Labor Day Holiday Ends in a Week—Is Your Home Ready? 5 Things to Do Before the Break

Sisters, the May Day holiday is almost here!

I know you’ve already started planning where to go and what to eat. But today I want to bring up a slightly “party pooper” topic—deep cleaning before coming home after the holiday.

Hold on, I’m not here to ruin your mood. I genuinely believe that instead of facing a messy home after the holiday, it’s better to finish the necessary cleaning before the trip, so you can truly enjoy your vacation without any burdens.

This is exactly what I did last year. I tidied up my home before the May Day holiday, and when I came back on the first day after the holiday, walking into a clean and fresh home—the feeling was amazing.

These 5 Things Must Be Done Before the Holiday

First: Clean Out the Fridge

Before leaving for the holiday, definitely deal with any leftover food in the fridge. If something’s expired, just throw it away. Don’t be stingy. I once hesitated to throw away half a box of tofu, and when I came back from holiday, the whole fridge smelled terrible.

After cleaning, put a roll of kitchen paper inside the fridge—it absorbs odors. I’ve used this trick for three years, and it really works.

Second: Clean the Washing Machine

Many people don’t know that washing machines actually need cleaning too. The detergent compartment, inner drum, and rubber seals are all places where dirt builds up.

I usually use “washing machine tub cleaner,” pour the appropriate amount according to instructions, and run the tub-clean mode. The whole process takes about 1.5 hours and requires zero attention.

Third: Change and Wash All Bedding

Wash all bedding before the holiday, so you sleep on clean sheets during the entire trip. When you get back after the holiday, you just swap in fresh bedding.

I used to be lazy about this and skip it. After returning from holiday and seeing that “dusty-looking” bed, my mood instantly tanked.

Fourth: Simple Floor Sweep

No need for a deep clean—just give the floor a quick sweep to pick up dust and hair. Clean floors make the whole home look tidier.

I use a robot vacuum and mop at home. It auto-cleans daily, so before holiday I’d manually sweep the corners and then let the robot run once more. That basically does the job.

Fifth: Take Out ALL Trash

This is the most important one! Take out every piece of trash from your home before holiday, especially kitchen waste.

Last year I forgot to take out the kitchen trash. When I came back and opened the trash can… I don’t even want to recall that scene.

One Unexpected Discovery

After doing these 5 things, I realized my home was actually cleaner than usual! Because during busy times, I’d do these tasks sporadically, never thinking to knock them all out at once.

This “pre-May Day deep clean” made me realize: Doing one thorough cleaning session regularly is actually less effort than scattered daily tidying.

Okay, enough talk—I’m going to clean my little home. Time to enjoy the holiday!