5 Essential Pre-Vacation Home Care Tips For DIY Dad’s

So, you’ve got a long vacation coming up, and you can practically taste the beers already – am I right? We all know that buzz. But hang on a second, dads. Aside from being the head honchos of holiday fun, we’re also the ones left holding the bag when it comes to looking after the old homestead. It’s not all sunscreen and Speedos, is it? We’ve got to make sure we don’t return to a home that’s more ‘House of Horrors’ than ‘Happy Homecoming’. So, I’ve cobbled together a list of crucial stuff we’ve got to do before skipping town. Ready to dive in?

Via Pexels

1. Fridge Duty: 

Alright, let’s kick off with one of the biggies – the fridge. Sure, that week-old slice of pizza is your secret late-night indulgence, but let it sit for weeks and you’re going to have more fungus than a mushroom farm. Get rid of anything that’s not shelf-stable; trust me, you don’t want to come back to a biohazard in your kitchen. Give the fridge a good once-over with a cloth while you’re at it – it’ll be like coming back to a showroom-ready appliance. Always remember, an empty fridge is a happy fridge!

2. Plant And Lawn Care: 

Then there’s the lawn and plants. Keeping those fellas in tip-top shape while you’re off sunning yourself is a bit of a pickle. No friendly neighbour or helpful buddy to lend a hand? No problem! Investing in an automatic sprinkler system is a fantastic fix. Set it to water early in the morning to avoid losing too much to evaporation. It’s a win-win situation: you save water, cash, and you don’t have to come home to a garden that’s seen better days.

3. Mail Management: 

Nothing yells “Hey, we’re on holiday!” quite like a mailbox fit to burst. Talk about a welcome sign for burglars! Why not rope in a neighbour to nab your mail or hit up the post office for a temporary hold? This tiny bit of planning goes a long way in keeping your home safe from prying eyes.

4. Pool Care: 

For those lucky devils with a pool, it’s a bit of a love-hate relationship when vacation planning, isn’t it? Before you hightail it out of there, get your pool’s pH level sorted and give it a good shock treatment to keep things spick and span. It’s probably smart to give it an extra dose of chlorine or algaecide, too. And don’t forget, keep those filters and skimmer baskets clean and the pool pump running a few hours each day. If that sounds like too much to handle, call in the pro pool cleaners. Because seriously, who wants to come home to a pool that’s turned into a swamp?

5. Home Security: 

Last but definitely not least, let’s talk about home security. Make sure all your doors and windows are locked up tight. Got an alarm system? Switch it on. Consider getting some timer switches for your lights to make it look like you’re home. Security cameras or doorbell cameras are great for keeping an eye on things, too. And hey, be careful about broadcasting your holiday plans all over social media. A few overzealous check-ins and countdowns could let the bad guys know your house is ripe for the picking.

Remember, it’s not just about coming back to your house exactly how you left it, but making the slide back into everyday life a breeze when you return. A little bit of effort, before you jet off, can save you a whole lot of cleanup and stress when you’re back.