You're going on holiday for two weeks. Your helper stays behind. The house is empty. What happens?

If you've set clear expectations, your helper uses this time productively: deep cleaning areas that are normally hard to access, organizing storage, and maintaining the household routine. If you haven't, she spends two weeks on her phone, sleeps in, and does the bare minimum.

Bringing your helper on holiday instead? → Read our travel guide

The difference is preparation.

Before You Leave: The Deep Cleaning List

The biggest opportunity when the house is empty: deep cleaning tasks that are difficult or impossible when the family is home.

Room-by-room deep clean

Assign one room per day. For each room, the checklist should include:

  • Remove everything from shelves and surfaces
  • Wipe shelves, drawers, and inside cabinets
  • Clean walls and baseboards
  • Clean windows (inside)
  • Vacuum and mop behind furniture
  • Reorganize contents neatly before putting back

Kitchen deep clean

  • Empty and clean inside the refrigerator (remove expired items)
  • Clean inside the oven and microwave
  • Degrease the exhaust hood and filter
  • Descale the kettle
  • Clean inside all kitchen cabinets
  • Organize the pantry — check expiry dates, discard old items

Bathroom deep clean

  • Scrub tile grout
  • Descale shower heads and taps
  • Clean behind and under the toilet
  • Wash shower curtains or clean glass panels
  • Organize under-sink storage

Appliance maintenance

  • Run a washing machine cleaning cycle
  • Clean the dryer lint filter thoroughly
  • Clean air-conditioner filters (if accessible)
  • Descale the rice cooker
  • Clean the vacuum cleaner (empty, wash filters)

Other tasks

  • Iron any backlog of clothes
  • Label and organize storage rooms
  • Sew any pending repairs (buttons, hems)
  • Sort children's clothes by size — set aside outgrown items
  • Clean and organize shoe racks

How to Communicate the List

Walk through in person before you leave

The most effective method: walk through the house with your helper room by room. Point at specific areas: "See this dust on top of the cabinet? This needs to be wiped." "This drawer is messy — take everything out, wipe it, and organize."

Physical demonstration is far more effective than a written list alone.

Send a written backup

After the walkthrough, send a message (WhatsApp or the HelperMate app) with the daily schedule. Example:

  • Monday: Master bedroom deep clean
  • Tuesday: Kitchen deep clean
  • Wednesday: Children's rooms
  • Thursday: Bathrooms
  • Friday: Living room and common areas
  • Saturday: Appliance maintenance + laundry catch-up
  • Sunday: Off day

Don't overload

If you're gone for two weeks, don't create three weeks of tasks. Leave buffer days. Your helper still needs to do daily basics (her own laundry, cooking her meals, basic tidying).

CCTV While You're Away

Keep it running

If you have CCTV, keep it active. Your helper knows it's there. The deterrent effect works even when you're not actively watching.

Don't obsessively monitor

The biggest trap: spending your holiday staring at the CCTV app. You'll see her taking breaks, checking her phone, or moving slowly — and your blood pressure will spike.

Set a rule for yourself: check once a day, briefly. Look for obvious issues (not home during work hours, sleeping on the couch at 11 AM, visitors in the house). Don't micromanage from 5,000 km away.

Communication via CCTV speakers

Some cameras have two-way audio. Use it sparingly — calling through the CCTV to ask why she's sitting down is surveillance, not management. Save it for genuine issues.

Photo documentation

Ask your helper to send photos of completed work:

  • After cleaning each room, send a photo of the result
  • After organizing a cabinet, send a before-and-after
  • After doing laundry, send a photo of the drying rack This creates accountability without constant watching. Most helpers respond well to this — it gives them a clear sense of completion.

Adjustments While You're Away

Working hours

Consider relaxing the start time slightly. If she normally starts at 7 AM to prepare the kids, and the house is empty, starting at 8 AM is reasonable.

Off days

Maintain her regular off-day schedule. Don't cancel off days because "there's no one home anyway." She still needs her personal time.

Meals and utilities

  • Ensure she has enough food or a food allowance for the period
  • Decide on air-conditioning: many employers allow helpers to run AC during cleaning but not all day. Be explicit.
  • If she doesn't have a Singapore SIM, consider getting one for the period so she can reach you in emergencies

Visitors and outings

Be explicit about rules:

  • No visitors in the house while you're away (this should be a standing rule)
  • Groceries and errands: she should message you before leaving and after returning
  • If there's any emergency (water leak, power outage, pest issue), she should contact you immediately

When You Come Home

Inspect with appreciation, not suspicion

Walk through the house when you return. If the deep cleaning was done well, acknowledge it. A simple "The kitchen looks great, thank you" goes a long way.

If things weren't done properly, address it calmly: "I see the oven wasn't cleaned — can you do that this week?" Don't explode. She had two weeks alone; some slippage is human.

The transition back

The first day back, ease into the normal routine. Jet lag, unpacking, and readjusting take time for everyone — including your helper, who has been on a different rhythm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave my helper alone at home while I travel?

Yes, and many Singapore families do. What makes it work is preparation rather than supervision: an agreed task list for the period, enough food money handed over with a record of it, clear emergency contacts, and a check-in rhythm you both expect. Deciding all of that before you fly avoids the daily back-and-forth from overseas.

How much money should I leave my helper when I travel?

Employers commonly leave around S$50–70 a week for her food while they're away, plus separate emergency cash she knows is only for emergencies. A topped-up store card is often cleaner than loose cash because it leaves a record. Whatever you choose, note down what you handed over and when — it protects both of you from any later disagreement.

Do MOM deadlines still apply while I'm overseas?

Yes. The 6-monthly medical, Work Permit renewal and insurance don't pause because you're travelling, and a lapse is much harder to fix from abroad. Check what falls due during your trip before you leave, and where possible bring the date forward rather than leaving it to be handled remotely.

How often should I check in while I'm away?

Once a day is enough for most households, and a written routine she can follow does more than frequent messaging. Constant photo requests and scheduled camera checks tend to make the trip stressful for everyone without improving the outcome. Agree the check-in rhythm before you go so it isn't renegotiated daily.

How HelperMate Helps

HelperMate is especially useful when you're away from home:

  • Task lists with deadlines — assign deep cleaning tasks with specific due dates
  • Completion tracking — see what's done without asking
  • 10-language support — instructions in her language, no miscommunication
  • Shared schedule — she knows exactly what to do each day A well-prepared absence is an opportunity. Your house comes back cleaner than when you left, and your helper proves she can work independently. HelperMate makes that structure effortless.

Download HelperMate on Google Play → | App Store →

This guide reflects common practices among Singapore employer households. For official MOM guidelines, visit the MOM website. This article is for informational purposes only.