put the house to bed

[streetgang]

Would someone tell me what it means here: the wife wants to do the dishes then the husband says:" I got it. I will put the house to bed, you go start packing..."

[probus]

When he says "you go start packing", it indicates they are going on a trip. So when he says he will put the house to bed, he means he will do the dishes and all the necessary chores to get the house ready for a period during which its occupants will be absent.