terry36]

 

[dvc at last !]

all great ideas - thanks.

 

[noahdove]

I love reading these. However, when I leave, my husband stays behind and I try to leave several salads and food ready to warm up...I also leave no dishes and I just ask him to keep his done up...the last time I went away for 2 days, he was washing the dishes when I got home....I do however, put bleach in both toilets...I can't stand a yucking smell even tho he does flush...I have 2 grown daughters so maybe this August he will go there to eat...I can only hope

 

[delmar411]

let's see.. this trip it's just me and oldest DD so I need to:

make sure all blankets are clean

show DH where the clean sheets are (multiple bed wetters *sigh* )

remind DH that the kids need to sleep on sheets and not just the plastic one

make sure he's got 2 gallons of milk plus my CVS card and my ECBs to get more milk (call and remind him daily to get more milk)

pack DD's underwear in her bag (since it is currently on my dresser and will be forgotten if I'm not careful! LOL)

make sure all my travel items are under 3oz and in a quart bag

pack clothes for me!

extra batteries (just thought of that)

put gas in the car for DH so he won't need to

leave the zoo membership stuff where DH can find it

leave my keys where he can find them

charge up DD's ipod (and pack it!)

sunscreen..um...how the heck can I pack sunscreen when I have only carry on bags? (gotta figure this one out asap!)

and finally make sure to keep my mouth shut until the last second so DD will be surprised! (I almost blabbed too much yesterday )

 

[Dizneydaz]

ewww these are all very good!

This one is a really good idea I would not have thought of, thanks Daz!

3. Make sure all bags, inc. carry ons, have my name and phone number inside in case lost (This was invaluable last Sept. when I left my camera bag (without camera but with extra batteries and SD cards) under my seat-Delta found it and returned it to me, at home )

You're welcome!