03 Aug 2026
Pre-holiday cleaning cheat sheet:
- A pre-holiday clean can save hours of chores when you get home.
- A few key jobs help prevent bad smells and mould while you're away.
- There’s no need to deep clean your whole house. Focus on areas that matter most.
- We share the simple checklist that makes coming home feel as good as the holiday itself.
Holiday-you is having a brilliant time.
Future-you is thinking about the journey home.
After travelling, delayed flights and unpacking, the last thing anyone wants is to immediately start cleaning a house.
So spending just 30 - 45 minutes before you leave can save so much time later and means your home feels welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
Think of it as the nicest favour you can do for yourself.
Pre-holiday task guide.
Before you leave | Why it matters | Time |
|---|---|---|
Empty the bins | Stops nasty smells | 2 mins |
Clear out-of-date food from fridge | Stops mouldy surprises | 5 mins |
Run dishwasher (leaving door ajar once finished) | Avoids stale smells | 2 mins |
Empty washing machine (leaving door ajar) | Stops mould and damp | 1 min |
Change bedding | Fresh sheets upon return | 5 mins |
Vacuum high traffic areas | Prevents dust buildup | 10 mins |
Wipe kitchen worktops | Keeps things fresh | 3 mins |
Clean bathroom | Fresh upon return | 10 mins |
Water plants | Keeps them happy | 3 mins |
Check any food in cupboards that could spoil | Remove to avoid mould | 2 mins |
1. Empty your bins.
Warm weather and closed-up houses are the perfect recipe for unpleasant smells so empty every bin before you leave, especially kitchen food waste.
If you have a few extra minutes, give the kitchen bin a quick rinse with warm water and a little Washing Up Liquid before putting in the liner.
2. A 5-minute fridge reset.
Check anything that might expire while you're away and get rid (looking at you, milk and salad leaves!).
3. Do the dishes.
Run one final dishwasher cycle (with your smol Dishwasher Tablet of course!) and empty it completely, leaving the door slightly ajar so moisture can escape.
4. Clear down the laundry pile.
Most of us return from holiday with a suitcase full of dirty washing (and also sand!), so don’t add to your load with a basket that’s already overflowing at home.
Pop in a trusty smol Laundry Capsule, run a cycle and leave the door ajar once you’ve emptied out your clothes. It will help prevent mildew and musty smells building while you're away.
5. Put on fresh bedding.
Coming home, feeling tired and climbing into freshly washed sheets feels like an extra night's holiday. Treat yourself.
6. Give the bathroom a quick refresh.
It doesn’t need a deep clean, just a quick wipe with our Foaming Bathroom Spray on your sink and surfaces, a clean toilet and empty the bathroom bin.
7. Tidy your kitchen surfaces.
Kitchen crumbs and spills attract unwanted kitchen pests especially while the house lies empty so give the worktops and kitchen table a quick wipe with our brilliant Multi Purpose Spray.
8. Vacuum (selectively).
There's no need to deep clean every room but a quick vacuum on high-traffic areas pays dividends. Think hallway, living room and kitchen.
Pre-holiday clean FAQs.
Catherine Green, Cleaning Expert
Catherine has been on a mission to revolutionise the way we tackle chores since the dawn of smol and is an advocate for making more sustainable living accessible to all, with a strong focus in cleaning that’s heavy on dirt, lighter on the planet and gentle on the skin. Catherine has tested hundreds of hacks to make tackling chores easier, safer, and better for the planet and our homes.
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