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6 Things to Do in Your Home Before Going on Vacation

Cleaning Before Vacation Prevents Unpleasant Surprises Upon Return
Cleaning Before Vacation Prevents Unpleasant Surprises Upon Return Photo: Getty Images
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July 26, 2026, 1:11 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

The anticipation for the vacation is high, but before you go, it’s worth doing a quick cleaning check at home. Dirt, clutter, and unpleasant odors can quickly dampen the vacation mood upon return. Therefore, it’s advisable to thoroughly clean a few areas in the home before departure. myHOMEBOOK reveals which six spots these are.

1. Change the bed linens

No matter how wonderful the vacation was, sleeping in your own bed at home is just as nice. That’s why it’s worth changing the blankets and sheets before the vacation, so you can sleep in a fresh bed after the trip.

2. Take out the trash

It’s generally understood that you should take out the trash before going on vacation and possibly clean the trash can as well. This point still belongs on the checklist because no one wants to be greeted by foul odors after their vacation.

3. Clean the trash can

Sometimes an unpleasant odor can develop in trash cans, especially with wet or organic waste. This smell often lingers even after the trash has been emptied. Therefore, it’s worth cleaning the trash bin again before the vacation.

4. Do the laundry

After the vacation, you’ll unpack and do laundry. To prevent this pile from getting even bigger, you should definitely do a wash before the trip, so there’s not even more work waiting. Additionally, bacteria can form more easily in dirty or sweaty clothes, which is another reason not to let the laundry sit too long.

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5. Check the refrigerator

To avoid any unpleasant surprises after your days off, you should also check the refrigerator in advance. There might be something in the back corner that could mold or is already unappealing. So, it’s worth cleaning the fridge once more before the vacation.

6. Wash the dishes

The last point on the checklist is washing the dishes. To avoid scraping off old leftovers after the vacation, you should clean the last plates and cups. Also, empty the dishwasher so that task doesn’t await you after the vacation.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

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