When you are getting all set to leave for a summer holiday this season, make sure that what you leave behind is safe, secure and in as good condition as when you left. You don't want to come back to a home that's messy, giving out unpleasant smells or needs urgent repair work. All in all, it must not give you unexpected surprises when you return but instead be the same old comfortable home sweet home! So here is a quick checklist of things you need to do when you are about to leave the house for a long vacation.
Lock your valuables in a safe
If you have any valuables, like an expensive watch, a mobile that you aren't taking with you, jewellery, cash or important papers, lock them all away securely in a safe.
Clean the bathroom
After the last person has used the bathroom, give it a quick cleanup. Clear the drain, put away the used hand towel and wipe the bathroom surfaces dry. Moisture accumulation over a long time will leave unpleasant stains on the faucets, tiles and sanitary fittings. Quickly double check if all taps are shut.
Do the laudry
Finish the laundry as much as you can. When you return from your vacation, you would have a whole new lot to wash anyway, so complete as much as you can before leaving. Dirty laundry can also emit bad smells in your laundry room, so clear out the area before leaving.
Here's an ideabook on How to reduce the laundry time.
Empty the trash can
This is very important especially if you have wet waste in there. Send it out right before leaving and keep the trash can ready for use once you return home. You don't want to see what happens to wet waste when left unattended for long periods of time!
Empty the fridge
When the fridge is not in use, the best bet is to empty out the open food packets and other perishable items. Consume all those or get rid of them. Letting them rot in the refrigerator will cause bacterial build-up.
Clean up the kitchen counter
Left out food crumbs in the nooks and corners of the kitchen are an invitation to ants and other bugs. So wipe the counter area and gas top with a good cleaning agent. Also make sure that the faucets are shut properly.
Shut the windows
Shut all the windows and pull the curtains if you want to so the house remains free of dust and prying eyes from outside.
Secure the house
Lock and double lock the main door. If you have a digital lock, it might make sense to change the password now (and share with a family member just in case you forget!).
Inform the neighbours
If you have friendly neighbours, let them know for how long you will be out. If they are close and trustworthy you could even hand them over your spare keys. Your neighbours could alert you in case of any situation or could even help you water your plants and collect the mail on your behalf!
Once you have followed all of the above, you can be sure that the house is secure and safe. It is now time to enjoy the vacation without any worry about what's happeneing back home. Have fun!