Fly Lady: How to Clean Your Home Before Vacation
The Fly Lady method transforms pre-trip chaos into calm preparation by spreading tasks over a week—15 minutes daily to clear clutter, clean zones, and prep your home. The key is gradual effort: no last-minute panic, just a peaceful departure and a welcoming return to a tidy space that greets you with comfort, not stress.
Vacation starts at home
The anticipation of a getaway is often overshadowed by panic: you need to pack your bags, check your documents, and your home looks like a hurricane just swept through. Sound familiar? The Fly Lady method teaches us a different approach—preparing for a trip gradually, so you can leave with a light heart and return to a clean, cozy home.
When you come back from vacation exhausted, the last thing you want to see is a pile of dirty dishes and dust on the shelves. That's why preparing your home before you leave isn't just about cleaning—it's about taking care of your future self.
The one-week preparation rule
A week before your departure, start dedicating 15 minutes a day to your home. The LadyFly app will help you remember important tasks and distribute them evenly. Here's what you should do:
- Clear out hot spots—those places where clutter accumulates
- Wash and iron everything you need for the trip
- Do a quick clean in each zone of your home
- Check the fridge and throw out food that's about to expire
- Water your plants and ask someone to look after them
Don't try to do everything in one day—that's a recipe for burnout and a ruined mood before your vacation.
The evening before departure without the rush
If you've followed the plan all week, your last evening will be calm. Just a few things left to do:
- Wipe down the sinks and polish them until they shine—this is Fly Lady's signature ritual that creates a sense of completion
- Take out the trash and replace the bags
- Remove perishable food from the fridge
- Make the bed with clean sheets—imagine how nice it will be to go to sleep after a long journey
- Check that all appliances are turned off
These simple actions will take 20 minutes at most, but they'll give you incredible peace of mind.
Coming home to your beloved space
When you open the door after vacation and see a clean home, you feel grateful to yourself. No stress, no guilt—just the joy of being home.
LadyFly will remind you about trip preparation in advance, so you can distribute tasks and avoid turning the last days before departure into a cleaning marathon. Vacation is a time for rest, and it begins the moment you close the door of your well-kept home.
Try this approach before your next trip, and you'll be surprised at how much easier traveling becomes. Because true rest is when you can relax completely, knowing that everything at home is in order.
