Traveling for the holidays is a given for most people, but if you’re planning a trip this festive season it’s always worth doing some cleaning before you leave. There’s nothing worse than getting home from a long trip after a busy day of navigating airports and holiday traffic, only to be greeted by dishes in the sink and a messy bed. 

To make your return much more stress-free, here are the top five places experts always clean before going away. 

Your Refrigerator 

Your fridge is the top place most experts recommend cleaning before vacation, and for a very good reason—the last thing anyone wants is to come home to the scent of spoiled food.

“Ideally, the day before you leave, you should do a quick check through your refrigerator and throw out any food that’ll spoil while you’re away (although you could obviously eat it),” says Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO of Cleaning Express. “If you really don’t want to throw away a lot of food, think about what you can freeze or take with you, depending on how you’re traveling.”

And Brunson Sayes, founder at Breathe Maids, agrees and shares that this is one non-negotiable cleaning he always does.

“The last thing I want when I get home is an unpleasant smell,” Sayes says. “I quickly go through and remove leftovers, fruit, and any dairy that will spoil while I’m gone. This prevents any surprises and makes room for the fresh groceries I’ll need when I return”

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

The Rest of Your Kitchen

Cleaning your fridge isn’t enough to keep foul odors and pests at bay—you should also make sure the rest of your kitchen in tip-top shape too. Even the smallest of crumbs or food scraps and lead to a disaster, depending on how long you’re way.

“I always scrub out the sink, run the garbage disposal with some ice cubes and lemon peels, and finish with a quick rinse of vinegar,” says Nishant Prasad, co-founder of Clean Fanatics. “It’s a simple way to ensure you’re not greeted by funky odors.”

Your Bed

We all know that hours in the airport or stuck in your car in traffic can really tire us out, and that’s why making sure your bed is made is key to a relaxing return home—it’s the smallest details that make the largest impact.

“There’s something about coming back to a freshly made bed that makes me feel organized and at ease,” Sayes says. “If I can, I also change the sheets so I can crawl into a fresh bed after my travels”

Your Bathroom

Your bathroom is a place where mold and mildew can easily thrive, so making sure it’s clean before going away for days can save you some time in the long run.

“I’ve learned the hard way that a damp bathroom is a recipe for mildew,” Prasad says. “Before I leave, I wipe down shower walls, clean the sink, and make sure the toilet bowl is scrubbed. If you’re in a rush, a quick spritz of a bathroom cleaner in high-traffic areas can work wonders.”

Your Laundry

Lastly, we all know laundry can be a pain on a normal day, so don’t leave it sitting there until you return—especially if you’ve got gym clothes or other sportswear sitting in there.

“There’s nothing worse than coming back to a pile of laundry waiting for you,” Sayes says. “I always make sure to wash all the laundry—towels, bed sheets, and any other clothes that have accumulated. This way, I can return to a fresh bed and a clean home without feeling overwhelmed.”