It’s exciting to pack up your bags and leave for a new adventure. Whether that adventure is a long weekend in Italy, two weeks chilling in the Maldives, or a month of backpack travelling with a friend, travel is a wonderful part of life that should be exploited for all it’s worth – in the best way of course!

 

However, home life cannot go unignored, which is why you want to ensure your home is clean for when you leave. Not only does it keep any nasty pests away but it also means you’ve got a nice, clean home to come back to, once you’re done with your adventures this time around.

 

Here are some top tips for cleaning your home before leaving for your travels.

 

Do a deep clean of all rooms

While a light dusting here and there might suffice if you keep up regularly with cleaning, it’s good to do a deep clean of all rooms in the home.

 

This might take you more than a day to do but it’s highly satisfying to know that you’ve cleaned every inch of the home and you’re leaving it in a spotless condition.

 

If it helps, take each room one at a time to work on so that you’re not doing it all at once and knackering yourself out. Make sure you get any other household members involved if you don’t live alone, that includes any children who are of age and are able to tidy up their own spaces.

 

You’ll be thankful that you did this cleaning, especially as it means you’ll come back to a home where you can relax. Chances are you’ll just want to collapse on the sofa or in bed upon your return.

Declutter anything you no longer need

If there’s anything that you no longer need, then now is the time to get rid of it. It’s always refreshing to step away from the home and declutter anything and everything that you can justify throwing out.

 

If you don’t want to throw it straight into the bin, then consider donating it to a local charity or selling it on to friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers on the internet. Decluttering your home can be extremely therapeutic and something that is well worth doing if you have the time to do so.

Strip your bedding and put on a fresh set

Next, you’ll want to make sure that you have some fresh bedding to come back to after your travels. After a long jaunt of travelling, whether it’s three hours, seven hours, or more, you’ll likely want to crash straight onto the bed.

 

There’s nothing like slipping your tired body into fresh linen, especially when it’s fresh bedsheets that have yet to be enjoyed.

 

With that being said, be sure to strip off your existing bedding, even the mattress protector, and be sure to replace it with some fresh sheets. You might want to use some scent boosters that you can pop in the load so that the sheets themselves stay fresh and smell great for when you come back.

 

While it might seem like an unnecessary thing to do, it’s well worth doing and your future self will certainly appreciate it.

Set your boiler on low

Depending on the time of year you’re heading off on your travels, it’s important to consider setting your boiler on a low or holiday-type mode. This is to ensure your pipes stay warm and that they’re not going to get frozen over, particularly in the coldest of months.

 

You might not need to do this during the warmer months because you may not put on your boiler at all. In some cases, it might actually be more productive to switch off the boiler completely. Consider what time of year you’re travelling and be sure to adapt to this accordingly.

Make sure all drains have been cleared

Drains can be a common problem in many households, especially when it comes to the cleanliness and productivity of the home. 

 

You want to ensure that all your drains are clear and running sufficiently. That means no build-up of water and no evidence of a leaking pipe or faucet. The reason for this is that you don’t want to go away and come back to a huge flood in your home.

 

If you’ve got any problems like a draining issue, then it’s worth looking at professional services if it’s not a fix you can do yourself. When you unclog drains, you’ll be able to rest easy so that you’re not coming back to a mess in your kitchen or bathrooms.

Turn off any and all plugs

Another common worry when you go away is that you’ve not switched anything off. You panic that some hair straighteners are still on or you left the oven on – even though you never used them that day.

 

With that being said, to provide peace of mind, it’s a good idea to turn off any and all plugs around the home. If you want to go one step further, remove the plugs themselves from the dockets.

 

Switching them off at the plug though will obviously suffice. Not only that though it will also reduce your energy output while you’re away.

Throw out any rubbish

Before you go jetting off, you want to make sure that you’re not leaving behind any rubbish. The rubbish that’s in your main bin or the bin within your bathroom or bedroom is one that you want to clear out sooner rather than later. 

 

Otherwise, you may end up leaving something in there that goes rotten and starts to really smell through the entirety of the home.

Double and triple-check everything before you leave

Finally, before closing the front door, be sure to double and triple-check everything before you leave. This will ensure you’ve checked everything and that you’ve ticked off all the above!

 

Hopefully, with these tips, you can fly off to your next destination, safe in the knowledge that your home is clean and ready for your return.