Spring break is calling, and whether you’re heading home, hitting the beach, or just taking a much-needed breather, there’s one thing you don’t want to forget about before you leave – your kitchen. Nothing makes post-break blues worse than coming home to a fridge full of expired milk, questionable leftovers, and a garbage can that’s been marinating for a week.
Whether in a dorm, apartment, or house with roommates, here’s how to prep your kitchen and fridge to save you from dealing with nasty smells (or worse – bugs) when you return.
1. Toss Or Eat Perishables
Your fridge might not seem like a ticking time bomb now, but give it a week of you being gone, and suddenly, that half-eaten avocado and a forgotten cup of yogurt can be turned in for extra credit. Anything fresh – milk, eggs, fruit, veggies, leftovers – will not survive your trip.
Got extra food? Time to get creative. Make a “clean-out-the-fridge” meal, offer stuff to your roommates, or pass it along to a friend staying on campus. If it’s already looking questionable (you know who you are, people with three-week-old sushi in the fridge), just toss it. Trust me, future you will be grateful.
2. Wipe It Down
I know. Cleaning your appliances is annoying. No one wants to confront the mysterious sticky spot on the shelf or figure out what’s been leaking from that takeout container in the back. But here’s the deal: if you don’t do it now, you probably won’t until you need that security deposit back. And trust me, nothing is scarier than your landlord or RA on move-out day.
So, take a deep breath (preferably before you open the fridge), grab a paper towel or disinfectant wipe, and give those shelves a quick wipe-down. A little effort now saves you from questioning your life choices later.
3. Leave Baking Soda To Absorb Odors
Think of this as your fridge’s little security system – except instead of keeping people out, it keeps funky smells from taking over while you’re gone. A simple open box of baking soda (the same kind used for cookies) will do wonders to keep things fresh.
Not a fan of baking soda? A small bowl of coffee grounds works, too – plus, your fridge will smell like a cafe instead of a crime scene. Best part? You can grab either of these from the dollar store for, well, maybe a little more than a dollar, but no excuses.
4. Take Out The Trash & Recycling
Look, I don’t care how busy you are packing – you cannot skip this step unless you want to return to the stench of death (or worse, an apartment now ruled by fruit flies.) That banana peel, the remnants of last night’s DoorDash, the cans of prebiotic sodas you swore you’d swish out with water? They’re all conspiring to turn your place into a biohazard while you’re gone.
Do yourself (and your roommates) a favor – take all the trash out before you leave, including the recycling.
5. Unplug Small Appliances
Before you head out, don’t forget to unplug any small appliances you’ve got – your toaster, microwave, coffee maker, blender, etc. Sure, they’re not the glamorous part of your dorm room or kitchen, but leaving them plugged in while you’re away is asking for a surprise electricity bill, a citation from residence life, or a fire hazard (no thanks to all three).
Just don’t unplug the fridge. Your frozen butternut squash mac and cheese rations from Trader Joe’s will not survive. Plus, if you leave those doors closed, there could be mold when you return. Everywhere.
6. Leave Yourself A Snack For When You Get Back
You know what’s worse than coming back to a smelly fridge? Coming back hungry. After a long trip, you’re not about to drag yourself to the store when you just want to avoid your credit card statement and flop on the couch. So, stash a non-perishable snack (think granola bars, instant noodles, or crackers) somewhere you’ll remember.
That way, when you roll in from your break and need food immediately, you’ll have something to munch on before you dive into your post-vacation grocery haul. Your hangry self will thank you.
Travel safely with peace of mind, knowing that your post-break transition will be as smooth as possible. Enjoy the time away, because when you return, you’ll be ready to tackle the remainder of your semester, fridge-fresh and snack-ready!