If you鈥檝e ever returned from a holiday to find an army of ants transporting cake crumbs across your kitchen worktops, the whiff of stinky bins, pongy plug-holes or just a general sense of mustiness and mess, you鈥檒l know it鈥檚 not the best welcome home. The good news? All it takes is a small amount of easy pre-departure prep to ensure you open the door to a house that feels fresh, tidy and inviting – so you feel happy to be home. 鈥淔or fresh toilets, clean as usual with toilet cleaner, including under the rim and around the seat and cistern,鈥 says Kerry Hale, cleaning expert at Mira Showers. 鈥淒rop in a toilet cleaning tablet before you leave. If you鈥檙e away for a long break, seal the toilet bowl with clingfilm and close the lid.鈥 This can prevent water in the plumbing trap of your toilet from evaporating, which can allow sewer gases and unpleasant smells to escape into the home. Cleaning influencer Anna Louisa (@anna_louisa_at_home), who has 1.2 million followers on TikTok and 4.2 million followers on Instagram, says it鈥檚 vital you clear away crumbs and food debris from floors and surfaces before heading off on your hols. 鈥淕ive the house a quick vacuum or sweep, especially around the kitchen and dining areas to remove any food remnants, or you risk returning to a trail of ants,鈥 says Anna, author of new book, The 5 Minute Clean Routine. 鈥淲ipe down worktops, too, to ensure there are no food remnants left behind. Even small crumbs or sticky spots can attract pests or start to smell if left for several days.鈥 鈥淐ollect any dirty mugs, glasses or plates from around the house and wash them – don鈥檛 forget to check in bedrooms and living areas where you might have snacked,鈥 she says. 鈥淟eaving dishes unwashed can lead to mould and unpleasant smells which can attract insects.鈥 鈥淓mpty all household bins , particularly the kitchen bin,鈥 says Anna. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good idea to rinse that out with hot soapy water and leave the lid open to air out. A sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda at the bottom can help absorb lingering smells.鈥 鈥淐heck the fridge for any perishables that might go off while you鈥檙e away such as things like soft fruit, dairy, and leftovers,鈥 says Anna. Eat, bin or donate anything that won鈥檛 be good by the time you get back. 鈥淲ipe down the shelves with a mild cleaner like diluted washing up liquid. Leaving a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda inside can help keep odours at bay too.鈥 鈥淩un a hot dishwasher cycle to make sure there鈥檚 no trapped food in your appliance,鈥 advises Anna. 鈥淟eave the door slightly open to prevent a stale smell from developing. For a deeper clean, use a dishwasher tablet or place a mug of white vinegar on the top rack during an empty cycle.鈥 Try to do as much laundry as you can before you leave, especially if you have gym gear waiting to be washed. Leave sweaty clothes crammed in the laundry basket and they鈥檒l retain moisture, which provides a breeding ground for mildew, mould and smelly bacteria. 鈥淎fter doing a wash, leave your washing machine door slightly open to allow air to circulate, and water to evaporate,鈥 says Anna. 鈥淚t helps prevent mould, bacteria and musty smells from developing. If there鈥檚 time, wipe the rubber seal and detergent drawer clean.鈥 鈥淩inse and wipe down your shower before your holiday to prevent soap scum from building up and hardening when you鈥檙e on holiday,鈥 says Kerry. 鈥淐hemicals can harm your shower and fittings, so to protect against limescale while you鈥檙e away, simply spray warm soapy water on the showerhead, leave for 10 minutes and rinse clean. Leave the shower door slightly ajar to keep air flowing through and prevent musty smells.鈥 Any leftover food scraps that accumulate in the kitchen sink or plughole can cause a stink as they decompose. The same goes for grease, hair and soap scum in your bathroom sink, so make sure you clear away all debris from sinks and plugholes, says Anna. 鈥淧ouring some bicarbonate of soda followed by white vinegar down the drain can freshen things up while you鈥檙e away,鈥 she says. Kerry also advises pouring a few drops of essential oil down the drain before you leave. House dust mites, known to worsen asthma, eczema and various allergies, thrive in the warm, humid environment of our beds. They feed off our shed skin cells and absorb moisture from our perspiration. By stripping the bed and exposing the mattress to light and air while you鈥檙e away, you can help remove moisture, meaning that any dust mites present will dehydrate and eventually die. Just make sure you have freshly-washed, clean sheets ready and waiting to make up the bed when you get home. Alternatively, if you鈥檙e returning home super late from holiday and will just want to go straight to sleep, make up your bed with clean bedlinen before you go and tuck a couple of scented tumble dryer sheets between the sheet and mattress protector to maintain a fresh scent for when you return. Change out old flower water for fresh in any vases of cut blooms you plan to leave behind while you鈥檙e away. Make sure you trim away any leaves and other foliage below the water line to prevent bacterial growth. This will not only shorten the life of your flowers, but also make the water smell foul, rather than floral. Store leftover fruit from a fruit bowl in the fridge or freezer. If you leave fruit out in the open at room temperature, it can quickly ripen and become mouldy. Ripe, fermenting fruit attracts pests such as fruit flies that feed on the fruit and lay their eggs on it. If you do decide to leave the fruit in a bowl, add some basil leaves – they act as a natural fruit fly deterrent.