Here's your Winter break departure checklist 📋

It can be tempting to just pack your bag and head home for the Winter break, but it's important to leave your space tidy and clean before you go. 

Nobody wants to come back to a messy, smelly flat! 

Whether you're first to go, or last to leave, you have the responsibility to keep your flat a nice environment for everyone to live in. Follow our handy checklist of everything you need to do before you go for Winter: 

✅ Clean and tidy your flat

Your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen should all be cleaned, and any clutter should be put away. If you're the first person leaving a shared flat, then make sure to do your part in helping keep the areas tidy and clean before you go. It can be much easier to clean everything early and just keep on top of it on the run up to leaving. 

✅ Clear out your fridge

You don't want to come back to mouldy and out of date food in the fridge, so plan your meals ahead to avoid food waste and use all of your fresh ingredients before you head off. Got some leftovers and have flatmates staying? Offer them up before throwing them in the bin. 

✅ Take out your rubbish (and dispose of it properly) 

Check your bedroom bin, bathroom bin and kitchen bin is empty before going home. Again, you don't want to come back to a smelly flat. Make sure to use the correct bins for getting rid of your different types of waste too. 

✅ Switch off

It's important to be energy-efficient while you're not there, so make sure to: 

• Switch off all of your lights
• Switch off your electronics
• Don't leave anything on standby (laptops, TV etc.) 
• Unplug chargers, desk lamps etc.

Also report any faults or issues to the maintenance team so they can get sorted as soon as possible. 

✅ Lock up 

Keep your flat safe and secure by shutting all of your windows and looking you doors. This is the last step before you go home, so make sure to double check you have done this properly, especially if you're the last one to leave in a shared flat.

Have a lovely Winter break ❄️