The Single Best Thing You Can Do For Yourself Before Leaving For Vacation, Per Frequent Travelers

There's nothing quite like the moment when you're finally able to collapse into your bed at home after you've been away –– unless that bed is covered in mounds of dirty laundry. Traveling is incredible and enriching, but an expanded world view and fun cultural experiences aren't the only things you'll gain while you're away. According to many frequent globetrotters, it can also lead to a deeper appreciation of all the familiar things in your life, including your home and belongings.

As your journey comes to an end, you'll undoubtedly feel a mix of emotions. You might feel sad that the experience is coming to a close while simultaneously feeling excited to return to your loved ones and your usual routine. That being said, nothing ruins a joyful homecoming faster than returning to a messy house. There are two types of travelers: the ones who meticulously clean the entire house before a trip, and the ones who leave their home looking like a tornado hit in a frantic effort to make it to the airport on time. The former will tell you that spending some time cleaning before you leave can help ensure a stress-free return from vacation. 

Preparing to leave on vacation can be a chaotic experience, especially for people who are traveling with kids and first-time travelers. You'll likely be rushing around doing last-minute loads of laundry and ensuring you have everything you need. You're certainly not alone if you've ever left a mess to deal with upon your return, but according to frequent travelers, you'll be doing yourself a huge favor if you carve out some time to tidy up before your departure.

There are some passionate online discussions debating the importance of cleaning house before leaving on vacation. Some participants seem like they're just eager to brag about their own tidiness, but the overwhelming consensus amongst people who travel frequently is that spending some extra time organizing your home is a crucial thing to do before leaving for vacation.  Don't feel guilty if you're too busy to put everything in perfect order before you leave. Most travelers have probably been in your shoes at some point, but it only takes one instance of returning home to the stench of a forgotten bag of garbage in the bin or food rotting in the fridge to realize that cleaning before you go is easier than cleaning the same mess after you return home.

"The only thing better than coming home from a long trip is coming home to a clean house. I've always been pretty appreciative (strange to say) that pre-trip me decided to clean before leaving," wrote user thesweetkind on Reddit. Other commenters chimed in with their agreement. "Yes, this. It's like a gift to me from me," wrote soykm.

While most commenters agreed that cleaning before departure is ideal, not everyone was sold on the idea. One parent explained that it's not always practical for families. "That's absolute madness. Then the kids have nothing to do but turn the place into a pigsty while we are gone. Better to clean when we get back and enjoy it," wrote user whirl-pool.

Some commenters reasonably argue that cleaning everything before you leave is not worth it if it causes extra stress and puts a damper on the trip. "My mom used to do this, and the stress of cleaning the house and packing for vacation, getting out of the house on time was too much," commented Reddit user aurora4000. The key to having a stress-free departure and return is proper planning. If you're able to budget your time properly, there's no need to feel rushed or stressed. Start preparing for your trip about a week in advance.

Cut down on stressors by making a list and spacing out tasks. Jen Walshaw, a top parenting blogger in the U.K., shares some excellent tips on her website, The Mad House. "I have a weekly clean schedule and I just adjust it the week before we go on vacation to accommodate," she wrote. She makes sure everyone is in charge of their own room, so that the work is evenly distributed.

Jen starts by washing all the bed linens a few days before departure in order to return home to fresh sheets. If there's not enough time to wash the bedding, she suggests turning down the bed so it can air out during your trip. Then she tackles general household chores, including cleaning the sink, taking out the trash, and watering the plants. Jen offers a printable pre-holiday cleaning checklist on her blog to help make the process easy. As long as you give yourself plenty of time, pre-trip cleaning can be stress-free. You'll be so grateful you put in the extra effort when you return to a nice, clean home. When you return from your trip, you'll only have to unpack and clean your luggage.