apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

and double-check that the coffee maker filter is emptied.

Run the garbage disposal with ice, salt or baking soda, and a few lemon wedges to freshen it up a bit before I go.

i would say to have something in the fridge or your pantry that'll be easy to make when you come home. More often than not the first meal i have when i get home is fast food because i've thrown away lots of food. Buy something that'll still be fresh when you get back so you don't have an excuse not to cook when you come home.

I second Robin Sue -- I was called away unexpectedly for a two days last week, and came home to a terribly funky smell -- made all the more potent because I turn my A/C up to 82 whenever I leave the house (I live in Fort Worth, and we've been averaging in the triple digits for weeks now).

I finally tracked it down to the garbage disposal, which I ran with lemon wedges, soap, and ice.

kdb--so true!

I learned this the hard way, when I came back to a coffee machine filter filled with little bits of white mold.

yup, being greeted by a moldy coffee filter is an unpleasant end to a holiday... have done it a few times...

Beyond the kitchen and things going molding -- unplug what appliances you can!

This includes:
- Stove (I think...)
- Microwave
- Toster & Toster oven
- Coffee pot
- Blender
- etc. in the kitchen
- Then move on unplugging everything in the rest of your place!

i have a cat, so i vaccuum the house and all soft surfaces to which he has access, clean out both litterboxes, leave a TON of litter, wash both his water container and feeder (both last him multiple days), and wash his bed.
we empty the fridge, take out all the trash in the house, clean all kitchen and bathroom surfaces, clean all filters on ac/heat (depending on season), and if it's in the summer we take all plants outside. we clean the coffee pot and empty and toss the filter in the Brita pitcher (it's usually old by this point, anyway).
change the sheets the morning before we leave (we usually leave midmorning/afternoon/evening, so this becomes part of the morning routine, and it makes for a nice welcome home).
unplug all appliances/computers/TV/etc.
if we take a trip in the summer: we don't have central air, but we will leave one window unit on and set to a specific temp so the cat doesn't roast completely. if it's a winter trip, we leave the heat on, but set to 60*, so it's livable for the cat and my geckos.

we already have one lamp set on a timer, but i'll set another on the second floor just to seem like we're moving around in the house.

i also have either my partner's mom or my parents stop by during our trip, if we're gone more than 2-3 days, so they can check on the cat, get the mail, water the plants, etc.

have about a day's worth of easy food for when you get back so you don't have to rush off to the store first thing. i will usually make something and freeze it. unopened soy milk and nondairy creamer keep well in the fridge for weeks.

do a double check that the coffee pot (and oven) is *off*! I haven't left it on yet, but when I forget to check just *one* more time I drive myself crazy with worry!

All of the above...but sometimes I've forgotten some foods and am in a hurry. I put any food or scraps that I meant to eat or dispose of that will spoil into a plastic bag or container and put it in the freezer. I can then toss it when I get home.

Given that a coffee maker is in the picture for the post, I would have thought one of the tips would have been related to it. Like unplugging appliances including a coffee maker, etc. Or like turn off your coffee maker if it's on a timer. Et.c

I have two cats so part of my routine is to leave out for the catsitter the tuna for mixing in their glucosamine, the little dishes and a fork for dishing that up, the odor/stain spray and some rags in case they barf, and a flashlight so she can locate them under furniture :)

I also usually run the dishwasher and put out clean towels in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as change the sheets and vacuum before I leave. It's nice to come home to a clean(ish) house when you're exhausted.