It’s officially the season of summer vacations. From the Euro-summers we see going viral on TikTok and the Miami or Nashville bachelorette weekends we’ve waited all year for to the family trips to visit your in-laws in the midwest — there is nothing like summertime travel.

Of course, we can’t just get up and go when it comes to these trips. They require planning and preparation, from making sure your time off work gets approved to ensuring your travel arrangements align with your lodging reservations. And while jetting off may have our focus solely on the destination, the homes we leave behind need a little prep work before we leave to make sure we’re not coming home to weird smells and a discombobulated space.

After all, the last thing you want to come home to after a trip is a messy house. So, no matter if you’re heading off to the Amalfi Coast or are road-tripping up to the Grand Canyon, we are here to help you make sure your house is primed and prepped so the only thing you have to worry about when you come home is unpacking and hitting the hay.

Clean out your fridge.

Probably the worst way to be welcomed home is by the stinky embrace of rotten food festering in your fridge. Whether you’re gone for two days or two weeks, taking inventory of what is about to expire in your fridge before leaving is essential. For any proteins that you are unsure about, place them in the freezer for safekeeping while you are away.

Deep clean your sink.

A damp area is a gnat’s play (and breeding) ground, so making sure you clean your sink out before you leave is imperative.
Despite what we may have been led to believe, simply pouring bleach in your sink is not enough. Make sure you scrub the inside of the drain and up and around the opening to make sure no food residue is left behind.

Take out all of your trash.

The last thing you may want to do when you’re rushing out of the house with the Uber on the way is throw out that garbage you forgot about. Even if there is no actual food in your trash cans, any leftover garbage can cause residue to build up and attract gnats and fruit flies. Leftover trash can also cause odors to fester, which is the last thing we want.

Unplug items that are not in use and adjust your thermostats.

If you are going to be gone, there is no reason to have your A/C cranked all the way up unless, of course, you like wasting money.
It’s also great to unplug all of your appliances with easy-access outlets. Your toasters, Nespresso’s and irons deserve a break too.

Use this time for any at-home maintenance you can’t do while at home.

If you’ve been thinking about using any at-home foggers or pest control systems that require you to be out of your home for extended periods of time, vacations are the perfect time to do these treatments. Similarly, if there are any paint projects or similar DIY tasks that require you to be a bit more careful while walking in certain areas of the house, scheduling these projects around your trips is optimal.