Sometimes, half the fun of a summer holiday is the planning beforehand and prepping behind the scenes, ensuring you’re going to have the best time during your hard earned break.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the excitement while counting down, housekeeping can tend to be put on the back burner.
As Lynsey Crombie, This Morning’s resident home expert, also known for sharing cleaning tips on social media (@lynsey_queenofclean), puts it: “With summer holidays in full swing, many families are focused on packing suitcases, checking passports and tracking flight delays.
“But one thing that often gets overlooked is preparing your home before you leave.”
Indeed, she says a few simple cleaning jobs before you head off can make all the difference to how your home smells and feels when you return.
“And after a long journey, knowing which tasks are actually worth doing first can help you ease back from holiday mode without feeling overwhelmed,” highlights Crombie.
Here’s her crib sheet for the jobs to get done in advance, making your return that little bit easier, and the ones to do when you walk in the door….
Before you leave…
Empty every bin
“This is always my number one tip,” underlines Crombie. “Even a small amount of food waste can leave unpleasant smells, especially in warm weather.
“Empty kitchen, bathroom and bedroom bins before you lock up.”
Clear out the fridge
“Check for anything that will expire while you’re away, particularly fruit, vegetables, dairy products and leftovers.
“Not only will it reduce waste, but you won’t come home to unpleasant surprises. Also, make the most of the fridge being empty and give it a quick wipe down.”
Change your bed sheets
“Fresh bedding might not seem like a priority before you go away…but you’ll be so grateful when you return, tired after travelling.
“Climbing into a freshly made bed is one of the nicest ways to end a long journey.”
Deal with the laundry
Avoid leaving damp washing in the machine, or a laundry basket full of clothes, suggests Crombie.
“Wash, dry and put everything away before you leave so you’re not overwhelmed by extra jobs when you get back, on top of a load of holiday washing, too.”
Wipe kitchen surfaces and sink
As the cleaning pro points out: “Food crumbs and sticky spills can quickly attract ants and other unwanted visitors during the summer months.
“A quick wipe-down only takes a few minutes, but makes a big difference.”
Run the dishwasher and leave it empty
Crombie says to empty the dishwasher before you go so there are no lingering smells, and to leave the dishwasher door slightly open “so that it doesn’t get hot and smelly”.
Give the toilet a final clean
A quick clean before you leave helps keep everything fresh while the house is empty, advises Crombie.
Her top tip: “Leave a denture tablet in the bowl to work its magic whilst you’re away. Closing the toilet lid also helps prevent water from evaporating too quickly.”
When you get home…
Open the windows
If it’s safe to do so, front and back door etc, let fresh air circulate through the house for 10-15 minutes, says Crombie.
“It instantly helps your home feel fresher after being closed up.”
Unpack dirty laundry straight away
“Holiday washing has a habit of sitting in suitcases for days,” highlights Crombie.
“Get it straight into the washing machine to avoid musty smells and make the task feel much more manageable.
“If you can dry outside on the line… bonus!”
Restock the fridge with essentials before doing a big clean
Rather than trying to clean the whole house immediately, Crombie says to focus on getting the essentials sorted first.
“A food shop and a cup of tea often make everything else feel much easier.”
Give high-traffic areas a quick refresh
“Vacuum the hallway (think dirty suitcase wheels), wipe down kitchen worktops and freshen the bathroom,” says Crombie.
“These are the rooms you’ll use first, so they’ll have the biggest impact without requiring hours of cleaning.”
Don’t try to do everything at once
“The temptation is to launch into a full deep clean, but you’ve just come back from holiday,” quips Crombie.
“Prioritise the jobs that make the biggest difference, and tackle the rest over the next few days.”
