Prepare your home for a peaceful return before your next trip
One of the most fulfilling parts of travel can often be the return home, finding comfort in your own space after time spent on the road. These moments can be destroyed, however, by a lack of preparation leading to a stinky or disheveled return home. Taking a few steps to address key household functions before departure can ensure that crossing your threshold is a calm, pleasant experience.
Clean the refrigerator
The easiest way to spoil a long awaited homecoming is finding a fridge full of mold and rotten, outdated food. Avoid this stinky situation by cleaning out the refrigerator before your departure, ensuring that nothing perishable is able to start a thriving bacterial colony while you are away.
Fire safety
Without monitoring and occupancy, it can be possible for sparks and making sure small appliances are unplugged and smoke detectors are fully operational.
Appliances
Check the washing machine for wet laundry, another potential source of mold and odor that can ruin not only your return home, but major parts of your wardrobe. Empty the dishwasher and leave it open a crack for leftover water to be able to evaporate.
To circumvent home intruders, make sure that the mail service to your home is paused, or that a neighbor, friend or housesitter is coming by to collect it. Letting mail pile up in the box or on the porch is a key giveaway to intruders that a vacationer’s home may be vulnerable.
Car security
One other way to ensure the safety of your home while you are away is to hide the status of your inoccupancy from thieves. This means making sure that your car is parked inside or safely in a long-term lot somewhere other than your driveway. Stagnant vehicles are a key giveaway that a home may be available for burglary by absent homeowners.
This story was originally published September 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM.