12 Easy Hacks To Prevent Bugs From Invading Your Home During Vacation

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You've just returned home after a relaxing vacation, only to see a swarm of fruit flies in your kitchen or a lone cockroach taking up residence on your stove. It's a quick return to reality and a clear sign the vacation is over. If you want to prevent this from happening again, there are a few easy hacks to prevent bugs from invading your home while you're on vacation. Most of these tasks can be completed in a single day. Things such as cleaning up after pets, storing food, and sweeping the floor can make a big difference in keeping insects out of your house. 

Bugs enter your home for a variety of reasons, most commonly because they seek warmth, shelter, and food. If your home is full of things that entice them, they might make themselves comfortable while you're away. Your absence makes the temptation even sweeter, as there's no loud activity or movement in the home that may startle them. Getting ready to go away can be stressful as you try to remember everything you need to pack and also prepare to keep your home safe while you're on vacation. Yet neglecting these essential tasks may mean you end up with a few nasty roommates, so it can be worth the extra time. 

Leaving trash inside your home is like putting out a buffet with an all-you-can-eat sign for pests. Lured in by the scent of rotting food, such as produce, proteins, and sweets, insects may target your trash cans for a quick meal. They then can multiply, causing a full-on invasion. After you empty your trash can, clean up any lingering spills or crumbs inside and outside the can.

There is an unexpected reason to leave paper and a glass in your sink while you are away: to block bugs. Doing this will create a barrier for any bugs crawling up through your sink, while also offering the bonus of blocking any smells from wafting up in the air. You can wet a paper towel to create a good seal, then cover it with an upside-down glass. Try to do this in your kitchen and bathroom sinks, as these are prime places where cockroaches and other insects come in from the pipes.

If you needed another reason why water leaks in your home shouldn't be ignored, consider the fact that multiple creepy crawlies seek out moisture. Leaks and standing water are ideal breeding grounds for cockroaches, mosquitoes, and even ants. Pests take advantage of the slow-dripping leaks under your sink or the cool, wet darkness of your basement, sticking around and breeding until you have an infestation. Get rid of any damp areas in your home to discourage them.

Roaches, beetles, termites, and other pests often nest in firewood for food and shelter. To keep these insects from traveling into your home while you're away, relocate the firewood as far away from your property as possible. Do the same for any debris, such as yard waste or random clutter, as these piles can make comfortable homes for them as well.

One spot you may neglect as you look for ways to deter pests from your home while on vacation is your dishwasher. Before leaving, make sure you empty your dishwasher, or if you have dirty dishes, make sure you run them. Unclean dishes left in the sink or dishwasher can attract pests, especially cockroaches, by the scent and food traces. Even rinsed dishes can carry scents and residue that can draw them in.

Take the time to set a few traps, especially if you've recently seen insects. Using Ant traps, roach "motels," and fly strips can help in case there are a few stragglers who pop up. If you don't have any traps, try to repel bugs naturally by coating a cotton ball with essential oil. These strong scents can help deter pests as they mask the scent of food and can also confuse their navigation systems. Peppermint can help deter spiders and ants, while lavender is distasteful to moths and mosquitoes.

Some bugs love a warm space just like you do, and lowering the temperature in your home can make them less likely to stop by. If it's winter and you'd like to avoid cockroaches, ants, and other nasty creatures from getting warm in your home, try maintaining a temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Running the ceiling fan to circulate air and reduce humidity may help as well. You can do the same in the summer to deter insects, lowering it to 70 degrees Fahrenheit as they are very active during this period.

Before you go on vacation, consider how bugs may get into your home while you're away. Look for any possible entry points, including cracks and gaps, then seal up. Check your foundation as well as near your windows or doors, plus your dryer vents. Pay special attention to holes or gaps in a window screen, as insects can easily crawl into these openings. Pest control experts recommend checking for cracks of visible light, as these can be entry points for bugs.

Are you holding onto a few random cardboard boxes just in case you need them in the future? That pile of cardboard in the corner of your basement may be useful, but it can also provide a cozy home and food source for unwanted pests such as cockroaches or silverfish. Break down your cardboard boxes, placing them in recycling or giving them to a friend who is moving soon.

If you have a bag of pet food open in your home, it's a prime way to attract ants and other bugs while you're out on vacation. The food is a good source of nutrition for ants, thanks to how it's packed with carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Once ants discover the available food, they can quickly infest the bag, ruining your pet's meal and your return trip back home. Place pet food in secure containers, ideally with a lock, such as this IRIS USA Dog Food Container on Amazon, to keep it bug-free.

Fruit flies and other critters may be attracted by fruits and vegetables you've mistakenly left on the counter to rot. If you regularly store your apples in a fruit bowl, refrigerate it before leaving, especially if you will be gone longer than a week. You can do the same with bananas, placing them into the fridge or freezer to keep for later use. Next, wash out your fruit bowl to remove any sticky residue and scents that can attract the pests.

Ideally, you should clean as much as possible before heading on vacation. You may not be able to, however, so focus on the important areas of the kitchen and bathroom. Wipe up any puddles of water around your sink or tub and sweep or vacuum up any crumbs. Even during last-minute packing, try to clear clutter and remove items from the floor. It might be annoying, but think how pleasant it will be to step into a clean house once you're back from vacation.