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Your essential checklist before heading home for the holidays

Sheetal Bhandari Sheetal Bhandari
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So the holiday season is here and its time to head home to meet family and friends. There's so much fun and festivities to look forward to. While there's excitement all around, do not ignore the home you are leaving behind. Wind up thoroughly so you come back to a home that is in a state that you left it at and needs least amount of work right on arrival No one likes to come back to a home that's not clean, well arranged and more importantly, has had any kind of unexpected damage maybe due to water leakage or electric short circuits. To make sure you don't have to face anything of this kind, here's your essential checklist before heading home for the holidays. 

Turn off and unplug appliances

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Turn off and unplug appliances

All appliances especially those in the kitchen should be turned off and unplugged. This ensures safety of appliances in case of any electrical issues while no one's home to attend to it. Voltage fluctuations, thunder lightening or any other incidents can cause damage to electric appliances. It is a good practice to walk through the house and check all rooms for electric points. No appliances should ideally be plugged in. Most probable are irons, washing machines, televisions, microwaves, electric gas tops and electric kettles. 

All appliances especially those in the kitchen should be turned off and unplugged. This ensures safety of appliances in case of any electrical issues while no one's home to attend to it. Voltage fluctuations, thunder lightening or any other incidents can cause damage to electric appliances. It is a good practice to walk through the house and check all rooms for electric points. No appliances should ideally be plugged in. Most probable are irons, washing machines, televisions, microwaves, electric gas tops and electric kettles. 

Close all the windows

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Close all the windows

Just when you are about to leave the house, check for any unlocked windows. Make sure all the securely shut. Apart from safety issues, unlocked windows will let in dust from outside the house to settle on your furniture, bedding, upholstery etc; a major irritant when you come back after a holiday and all you needed was a clean place to rest. Closing in the curtains will allow complete privacy and avoiding the house getting too warm during the day.

Just when you are about to leave the house, check for any unlocked windows. Make sure all the securely shut. Apart from safety issues, unlocked windows will let in dust from outside the house to settle on your furniture, bedding, upholstery etc; a major irritant when you come back after a holiday and all you needed was a clean place to rest. Closing in the curtains will allow complete privacy and avoiding the house getting too warm during the day.

Turn down/off the heating

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Turn down/off the heating

Heating system can be turned down or simply shut depending on the severity of cold and duration of the holiday. For a short holiday of a couple of days, its easier to simply turn it down rather than restarting it all over again and waiting for it to take effect. For a longer holiday though, turn it off just like any other appliance to avert any electrical complications and damage to the unit.

Heating system can be turned down or simply shut depending on the severity of cold and duration of the holiday. For a short holiday of a couple of days, its easier to simply turn it down rather than restarting it all over again and waiting for it to take effect. For a longer holiday though, turn it off just like any other appliance to avert any electrical complications and damage to the unit.

Clean out the fridge

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Clean out the fridge

The refrigerator is home to all perishable items so plan well and try consuming them well before heading out for the holiday. Dispose off the ones that are due to expire while you would be out. Cleaning out the fridge completely is recommended as much as possible. Milk, milk products, fruits, vegetables, meat items and open juice cans can be a big nuisance if left behind in the fridge for long. Sealed items can last safely in a freezer, so shift those that are eligible to be frozen. 

The refrigerator is home to all perishable items so plan well and try consuming them well before heading out for the holiday. Dispose off the ones that are due to expire while you would be out. Cleaning out the fridge completely is recommended as much as possible. Milk, milk products, fruits, vegetables, meat items and open juice cans can be a big nuisance if left behind in the fridge for long. Sealed items can last safely in a freezer, so shift those that are eligible to be frozen. 

Give the bathroom a quick clean

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Give the bathroom a quick clean

Giving the bathroom a quick cleanup will ensure that it does not become a home for germs and bacteria while not in use. Water on the floor and counters and damp towels if left unattended for long duration can be a cause for bad odors. So quickly mop the floors dry, remove damp clothes and a give a brief cleanup to the sinks, tubs and toilet seats. Ensure that you leave the bathroom clean and dry as much as possible.

Giving the bathroom a quick cleanup will ensure that it does not become a home for germs and bacteria while not in use. Water on the floor and counters and damp towels if left unattended for long duration can be a cause for bad odors. So quickly mop the floors dry, remove damp clothes and a give a brief cleanup to the sinks, tubs and toilet seats. Ensure that you leave the bathroom clean and dry as much as possible.

Put out the rubbish & recycling

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Put out the rubbish & recycling

Remove all rubbish and dispose it off in the designated spot from where it can be collected by garbage collectors. Forgetting to empty the garbage bins especially the wet garbage can be a real problem. Imagine the state of the kitchen where wet rubbish is lying unattended for days! If you are recycling your waste already, make sure that you compost it before leaving the house. 

Remove all rubbish and dispose it off in the designated spot from where it can be collected by garbage collectors. Forgetting to empty the garbage bins especially the wet garbage can be a real problem. Imagine the state of the kitchen where wet rubbish is lying unattended for days! If you are recycling your waste already, make sure that you compost it before leaving the house. 

Do laundry

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Do laundry

One might have a bagful of laundry already to do after a holiday, so make sure you do not have extra laundry to do from the clothes that were left behind. Doing laundry beforehand is one job less to do once back home, it also makes sure that the laundry room is clean with no dirty clothes lying around and giving out unpleasant odors for days. There's no better feeling than coming to a house that smells of fresh clean clothes!

One might have a bagful of laundry already to do after a holiday, so make sure you do not have extra laundry to do from the clothes that were left behind. Doing laundry beforehand is one job less to do once back home, it also makes sure that the laundry room is clean with no dirty clothes lying around and giving out unpleasant odors for days. There's no better feeling than coming to a house that smells of fresh clean clothes!

Notify your neighbours you'll be away

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Notify your neighbours you'll be away

Its crucial to notify your neighbors that you'll be away. Its a great way to secure your house as neighbors can be alert if there's any suspicious activity in and around the house. They can quickly inform you or the local police if there's any danger to the house, either by intruders or any internal accident due to fire etc. Neighbors can also collect your packages if any arrive during your absence so you don't miss out on any mail.

These are pretty simple, quick and easy chores but have a huge impact on whats the condition of the house post the holiday trip. So before you lock your home and head out for holidays, follow these essential checklist items for a safe, secure and happy return back home.

Its crucial to notify your neighbors that you'll be away. Its a great way to secure your house as neighbors can be alert if there's any suspicious activity in and around the house. They can quickly inform you or the local police if there's any danger to the house, either by intruders or any internal accident due to fire etc. Neighbors can also collect your packages if any arrive during your absence so you don't miss out on any mail.

These are pretty simple, quick and easy chores but have a huge impact on whats the condition of the house post the holiday trip. So before you lock your home and head out for holidays, follow these essential checklist items for a safe, secure and happy return back home.