There are a lot of jobs to be done before going on vacation. Whether you’re leaving home for a summer trip or a weekend break, in all the excitement of the big getaway, you can forget to complete some essential home tasks.
Apart from unplugging appliances, closing all your windows, arranging a holiday home for your pets, and ensuring your garden thrives while you’re away, there seems to be little time to think about pests.
But be warned. Critters will delight at the merest hint that you are off on a vacation. As soon as you check out of the front door, they will rejoice at having the household to themselves, without any intervention.
However, unless you want to come home to a houseful of fruit flies and other unwanted pests, you need to add some pest control measures to your pre-vacation checklist.
1. Seal cracks and gaps
“Inspect your home for common entry points for pests,” says Adham Perriseau, licensed pest management professional & eco solutions specialist at Dr. Killigan’s. Then, once you spot an entry point, he suggests sealing it with caulk, foam, weatherstripping or wire wool.
If your gaps are on the larger side, there's a simple hack that could keep rats and mice away from your home. Wire wool is a cheap material that can be used to block entry points.
And as a pro tip, he says, “Double-check attics, basements, and garages — they’re often overlooked.”
2. Give your kitchen a clean before you leave
To ensure there are no food sources for pests to feast upon, Perriseau says, “Clean your kitchen thoroughly.” And adds, “That means crumbs and spills are eliminated.”
And, even though it can be a rush when you're leaving home for a vacation, don't leave any dirty plates or dishes for rodents or pests to feed upon. Either wash them by hand or place them on a cycle in your dishwasher before you leave.
He also suggests placing contents from open food packages into airtight containers, and placing moth traps in areas where you store dried goods and grains.
3. Take out the trash
If there's one thing you do, make sure you take out the trash before you take flight. Garbage left indoors is like an open dinner invitation to pests, except they don’t pay the bill.
Flies, ants, cockroaches, and even rodents will be drawn to the trash by the scent and will quickly take up residence if left uninterrupted. Taking out the garbage will eliminate their food source and will prevent you returning to an infestation.
Top tip
What’s more, apart from taking out the trash, ensure the bin is clean. Even if you use a bin liner, liquid can sometimes seep through and cause a stink, creating a sticky messes that attract pests.
4. Keep your home cool
While you might be away enjoying the heat, don't replicate the warmth in your home. Pests will be attracted by odors, and if your home is hot, the smell of trash or decomposing fruit and vegetables will have them breaking in.
However, if your house remains cool when you’re away, there’s less chance of food decomposing and causing a stink.
Keep your house cool by closing curtains and blinds that let the heat in. By adding houseplants to your home, you can make the most of plant transpiration, which acts as a natural air conditioner.
5. Remove food from countertops
I tend to keep fresh fruit on my countertop, but I notice an increase in fruit flies in the warmer months. On one occasion I was greeted by a swarm of fruit flies when I returned after a vacation — it wasn't the relaxing return home I had anticipated.
Heat will cause fruit to ripen and spoil faster, and it will become more tempting to pests as it begins to decay. So, to avoid a kitchen full of fruit flies when you return from vacation, remove them from your countertops.
Better still, be careful what you buy before you’re due to go away, and if you do have any leftover fruit, either place it in your refrigerator or freeze it.
Top tip
I regularly freeze bananas if I know I can't eat them before they become overripe. I simply slice them thinly and flat freeze them, before adding them to a storage bag once frozen. I then add them to my morning oatmeal as they are speedy to defrost.
6. Clean out your fridge
While you’re sorting out your fruit, clean your refrigerator and check the use-by dates on food. Left to fester, bacteria will grow, causing a stink that will entice pests.
It’s also a good time to declutter your refrigerator, as before a vacation it's likely to be emptier than usual. Then you can look forward to it being clean and organized when you return.
7. Remove any fresh flowers
Although I usually try to make my fresh cut flowers last longer, the problem is that when I go away for any length of time, they wilt and die without proper care. And with this comes smelly flowers and stinky flower water.
While neither are attractive to the human eye, pests will ignore the appearance and will dart in on the decaying flowers and foul smell, where they will find shelter and a food source.
So, rather than throwing out your fresh cut flowers, pass them on to a friend or neighbor, and they're sure to repay the favor in kind.
More from Tom's Guide
- These 5 smart home devices keep tabs on your house while you're on vacation
- Appliance expert reveals the 3 'vampire devices' you should unplug before going on vacation
- This is the houseplant watering hack you need to do before going on vacation
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