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Original poster

Cleaning house before going on holiday

96 replies

drinkingwineoutofamug · 03/07/2022 10:20

Who else cleans the house before going away? We are off camping for a week and I've given the house a good tidy, changed beds etc
Partner thinks I'm bonkers but I really don't want to come home to a full washing basket, carpets/floors that need hoovering and dust I can write my name in.
Adult son staying at home due to work , so partner thinks it's definitely a waste of time.
The only job I've given partner is to play Jenga fitting all the.camping stuff in the car

OP posts:
Yodaisawally · 05/07/2022 12:09

I'm not obsessive but laundry done, quick hoover, empty dishwasher etc otherwise its grim to come back to

BiddyPop · 05/07/2022 12:30

In the couple of days before we go, I change sheets and towels (so that I have time to wash and dry the dirty ones before we go), clear out any other laundry if possible, and give the house a general clean as part of my packing/finding things/general panic the night before (not deep cleaning but quick swish of both bathrooms and kitchen, brush floors, hoover sittingroom, tidy off chair of doom in my room, leave desks tidy etc.

Either as we leave (if not a mad dash at stupid o'clock am) or as we head to bed before leaving, I'll empty the bins (well kitchen, I'll probably have done the bathroom and bedrooms earlier) and wipe the counters. And wash any cups we've used having run and emptied the dishwasher the night before as well.

But I am the Jenga master in our house, so DH gets the fun of the last minute cleaning Grin

Champagneforeveryone · 05/07/2022 13:26

I wonder if this is an age thing and will die out eventually? We've just been away and DS(18) was agog that we would clean before we left. On canvassing his friends, it appears all their parents do it too but they all exclusively consider it to be bonkers.

I also have my car valeted before I go away, so that it looks pretty in the airport car park 😆

LoudingVoice · 05/07/2022 13:30

Champagneforeveryone · 05/07/2022 13:26

I wonder if this is an age thing and will die out eventually? We've just been away and DS(18) was agog that we would clean before we left. On canvassing his friends, it appears all their parents do it too but they all exclusively consider it to be bonkers.

I also have my car valeted before I go away, so that it looks pretty in the airport car park 😆

Nah, considering the massive appeal of cleaning/house style influencers I think it’d be really popular with a younger generation.

MintJulia · 05/07/2022 13:35

I clean loos/kitchen and make sure the beds are fit to sleep in because I'll be too tired to do it when we get home.

But living in an old house, dust is a fact of life and there is no point in dusting before going away for a week.

FunnysInLaJardin · 05/07/2022 13:35

ProseccoStorm · 03/07/2022 12:03

I've never cleaned the house before going on holiday.

It's usually fairly clean away, but never have we cleaned it because we are going away. Wouldn't cross my mind.

same here, its always tidy and we have cleaners every week, so no I don't clean before a holiday.

Didn't before we had cleaners either!

Simbobbly · 05/07/2022 13:41

Ideally yes. In practice sometimes not, when work was full on and kids were small.

RewildingAmbridge · 05/07/2022 13:48

Yes I do now, didn't bother pre DS everything was already pretty clean and tidy and I'd come back from holiday refreshed and relaxed. A holiday with a 3 year old isn't that...
DH thought I was nuts but this time we went away came back to a spotless house, fresh bed linen and had another two days off before going back to work, it was bliss

Hoppinggreen · 05/07/2022 13:50

I always try to leave things clean and tidy.
Now I have a cleaner she comes while we are away and it’s lovely to come home to

Crucible · 05/07/2022 13:55

Definitely worth doing this. I got a robovac and when I next go away I'm leaving it so I vacuum when I am out of the house. It'll get rid of the dust that settles on the floors while I'm away and that is a good thing.

BruceAndNosh · 05/07/2022 14:00

I wouldn't get it sparkling but I like to ensure the house is 'visitor ready' while we are away.
It's a family joke "in case we come back dead" and some relative has to come in and find our Wills.

Gazelda · 05/07/2022 14:15

I do. I also do most of the organising of the holiday because I like to be in control.
So while I'm mid-clean, DH and I have our traditional pre-holiday barney because he's not reading my mind about what needs doing and doesn't share my desire for a lovely clean, fresh, welcoming house to come home to.

I've resorted to writing a list that the whole family can read on the fridge, but that apparently 'stresses them out'.

Comefromaway · 05/07/2022 14:18

I make sure there is nothing that will go off in the fridge or mouldy eg dirty dishes but clean before I go away? -- not got time for that!

SpottyStripyDuvet · 05/07/2022 14:35

The neighbours come in and feed the cat so I feel I need to leave it looking reasonable as well as not wanting to come back to a mess. Also like the idea of it being nice just in case you die whilst you are away!

tokyotea · 05/07/2022 14:39

I do and it stresses me out so I'm manically trying to fit it all in amongst a full on toddler and working.. I have exactly one hour today to get it all done before toddler wakes up.. it's just realistically not happening so I have to learn to let it go. As long as the bathroom is done and rooms somewhat tidy and a quick hoover before we leave it'll be ok.. and then there's the packing Sad why can't I pay someone to pack for me? I detest it.

Deadringer · 05/07/2022 14:47

Like pps I am not big on cleaning but I love coming home to a clean house so usually do a big tidy up before we go. This year 2 of our adult dc will be staying at home, they will clean up after themselves but it won't be the same as coming home to an untouched house so I don't think I will bother, might just do my room.

Original poster
drinkingwineoutofamug · 05/07/2022 15:17

Here's me asking about cleaning your home before you go away....
I forgot the dustpan and brush and have a tent full of grass and dried rabbit droppings 🙄

OP posts:
whenwillthemadnessend · 05/07/2022 15:20

Yes. I do a full clean as close to the date as poss. I'll also change beds early

Crucible · 05/07/2022 15:37

Oh and I like to use lavender polish in my bedroom on my wooden furniture so the smell is still there when I return (it won't be as strong after a week, but it's still a lovely thing)

Stripyhoglets1 · 05/07/2022 15:41

I try and leave it vaguely tidy for the cleaner but I'm always so busy getting packed and trying to get work finished I'd never be able to clean it myself!

popcorndiva · 05/07/2022 15:43

Yep clean bathrooms, hoover, mow lawn, make sure dishwasher bins are empty. Night before I clean toilets, put bleach down sinks. Pretty normal I would sat

Triffid1 · 05/07/2022 15:47

We used to get our cleaner to still come in while we were away and she'd use the time to do some spring cleaning.... it was glorious to come home to a clean sparkling house.

I would never leave it properly dirty before going away as it's too depressing. Definitely kitchen and bathrooms cleaned so that when you return you just have to wipe away dust (if you've been gone long enough). Robot vacuum on throughout house by day before, lounge tidy. Makes such a difference on your return.

Thebeastofsleep · 05/07/2022 21:33

Mumdiva99 · 03/07/2022 10:31

Doesn't everyone? Occasionally I've run out of time and not achieved it....then you just have to let it go and not spoil the holiday.

Not everyone.

I once cat sit for a couple and they left the property in a right state before going away. Unwashed pots and everything. I was shooketh!

I'm the same as you OP. Can't stand leaving a messy house.

MuddlingThroughLifeLittleByLittle · 05/07/2022 21:35

Yes. Even clean out kitchen cupboards drawers etc. Haha.

I remember making it gleaming before a 6 week holiday. Came back. Was soo dusty! Even though it been empty for 6 weeks. So wasted so much time lol

echt · 05/07/2022 21:57

I'm another house clean before the holidays type.
Love coming back to utter tidiness.