Coming home from a holiday is a very jarring experience. On one hand, you miss lazing by a pool all day and having someone else do the cooking and cleaning for you. On the other hand, there’s nothing quite like coming home to your own space and bed after a week or two away.
And while I’ve already stressed the importance of the things you should declutter before going on holiday, preparation really is key when you’re gearing up to go on holiday - and your cleaning routine is included in that. After all, getting ahead of the game can soften the crash landing when you get home, and make this jarring experience much more manageable.
But I’m not asking you to deep-clean your entire house from top to bottom while you’re also trying to pack and get your ducks in a row. As Emma Mannion, cleaning expert at Astonish, explains, ‘The goal isn't perfection. It's making sure coming home feels almost as nice as going away.’ So, these are the quick and easy cleaning tasks you should tick off your to-do list before you jet off.
1. Bins
Most of us jet off in the summer holidays, which is prime smelly bin time. And while there are many ways to stop a bin from smelling, it’s hard to do that when you’re not in the country. That’s why you should always empty your bin before going on holiday.
Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol, echoes this, saying, ‘Warm weather and closed-up houses make bins particularly prone to bad smells. You absolutely must empty them before you go so food waste doesn't fester, and giving them a quick wash with some warm water and a splash of washing up liquid will keep them super fresh.’
If you want to go the extra mile, it may also be worth popping a bin freshener in your bin while you’re away - like this Bin Buddy Bin Freshener Deodoriser Powder (£4 at Amazon). Make sure you put a fresh bin liner in before you leave, too, as that’ll be one less task to do when you get home.
This bin freshener is pretty clever. Simply stick to the lid of your bin, and sit back as it banishes smells from your bin for up to 45 days.
2. Appliances
Hopefully, you also have regular washing machine cleaning routines - and the same for your dishwasher, too. But if you’re heading off on holiday, it’s well worth giving them some extra TLC and allowing these appliances to breathe while you’re away.
Catherine warns, ‘You should never leave plates with food sitting in your dishwasher for days while you are away! Run a final cycle, empty it out, and leave the door slightly ajar.’ You can use this Finish Dishwasher Cleaner (£10.50 for a pack of 2 at Amazon) to get the job done, or opt for white vinegar as a natural alternative.
‘Also, make sure to double-check your washing machine is empty too, as leaving wet laundry sitting in the drum is a leading cause of mould growth on your fabrics,’ she adds. ‘Once empty, remember to leave the machine door and detergent drawer open to allow it to dry completely.’ Personally, I love to use this Dri-Pak Citric Acid (£4.77 at Amazon) to clean my washing machine.
Everyone should have white vinegar in their cleaning caddy, as it can clean all kinds of appliances. I like this one, as it's not so harsh on the nose.
3. Sinks
We’re all guilty of having a last-minute cup of tea before heading to the airport, but if you leave any mugs, standing water or any other debris in your sink, you could be in for a rude (and very smelly) awakening when you return home. That’s why it’s well worth cleaning your sinks before going on holiday.
Emma explains, ‘Small bits of food, grease and general kitchen grime can leave the room smelling stale if they're left sitting in a sink for a week or more. A quick clean before you head off means you come back to a kitchen that feels fresh and ready to use, rather than one that's immediately adding jobs to your list.’
Thankfully, maintaining a clean and tidy sink isn’t as hard as it sounds, and Emma’s top tip is to ‘put a capful of disinfectant down the plug hole, and it’ll smell fresh when you return!’ This Astonish Zesty Lemon Disinfectant (£8.49 for a pack of three at Amazon) is the perfect scent for a kitchen, too.
I've used these enzyme sticks in my own drains, and can confirm that they do work wonders to not only remove smells, but also break down debris.
4. Bathrooms
When you’re ready and raring to go on holiday, you probably don’t want to be like the people with consistently clean bathrooms who spend hours cleaning them. But it’s well worth giving your bathrooms a quick once-over before you leave.
Emma advises, ‘A quick wipe of the sink, shower and toilet is usually enough to stop watermarks, soap residue and bathroom smells building up while you're away. This should be one of the last tasks you do before you jet off.’ You can use as many of the best cleaning products as you want, too, so you can tailor it around the time you have left.
Personally, I love the spearmint-scent of this Miniml Fast-Action Toilet Cleaner (£3 at Amazon), and as Emma explains, ‘It's amazing how much more enjoyable the welcome home feels when the bathroom is fresh and clean. After a long journey home, little things like that really do make a difference.’
It's always worth using different coloured cleaning cloths for different rooms or cleaning tasks, and this pack should set you up for months.
5. Surfaces
I’m on a constant mission to keep dust out of my house, but you don’t have any control over that when you’re on holiday. However, giving surfaces a quick dust and wipe down before you jet off can make a big difference. You need to choose the right type of dusting, though.
Catherine explains, ‘You absolutely don't need to do a stressful deep clean right before a trip. I recommend damp dusting as it traps particles rather than simply moving them around.’ And using a damp duster like this Scrub Daddy Damp Duster (£2.98 at Amazon) is an Ideal Home favourite, too.
If you want to go the extra mile in the kitchen and bathroom, I’d also suggest wiping down your surfaces with an antibacterial spray to ensure that any germs or bacteria don’t spread while you’re enjoying yourself on holiday.
You can get the holiday vibes going by using this tropical antibacterial spray before you leave. I can confirm it smells incredible.
Will you be cleaning these things before you go on holiday?
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