When preparing for family events holidays or a long business trip, your to-do list may never end. But between preparing the necessary documents and packing your bags, you should add one more thing to your priority list: Clean these 5 spots in your home.

It will take a few minutes to clean and disinfect these areas, but it could prevent germs and help you avoid returning to a house with unpleasant odors:

Take out the trash

If you forget to take out the trash before you leave town, you’re likely to be greeted by a bad smell, as well as germs. Rotting garbage can attract unwanted bugs and possibly even more unwanted rodents, so you’ll thank yourself if you take a few minutes to complete this chore. It’s also a good idea to take a look inside your fridge for food that has gone bad or expired.

Wash dishes by hand or put in dishwasher

Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter. Leftover food can attract insects and germs to the kitchen. The night before you leave, run the dishwasher or if you only have a few dirty dishes wash them by hand.

Clean the toilet

Before you leave for your trip, give the toilet bowl a quick clean. Then sprinkle some baking soda and rinse to make sure there is no residue in the pipe. For even better disinfection, pour some bleach into the basin before leaving and let it work.

Refresh the trash can

No one wants to come home to a smelly mess, so pour some white vinegar into the bin and rinse with water, letting it run for a minute. For a fresh aroma, add some lemon peels.

Put a washing machine

If you leave a pile of wet bath towels in the laundry bin for a week, there’s a good chance you’ll come home with moldy towels. Before you leave, do all your laundry and if you don’t have time, hang towels or dirty items instead of leaving them folded for days.