To think there are standard pre holiday jobs?

[Springadorable]

Before leaving to go away I think it's totally normal to do as much washing as possible, hoover, wipe over surfaces/bathroom, chuck old food out the fridge and wipe it over inside as it's pretty empty, and switch off the electrical stuff at the wall. My DH appears to be a total nutter and only thinks taking the bins out is essential. Who's right? Or is there a different scenario that most people count as normal that we haven't even considered?!

Chuck old food out, and turn of electrics, yes. all the other cleaning - nope. It's already stressful enough packing for a holiday, why would you add all that additional stress to it?

Unless you're one of the people who really likes coming back to a really clean house, then I suppose it's fair enough.

I prefer the house to be right before I go away.
Mostly because I don’t want to come back to it!

I wouldn't hoover or clean the bathroom. Will be dusty again by the time we get back.

Washing I would do as much as possible, mainly because I usually need to do washing to go away with enough clean clothes!!

Throw away old food, yes, and finish washing up/run dishwasher. Wipe down fridge, no.

Take out bins, yes - also water plants, suspend any subscriptions eg. we get a weekly veg box which I once forgot to suspend. Close all windows (easy to forget if it's been hot and the windows have been open for days). Bring in any garden stuff.

Honestly it depends on your situation.

We work full time, have a four year old and a pet sitter comes to visit our pets when we’re away so the house has to be clean for her.

BUT if she wasn’t coming to our house, would I bother as much? Probs not, it’s stressful trying to clean a house, pack and wrangle a four year old in the days leading up to hols with limited free time.

I would still do basic things, like empty fridge, put bins out, hoover floor but not deep clean the kitchen or make sure the place smells incredible 🤣

Yes. I do these before every holiday so I can return to a nice, clean and relaxed environment.

I do all of those things yes, I like to do a deep clean and also water my plants etc. Can't think of anything worse than coming home from holiday to a messy/dirty house, especially after a tiring day of travelling and usually having to go back to work the next day!

I just use up food and empty the bins.

I leave the house tidy and hoovered, bleach the toilets and plug holes, empty anything from the fridge and fruit basket that needs to go, take out the bins, and empty the water tank for the coffee machine and the dogs water bowl to prevent them going mouldy.

We normally share domestic duties in a reasonably fair way (with me doing a bit more), but I have to admit this all falls to me as DH:

• wouldn't think to do it
• is always packing until the last second, whereas I'm organised and ready hours ahead
• doesn't give a shit either way

I’m like you OP, clean the house, empty the fridge/bins, switch off plugs, all the washing is done so I can get straight on with holiday washing when we get back. I also put fresh sheets on the bed to come back to. Although last year, DCat threw up on our bed whilst we were away so that was a wasted effort.

Absolutely have to deep clean the house before we go away. I like knowing it's clean to come back to. Returning from holiday is horrible and usually quite full on with catching up on everything so knowing the house is one less thing to sort is a lovely feeling.

Yanbu i always clean the house before going away one because I dont want to come back to s shit tip but also if I died in a plane crash I wouldn't want people seeing my house messy. I also unplug everything accept the fridge and the sky box. I empty all bins and ask the neighbours to sort my wheelie bins and keep an eye out. I thought everyone did this stuff

Yes I’m with you.

however MIL comes and dog sits for us so while I do the laundry and clean out the fridge sometimes I don’t always clean and the house is still always sparkling when we get home 😁

Thanks all. I do like coming home to a house that's not requiring immediate cleaning, but I guess I could relax a little bit about some aspects.
Actually who am I kidding, I won't change 😂

My DH and i both like the house to be clean and tidy before we go away. It's lovely coming home and everything is tidy and sorted.

I use up or throw out food and empty bins.
The rest is business as usual, I would not bother cleaning before a holiday and usually cancel my cleaner when we are away.
I don’t understand the obsession with coming home to a clean house 🤷🏻‍♀️

Laundry - yes, partly so we have the right clothes to pack

Fridge and bins cleared - yes grim otherwise

Empty coffee machine water as pp said

Water plants/set houseplants up on a wet towel

Stuff off at the wall - never done this

Cleaning - nope nothing extra to usual cleaning

I am the same as you- love coming home from holiday to a clean and tidy house.

Love coming home to a sparkling clean house after hols ...unfortunately I have a 23 year old DS so will come back to a bin full of takeaway cartons ,toothpaste all over the bathroom mirror /taps and various bits of clothing draped over the clothes airer ...

I clean and tidy but I don't switch off any plugs.

Yesss I have this discussion with DH every year as I get stressed before we go away due to all the tasks that need doing.
I don’t turn off the electric plugs though.

Switch off the electrical stuff at the wall.

Not the fridge and freezer though, we trust those not to burn the house down when we are away 😆

We do the washing and cleaning before we go. My husband used to think I was weird but bless him, mucked in anyway to get it done. 20 years on, I suggested we left it not done before the last holiday we went on as things were really hectic and he was horrified at the thought and said no, we should find the time to do it. Thankfully our teenager is on board with it and will do her bit too.

It makes sense as you don’t want to come back to an untidy house, which is instantly made untidier by the stuff you are unpacking. There will be tons of laundry to do so starting with an empty basket is much better.

Yes to all of those things. I don’t want a full washing basket to come home to when there’s already holiday washing to do. And it’s bad enough returning home from a wonderful holiday without walking into a shit tip. The other things like throwing away food that would spoil I’m assuming everyone does - otherwise you’d be coming back to new life forms developing…

Not the fridge and freezer though, we trust those not to burn the house down when we are away 😆

Which is ironic @BoredZelda as a lot of the time it's fridges that are the culprit! I don't turn mine off, so there's no point unplugging the tv.

Me too. With clean bed sheets on the beds and clean PJs ready too.

I get a bit demented about cleaning the house before holidays. But we often have hard work holidays (camping, long drives, self catering) so if I come back to a messy house it's just too much.