The plane is waiting but I have to hoover, dust and clean ! WHY ???

My very dear and much loved, now late mother, always looked after my dog (at my house not hers) when DH and self went on holiday. Houseproud is an understatement where mum was concerned and on arrival after one holiday came home to find my cherished and very expensive non stick frying pan had received the scouring pad treatment {shock}.I did not say anything, keeping that for the right moment,obviously never came, but making sure any non sticks were under lock and key when leaving mum in charge. .

I do the same! I think it’s because if anything happened to us don’t want the family commenting on an untidy house!! Irrational I know!

Pinkj and Nannapat- thats just too morbid to contemplate when you're in holiday mode...?

I do it because the cleaner comes when we are away. So she doesn’t come into a dirty house .Think I’m mad ?

Good God no! I have enough to do packing and checking everything's in order Re travel requirements etc.?

PS I meant to say have a lovely time. Just have fun as that is in short supply right now. No cleaning.

I do it too, Serendipity22. I think it's partly the wanting a clean home to return to, but as Catcrone said, a thought at the back of my mind that if I don't return, my house will be clean and tidy for whoever has to sort it.

For me two reasons If I die while away no one is going to come in and call me a dirty slob and if I walk into mess it brings my mood down.
I tend to clean my house before going anywhere even shopping.

Do men do this too? I'd like to think so..

Why indeed ?

I do a thorough clean before going away. AND so does my son. I want to come back to a clean tidy house and just get on with the unpacking and washing of holiday clothes.

I do this too and have been known to kip on the way out of the door! I love coming home to a clean house after a nice relaxing break! I even take my washing to the launderette on holiday so I only have a few bits to do when home. Have a lovely time!

Yes, I do this. Coming back to a lovely clean, tidy house is very relaxing after the return journey. My partner always moans and says ‘Why are you bothering it’ll be dusty again by the time we get back?’ Yet, without fail, as soon as we get back from a holiday he says ‘Oh doesn’t the house look lovely and calm’. I usually say ‘Yes, that’s because I cleaned it before we left, remember?’

I agree that one cleans before voyaging to return to a nice and tidy house but it doesn't help with the mountain of washing, unpacking, tidying, putting away, defrosting cooking and other related tasks than fall to one half of the pair only on arrival.

I have long realised that holidays are not holidays for women. They double their work.

When I go away I have six loos to clean instead of three.

My idea of a holiday would be to have staff to do all the related chores.

When we go away i arrange for a cleaner to come in the day before we come back. Problem solved!

I do it because I want to come back to a nice clean house , then I only have washing and a shopping delivery to sort out.

Always do the same - never think anything of it. I always do everything in advance/prepare - as I feel nobody knows what the next day will bring - so guess that's why I do it.

I always do the same, it’s because I want to come back to a clean house

In our area there is always so much dust (I could literally dust every day and have that grey line on the cloth) so I don't see the point of cleaning before we go away. I do try and leave it tidy, though.

I don't do a special clean, but just make sure everything is tidy. Usually change the bedding though, it's nice to come back to clean sheets!

Shinamae

My house is never spotless ??

Nor mine, but it's at it's very best when I'm away.... (for lots of reasons!!) ??

This reminds me of my nan, who used to put on her best nightie if she felt ill before bed.

I always think, even if the house is clean and tidy, that I should have got on with that enormous task of decluttering .....

Yep. Loads of crackpots ! I’m still cleaning walking backwards out of the house. I send DH to sit in the car whilst I have a last look around and pour bleach down the sink and toilets. Then when I get to my holiday I start again. Always take bleach wipes and have a wipe round before I can relax. I am definitely a crackpot !

I'm with the plane crashing, ferry sinking, Caravan exploding brigade. The house has to be spotless just in case.