Many people say goodbye to summer this September, gather their belongings and return to their work routine. If you also belong to the group of holidaymakers who own a summer home, we will try to provide some tips to avoid finding our wonderful summer property deteriorated by some pests that have roamed freely during our absence. As our grandparents said, “prevention is better than cure”.
A good summer home
Preventing pests in a summer home that is left uninhabited for long periods of time is important to avoid damage and problems when you return. If it is already somewhat depressing to leave our summer home knowing that work, bad weather, early mornings, etc. await us, imagine what it can mean to arrive at our next holiday season and find that the house is not as we remembered it. Or that the house has been invaded by what we define as “unwanted roommates”. Click hereand find out what variety of tenants can self-invite.
Preventing pests in a summer home that is left uninhabited for long periods of time is important to avoid damage and problems when you return.
So, for our goodbye to summer and following the premise that “prevention is better than cure”, we are going to see some things we can do to prevent pests from taking over our beloved summer home.
Here are some tips to prevent pests in your summer home:
- Deep clean before you leave: Before you close your summer home for the season, do a deep cleaning. Clean all surfaces, remove food debris, and disinfect spaces where insects and rodents could find food.
- Proper food storage: Always remove and discard perishable foods before you leave. Opened food should be stored in airtight containers to prevent rodents and pests from gaining access.
If you want to know what “bugs” summer pests are, click here.
- Seals cracks and openings: Carefully inspect your summer home for any cracks, openings, or crevices that could serve as an entrance for pests. Seal these areas with silicone, caulk, or suitable materials to prevent insects and rodents from entering.
- Keep the garden clean: Make sure the garden is clean and well-maintained. Prune shrubs and trees near the house to prevent pests from having easy access through the branches.
- Use mosquito nets and curtains: Place screens on windows and doors to prevent flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies from entering. You can also use thick curtains to prevent the light from attracting insects at night.
- Remove standing water: Make sure there is no standing water in containers such as buckets, plant trays, or inflatable pools, as this can attract mosquitoes and other insects.
If you want to know some home and not so home remedies to avoid annoying mosquitoes, click here.
Cleaning, mosquito nets and some other measures can help you find your house in perfect condition when you return. In your goodbye to summer, prevention is better than cure.
- Disconnect water and gas services: If possible, disconnect the water and gas supply to prevent leaks that can attract pests.
- Use repellents and traps: Place mousetraps and rats in strategic places. You can also use insect and rodent repellents to deter pests.
- Schedule regular visits: If possible, ask someone you trust to make regular visits to your summer home to check that everything is in order and to carry out small maintenance tasks.
- Hire professionals: In some cases, it may be necessary to hire pest control professionals to perform preventative treatments before leaving the summer home unoccupied.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of pests in your summer home during the period when it is uninhabited.
