Get Organized PRIOR to a Trip
One of the most important things to do to prepare for any kind of trip is to get organized PRIOR to packing. Leaving your house a mess before you leave will just cause stress when you return! There’s no better feeling than coming home to a clean house and fresh laundry after a long trip, and with these steps, we’ll get you out the door feeling good about leaving, no matter how long. Let’s talk ALL THE STEPS to leaving for a trip feeling organized.
1) Tidy up ALL areas
This is a job for the whole family - even get your kids involved if they’re old enough. Clean up all main areas and get clutter and messes put away. This is obviously not the time to start a time-consuming reorganization project, but putting your things away before you leave town will add to the stress relief of coming home to a tidy house. If everything is put away and where it’s supposed to be, it will also be easier to find those last-minute items you need to pack as you inevitably think about them right before it’s time to leave.
2) Finish ALL laundry
Laundry is always such a daunting task, ESPECIALLY with 3 kids and a tendency to procrastinate 😂. It will make it easier to pack knowing that everything you need is freshly clean and even easier to leave town knowing that there isn’t a dirty pile waiting for you to get back. If you preplan far enough ahead, you can even take advantage of services like hampr - send your clothes off to get washed while you finish cleaning the house and get them back folded and ready to put away within 24 hours. Use my code RIA10 to get $10 off your membership.
3) Put away ALL clothes
Getting things clean isn’t the only thing that needs to be done - putting clothes away will help you when it comes time to pack and plan for the trip. Start with a clean slate and an empty laundry basket.
4) Fridge/pantry cleanout
Empty out the fridge of all expired or perishable items. Consider freezing meat or leftovers that might go bad while you’re gone. Any perishable items that can’t be frozen could be given to your family or neighbors so it doesn’t go to waste.
Empty out the pantry too. Make sure not to leave bread loaves or anything that could get moldy while you’re gone. This is also a great time to plan for trip snacks since you’ll have an idea of what you have and what you need!
5) Clean car
If you’re going on a road trip, this step is obviously a must! But, even if you’re heading to the airport, you’ll want to get your car cleaned out before you leave. I’ve regretted leaving for a trip without checking my car, missing a spilled cup in the backseat, a breakfast bar my kids left behind, and other horrors. Making sure all of the stuff is taken out of the car also helps you know that you’re not missing something you need for the trip that might have been left under one of the seats.
For our road trips, Conner and I typically completely vacuum out the floors and seats, install our Thule storage top, make sure we have behind-the-seat storage for iPads, games, and kids’ stuff, and expandable organizers for snacks and drinks. The cleaner the car when you start the trip, the more likely it is to stay organized with storage tools in place.
SOME ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS:
