How to Clean The Kitchen Before Leaving for The Holidays

Leaving for the holidays is always a long-awaited moment, filled with anticipation: some leave at dawn with their backpacks packed days ago, others do everything at the last minute, some leave home for a weekend, others for weeks. But whatever the destination or the duration, there's a household task that's often overlooked yet crucial to leaving with peace of mind and returning with joy: thoroughly cleaning the kitchen before closing the door.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, the space where food is prepared, coffee is drunk, and daily activities are shared. It's also the room that most easily gets dirty, picks up odors, and attracts insects, especially in summer. That's why dedicating a little time to it before leaving can be a smart choice, avoiding hassles upon your return and giving you the pleasant feeling of returning to a fresh, clean space that's ready for use.

Avoid a "Surprising" Return

Coming back from vacation should be a relaxing experience, but it can be the opposite if you come home to a house that smells of a forgotten trash can or dirty dishes in the sink. Often, in the rush to leave, we leave everything as it is after the last dinner, thinking, "I'll think about it when I get back." But the heat, the weather, and organic debris do the rest, turning a small mess into a real problem.

Cleaning the kitchen before leaving is therefore a form of prevention. It's not a deep clean, but a targeted intervention on critical areas, those most likely to generate unpleasant odors, attract insects , or create a mess that's difficult to deal with upon your return.

Critical Points to Fix Before Leaving

Even if you don't have time for a thorough cleaning, there are some areas of the kitchen that are definitely worth checking and sprucing up. With a few targeted steps, you can achieve great results. Here are the main points to focus on:

• Countertops and surfaces: Remove crumbs, scraps, or misplaced dishes. Wipe with a damp cloth and a mild detergent or even just water and vinegar. Even a few crumbs can attract ants or create unpleasant odors, especially if they remain there for days or weeks.
• Stovetop and oven: If you've cooked in the past few days, a quick wipe down (even just with a damp sponge) prevents splatters and residue from drying or becoming more difficult to remove. If the oven has been used recently, check that there are no residues or trays that need cleaning.
• Sink and sponges: Empty the sink completely, dry it with a cloth, and discard any worn or smelly sponges. Wring out any you want to keep and let them air dry to prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Small appliances: Check toasters, coffee makers, blenders, or food processors. Empty them of any debris (such as coffee grounds or crumbs), clean them if necessary, and unplug them for safety.
• Trash can and recycling: one of the most common mistakes is forgetting to take out the trash. Even if the trash can isn't full, empty it anyway. It's better to take a half-empty bag with you than to return and have to deal with stinky, gnats, or unpleasant spills.

The Finishing Touch: Scent and Atmosphere

Once you've finished cleaning the basics, you can do a few more things to make the space even more welcoming. It doesn't take much, just a small touch:

Leave a cloth with a few drops of essential oil (citrus, lavender, or eucalyptus are ideal) in a corner of the kitchen.

Quickly clean the floor with water and a scented detergent.

If you have a candle or a diffuser, leave it lit for half an hour before going out: it will leave a pleasant trail in the air that you will smell as soon as you return.

Avoid sealing all windows: leave a crack if possible, so as not to create a favorable environment for fly larvae.

They're small gestures, but they have a real impact: they make the space more pleasant and make you immediately feel "at home again."