Indeed, she says a few simple cleaning jobs before you head off can make all the difference to how your home smells and feels when you return. “And after a long journey, knowing which tasks are actually worth doing first can help you ease back from holiday mode without feeling overwhelmed,” highlights Crombie. “Wash, dry and put everything away before you leave so you’re not overwhelmed by extra jobs when you get back, on top of a load of holiday washing, too.” “These are the rooms you’ll use first, so they’ll have the biggest impact without requiring hours of cleaning.” “Prioritise the jobs that make the biggest difference, and tackle the rest over the next few days.”