Cleaning your house before vacation?

[Ashley Kees]

Oh Lord Yes!! The only time this house is spotless is when we aren't here!

 

[debbiedana]

Before vacations, I used to tease my mom when I was a kid "what, are you cleaning for the burglars?"

Now I do it too. In fact, it's the best cleaning I usually do.

The best, though, was when my cleaning lady came while we were gone once. That was the best homecoming ever!

 

[ehrn]

me too!! and i refuse to cook the night before we leave. i wish i was so tidy and organized ALL the time!!

 

[SGMCO]

I do a good cleaning before be leave because my next door
Neighbor has to come over while we're away to feed the Cat
and I would be embarrassed if she would see it a mess.

 

[Tootles]

Add me. My Father is going to be staying at our farm while we're away in order to care for our dog, cat, fish and horses. (yes, he's a wonderful Dad!) He's also a neat freak! So, even though we don't leave for 2 1/2 weeks, I have already been obsessing over the housework that needs to get done! I just can't imagine my Dad staying here unless I scrub and disinfect EVERYTHING. He wouldn't say anything to me, but I just know he would be more comfortable if I did clean. Since he's doing us this favour, it's the least I can do. (and I HATE to clean-really do...the neat freak gene skipped me and was passed to my younger sisters I suppose )

FYI-and we have a Golden Retriever...oh the hair....enough said....

 

[stczt]

I usually clean the day before and then buy the time we have ran through the house grabbing this and that it looks worse than it did in the first place.

 

[BLLB]

A friend at work told me that she always has a cleaning lady come while they are on vacation so they return to a clean house. I have done that our last 2 vacations and have to say it is nice.

 

[perdidochas]

I'm heading for the world in less than 24 hours. and I'm cleaning like a crazy women in between packing. Does any one else clean their house before going on vacation? Or am I the only nut job?

Most people do. We don't do a full cleanup, but we try to get it looking decent. Otherwise coming home from vacation is that much more of a letdown. My wife's starting to clean already (we leave on Nov. 17).

 

[Kimmumum]

We always clean the house before we leave for vacation. We also do laundry while at WDW so that we don't come home with tons of dirty clothes

 

[tl_swift]

Count me in as part nutty clean freak. I just think it is such a huge let down to go from a really nice vacation to come home to a disorganized house. It needs to be cleaned top to bottom. Kids hate it but everyone always appreciates it when we come home. I am also the laundry freak that does the laundry before we leave to come back home so that the clothes go from the bags straight into the drawers. I guess that is also why I like staying in timeshares as appose to hotels because we usually have laundry machines in our unit.

 

[0hmyheck]

I am right there with you. After a trip we are usually exhausted. Coming home to to clean smelling and nice house makes being home even better.

It is just one thing less with all the laundry to do upon our return. Have a fun trip.

 

[Kim1964]

I do this, too. DH is always amazed when I am making the bed at 4:45 a.m. on our travel day.

Next year's trip is going to be different, though. The kids and I are going to be in Florida for 5 days before DH joins us. He will be home alone for FIVE days without me to clean up after him.......that's the only drawback to an otherwise perfect plan.

 

[aesalsa]

Dh and I clean our house, do the laundry, wash dishes, vacuum, etc. before we leave for vacation, too. If we have time, we mop and dust. As many of you have said, it makes it so much nicer to come home after a great vacation. A couple of you mentioned having a cleaning person clean your house while on vacation. . .I like that idea, too.

I am also the laundry freak that does the laundry before we leave to come back home so that the clothes go from the bags straight into the drawers. I guess that is also why I like staying in timeshares as appose to hotels because we usually have laundry machines in our unit.

Our first stay as DVC owners was this past May, and we did laundry there so we wouldn't have to when we got home. It is way more fun doing laundry in WDW than at home after a WDW vacation !

 

[yrdlyprincess]

Clean, you should have seen what I did, 1st it was a surprise vacation for the children-so that was fun packing, DD was at school so one out of the house, I was lucky that one of my neighbors took DS for a little over an hour, got all the bedding done & up stairs, then after I needed to take ANOTHER shower one of my other neighbors took him for about 1 1/2 hrs b4 I got the dog in the car & locked up everything to get DD from the bus, couldn't go back in the house because then someone might have put footprints on the carpet!! (I don't want to robbers to think that I have a dirty house!!)

 

[Whosemom]

I didn't once. Kinda left it in a mess. Clothes folded and stacked on the couch, but not put away. My MIL was frantic when we called to check in. Someone had robbed us! Destroyed the house! Clothing thrown everywhere!

Shocked, but knowing MIL was prone to exaggeration, we asked her if the tv and electronics were there? Yes. The guns in the gun cabinet? Yes.

Turns out the cats had knocked over the laundry and the house was already a bit of a mess..... Oh well.

OK, we DID get robbed while in WDW one trip. And to add insult to injury..."no officer, THAT corner WAS like that. NO, I know THIS looks ransacked, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't" This is what turned me into the clean-before-vacation freak that I am!

 

[thedizwizkid]

Well first of al don't call yourself a nut. And yes we usually clean our house before we go so it does not look like a pigsye for the person who is whatching the house for us.

 

[Helene]

I do too. I even have a "thing" for cleaning my car when I have to drive for more than an hour.

I never thought of hiring in a cleaning lady while we we gone. Thanks to all who posted that tip!

 

[BayouMouseketeer]

Yep! We leave on the 15th and I am doing all my laundry and cleaning before we go! I hate coming home to a mess.