School is out, and it’s time for summer vacations! What can you do to prepare your home while you’re gone?

Summer vacations are always something to look forward to, but the preparation before and the clean up afterwards can make vacation less enjoyable. Today, I have created a list of things to do before leaving for vacation to ease your mind while your gone, and make the clean up process easier. Remember, a full spring cleaning is not necessary. Simply tidying up will help you feel less stressed when you get home.

Pre-Vacation Home Checklist

Laundry

Leftover, dirty laundry can result in mold and mildew build up, especially if you are gone for a long time. Make sure all laundry is washed and dried. If it’s easier, wait until you come home to put all of the clothes away. Having everything washed and dried will also help make sure that whatever everyone is needing is ready to be packed for vacation. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have everyone strip the sheets off of their beds and wash and dry those before you leave. This will also help when you get home after a long day of traveling.

Kitchen

The same as laundry, dirty dishes can build mold and mildew. It can also produce a nasty smell that you won’t know about until you walk in the door. Which is not a ‘welcome home’ sign you want after a vacation. My biggest frustration is coming home and smelling dirty dishes. Make sure all dishes are washed and dried. Same as laundry, if you are running late, don’t worry too much about putting things away, just make sure they are clean.  Another thing to clean before leaving is the fridge. Throw out any food that is going to expire while you are gone. Also, right before you leave, don’t forget to take the garbage out.

Common areas

Have everyone help out and pick up any toys and garbage that may be on the floor. Don’t forget to vacuum the floors. It would also be a good idea to tidy up the bathrooms before you leave. Another thing that will make traveling easier, especially if you are taking a road trip, is to clean out the car. For my family, the car always got super messy while on a road trip, so already having it cleaned before we left helped make the car ride less chaotic.

Enjoy your vacation!