slo’s THURSDAY 3/6 poll - Cleaning Your Home BEFORE Vacation

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We make sure trash in the kitchen is taken out into the bin in the garage and that the dishwasher is run for the last time and emptied out. The toilet in the main level bathroom cleaned and soap/toilet paper refilled, that is in large part to make sure who ever is taking care of our cat has access to a bathroom.

With having the cat we do clean up his room and make sure the supplies are left out: wet cat food, trash bags for the litter, carpet cleaner and paper towels as well as measuring cup for refilling the water bowls. In addition we'll always do his litter the night before we leave and refill his dry food automatic dispenser.

I like to vacuum the stairs going up stairs but I only vacuum the downstairs if it looks bad enough, I do a dry swiffer sweep on the hardwoods instead if it's only minorly dusty.

A few touched on the fridge pretty much the only thing I look at because of what we normally have is the milk so I do either empty the remaining amount when we go on vacation (because it could burst or smell eventually) or make sure to use it before we leave.

People mentioned sheets but TBH that really doesn't do any good for us especially with us doing vacations nowadays that are so long by the time we get back that clean smelling sheet has been sitting for long enough and isn't so freshly clean smelling anymore So I actually wait til we get home to switch out the sheets. Plus I arrange our comforters in a way that our cat can come lay on it when he wants to and it'll still have our scent on it. I like the feel of newly changed sheets when I come back anyhow.

 

[TCRAIG]

I have a cleaner who comes every other week but I always make sure everything is clean and organized and laundry is done etc. before I leave on vacay…mostly because, if something happens to me, I don’t want people coming in my house saying ‘Geeze, what a slob’….

 

[Skywalker3]

Yes, I've started doing this in the last few years. I remember growing up, and my Mama doing this all the time, and I never got it...now I get it.
I have a pretty untidy house most of the time, so it's not like what I do before a trip, really makes it clean, but it's better than usual anyway.
Hope you have a fabulous trip!!!

 

[slo]

I clean and do every bit of laundry before we leave. It's bad enough having to come back to the real world after vacation; I don't want to come home to chores!

I do have a cleaning lady who comes twice a month. Sometimes, it aligns with our vacations, but if it doesn't, I clean and tidy up before we leave.


Have a wonderful trip!!

SAME. 1000%

Yes, that too for us. I like to clean and have a headstart for when I get home. We have two longhaired cats, and there are tumbleweeds of fluff when we get home!

Thank you!

 

[slo]

Yes, I've started doing this in the last few years. I remember growing up, and my Mama doing this all the time, and I never got it...now I get it.
I have a pretty untidy house most of the time, so it's not like what I do before a trip, really makes it clean, but it's better than usual anyway.
Hope you have a fabulous trip!!!

Thank you!

 

[loves to dive]

I'm retired so I do some sort of cleaning every day so my house is never really "dirty". It's certainly cluttered at times, I have a hubby and a dog who has way more toys than a dog needs. If hubby, the dog and I are all going on vacation together (in the RV) I always change the sheets, make sure the bathrooms have been cleaned, dishwasher has been run and there is a minimal amount of dirty laundry before we leave. If I'm going by myself, I just do the laundry. Hubby knows I like to come home to clean sheets so he will change them the day I come home.

 

[lovin'fl]

Yes, I always clean thoroughly, even our porch and garage gets tidied. And since being empty nest, I wash our bedsheets too and have clean towels hanging for when we get back home. I also like to clean the car before too (we usually drive) but only do that about half the time. We are traveling often...live 14 hours away from whole family plus we do fun vacations several times a year. About to go visit the family tomorrow and just finished all the cleaning and packing. No clean car this time.

If I go away without the husband I don't bother because it will be a hot mess when I get back. But I do clean daily and keep it pretty clean anyway (since empty nest). I just won't mop or change sheets, clean up the porch/garage, do all the laundry or anything like that.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't know why anyone would not have done laundry before a trip. If, for no other reason than to have clean clothes to take with them.

As far as, house cleaning, I try and keep my apartment neat and clean all the time (attributed to my mild OCD). I put things where they belong, make the bed, make sure the trash is out so I don't return to a stinking mess. But that is stuff I do daily as needed. So other than do the laundry out of my usual routine, all I have to do is pack clean laundry and misc., adjust the thermostat to a seasonal money saver, lock the doors and be on my way. For items other than clothing, I make a previous list and then check it off as I put it in my suitcase. I'm not to concerned about toiletries, etc. as much because I can always buy what I forgot when I get there. Clothing, on the other hand is far more expensive to buy on the road.

How much one brings is vastly different depending on my mode of transportation. the last 14 years I have driven from NC to WDW. That way there is no real limit to how much one can bring, but when flying one has to be more conservative.