What are you worried about? Let it go to hell. The wife’ll get it when she gets back. You just relax and sit back on your Lazy Boy, big fella.
And don’t forget the flowers.
Honestly, I would agree that you should go to a hotel while she is gone.
Then no mess anywhere at home and you get a little break from being in your house. 
“Help out”? Admittedly, perhaps the OP and wife have arrived at this arrangement, but “help out” sounds like when men “babysit” when their wife isn’t home. :smack:
Hey imfloating, how the first few days go? Or did you decide for a hotel after all?
…You’ve never had anyone put his brand-new red shorts in the same load with your favorite (and irreplaceable) white T-shirt, have you :eek:
It went quite well, thank you. I managed to stay on top of it and not let anything accumulate. I tend to make exotic meals so I’m used to cleaning the kitchen.
I pick her up at the airport in 3 hrs. and the place is spic and span. She was on a 9 day cruise and her bags NEVER caught up with her.