It helps to prepare a fresh home when going on holiday so you can arrive back with minimal headaches. Even the time after a holiday can be challenging, despite how much you relax. Travelling can be exhausting, so from bedding to security, here are some stress-busting tips.
Get Logistics Out of the Way
Prepping your home before you travel can make a massive difference when you get back. There are tons of things you need to do, even before a small holiday. Packing, sorting documents and even arranging transportation are among the most common. Taxis and coaches are handy, but you may also need airport car parking if you plan on driving before setting off. Of course, you will also need to arrange transportation to get home, which can make a huge difference.
Prepare a Fresh Home with Bedding
The average family takes 2 holidays per year, and it can be stressful before leaving. You may also want to extend the relaxation from your holiday when you get back. The last thing you want is to be making the bed when all you want to do is curl up inside it after an exhausting flight:
- Wash and prepare bedding the night before you go away, and slip it on in the morning.
- If you don’t have the time, store fresh bedding in the linen closet or somewhere safe.
- Keep pets like cats and dogs away from the bedding to keep it fresh and clean.
Get the Laundry Done
When you get back home, there will be laundry and a lot of it. Do you really want to make it harder on yourself with a massive pile? Get any existing laundry washed, folded and put away so you have much less work to do when you get home. Of course, don’t forget to buy any detergent you need so you don’t have to dash the shop when you just want to settle back in. To make things easier, have the family place their laundry in their private hampers upon return.
Clean the Pet Areas
Pets will be delighted to see you when you get back. However, dog and cat hairs, pet beds and litter trays get pretty dirty, as you probably know. Cleaning these before jetting off can help when you want to come back to a fresh-smelling and tidy home. It also means less potential work as you unpack and unwind. However, this can also be a Godsend if anyone in the family has allergies, as it also means less dust and dander will settle in the home while you are gone.
Prepare a Fresh Home with a Kitchen Spritz
There are tons of easy kitchen updates to help keep the cooking area clean and up to date. However, most people clean the kitchen once per week, and that’s pretty much enough for most families. Giving the kitchen a quick clean helps prepare a fresh home for when you get back.
Clear out the fridge
Unless you have unopened packages that won’t spoil, it is best to clear the fridge of any perishables. You don’t want a face full of mouldy odours when grabbing the milk for a cuppa!
Wipe down appliances
When you get back from a holiday, you may not be in the mood for a family dinner with tons of cooking. Appliances like the microwave and air fryer will come in handy when ready for use.
Clean the floor and surfaces
A tidy kitchen is a safe one and also a place you want to cook. When the surfaces and floor are sticky and grimy, you won’t want to be anywhere near the kitchen, so grab that mop and bucket!
Program Your Home Heating or Cooling
Okay, so it doesn’t make sense to set heating or cooling while you aren’t there, so make sure it is switched off, or you will waste energy and money. However, you can set the thermostat so the home is warm and inviting or cool and relaxing when you arrive back. Set it to whatever temperature you find comfortable, and you will feel like you have gotten home as you step through the familiar front door! Try to aim for about one hour before getting home.
Unplug Vampire Electronics
Okay, so there aren’t gadgets exclusive to vampires! What this means is that devices use energy even when it is not being used. Some of the biggest culprits are standby TVs, smartphone chargers and video game consoles. These still draw electricity when not in use, meaning you are paying for energy you aren’t using. As if a holiday isn’t expensive enough these days, you don’t want to come home to a higher bill or money off your smart meter.
Prepare a Fresh Home with Security
Peace of mind when coming back from holiday isn’t all about cleanliness. There are roughly 275,000 burglaries in the UK each year, so security also plays a big role in arriving back home. You can’t prevent the most determined of dirty burglars, but there are some things you can do:
- Never advertise that you are going on holiday over social media. It’s an invitation!
- Set up home smart security systems such as CCTV, smart locks and lighting profiles.
- Lock all doors and windows, have a relative pick up mail, and put out your bins.
Dust and Vacuum Everywhere
This is probably the most obvious but also the most important. Dust and dander are common in every home. The difference between a clean home and a dusty home is how often you get out the feathers and drag out the Dyson! For a more inviting space that feels, looks and smells fresh when arriving home, give the place a good old dusting and vacuuming. This clears up any excess dust and ensures minimal dust when you get back, including stubborn pet hairs.
Summary
Getting the logistics, such as travel, out of the way helps you prepare a fresh home before a holiday and gives you better peace of mind. A kitchen wipe-down will also make the cooking space more inviting upon getting back, just as much as dusting and vacuuming the home.
Thank you for reading.
