Four cleaning tasks you must do before travelling to avoid nasty surprises when you return

The last thing anyone wants to do before heading off on holiday is clean the house, but it's better than returning to a horrible smell and pests taking over the kitchen.

While you might not have a lot of time ahead of the trip there are a few key things that are worth taking care of.

If there is time for a couple more cleaning tasks you'll enjoy the satisfaction of coming home to a completely clean house and can instead focus on unpacking and resting.

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For professional cleaner Manish Jain from Ministry of Cleaning the one chore that gives him the most relief to know is done before travelling is the kitchen.

"Knowing there are no dirty dishes, smelly trash, or food going bad in the fridge feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders after a trip," he tells 9honey Living.

These are the most important cleaning tasks Jain recommends prior to closing up your house for days or weeks on end.

"Before heading out, it's important to clean areas that can lead to unpleasant surprises when you return," he says.

"Take out the [rubbish] to avoid bad smells or pests, clean the kitchen by washing dishes, clearing the sink, and wiping countertops to prevent odours and bacteria buildup, empty the fridge of perishable items to stop food from spoiling, vacuum floors to keep dirt and crumbs from attracting pests and tidy up the bathroom by flushing toilets, emptying bins, and checking drains to avoid nasty smells or clogs."

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But if you don't have much time the professional cleaner advises just four tasks: taking out the rubbish, wiping the bench, removing any food from the fridge that is likely to go off and wiping down the bathroom sink.

Cleaning before travelling doesn't just prevent bad smells and bugs from invading the home, it also prevents mould growth and stains, while also ensuring you come home relaxed.

"Cleaning before a holiday is an investment in your peace of mind – even a quick tidy-up can make all the difference," Jain says.

To help make cleaning before travelling easier write a checklist of jobs you want to do in order of priority – though some, like washing up the dishes from your last meal or taking the rubbish out are often best left until not long before you go.

A timer is another effective cleaning hack which Jain says will "keep you focused". Setting it for 15 to 20 minutes should do the trick and may even get you in the mood to keep cleaning.

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Before you head off it's also worth setting up some moisture and odour absorbers in spots like pantry cupboards and wardrobes if you aren't already using them.

For the fridge and bin you can pop some baking/bi-carb soda in a small dish or open container and adding a drop of vanilla extract or essential oil for a cheap and easy hack that ensures these spaces stay smelling fresh.

It's also helpful to replace your cockroach baits – and any other pest control – with new ones if it's been a while since they were last replaced.

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