Cleaning Before A Trip

Today, we are leaving for the Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati. I am so excited because I found out that Crystal at http//www.moneysavingmom.com will be there. I hope to get to meet her. Her blog is the reason that I started to blog. Check out her sight if you have a chance.

We willprobably leave at about 7:00 pm because my oldest son has a baseball game at 5:30 pm. I know it is pushing it very close, but what are you going to do?

Before I leave on any trip my last day is spent cleaning. I refuse to come home to a dirty house, dishes or laundry, because then I have double the work when I come home. I also like to have a frozen dinner in the fridge.
We eat all of our leftovers and try to leave the fridge as empty as possible. Something like milk I will try to use it all up before we leave. This time we are only going to be gone for 2 days so no big deal.

I believe (and so does my family) that I am slightly OCD about leaving for trips. I am not as picky about packing, but everything must be in it’s place and the entire home clean.
Once I am in a routine it only takes about 1 1/2 hours, and on the list I add take out recycling and empty the trash.
That way, when we return I just have laundry from the trip.

Here is a before picture of my living room.

It is a little hard to tell, but the floor is filthy and the toys are everywhere.

Oh, one more thing, I also have to clean the van inside and out. Crazy right?

I can accept it, the only people I bother with my habit is me and my family.

Here are some pictures of after I cleaned.

This is the hallway. No dust bunnies or toys. Clean mirror.

This is our clean laminate floor. FINALLY!

Cloth diaper pail aka old trash can clean, empty and sanitized. Diapers are washed and ready for our return. I use disposables on a trip.

This is our clean, organized hallway. That NEVER looks like this. The kids are napping while I clean.

Finally, here is my kitchen sink. Free of dishes. Trust me it is usually 4:00 or after when those get done.

By the way, here is a little packing tip that I heard off of the Rachael Ray show the other day. The man ( don’t remember name) said to use several small bags to go inside of one bag. For instance label one medicines and place in a bag. He had like 5 little bags that fit in a nice carry all.

I also liked his tip for packing a kindle or Ipad, but I didn’t get to hear all of it, so I want to look it up.

I will not be posting for a few days.

Do you clean before a trip?

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Thanks!