Vacation Checklist: Pest Prevention Tips Before You Travel

You have the flights booked, the bags half packed, and a dozen things still on your list. Pest prevention probably isn’t one of them. It should be. The hour you spend prepping your home before you leave can save you from an expensive, stressful surprise when you get back.

Pests love an empty house on Long Island. Warm summer weather plus a quiet, undisturbed home is the perfect setup for ants, mice, and roaches to settle in. Here is a simple checklist to run through before you head out.

In the kitchen

The kitchen is ground zero for most pest problems, so start here.

• Take out all the trash and recycling, and don’t forget the small bins.
• Seal pantry items in airtight containers. Open bags of flour, cereal, and rice are an open invitation.
• Wipe down counters and sweep the floor so crumbs aren’t left behind.
• Empty pet food bowls and store the bag somewhere sealed.
• Run the garbage disposal and check for food caught in the drain.

Around the house

Water draws pests as much as food does, so cut off their supply.

• Fix any slow drips under sinks or behind the toilet.
• Check the basement and crawl space for dampness.
• Empty and dry anything that holds standing water, including buckets and watering cans.
• Take out indoor plants that sit in trays of water, or drain the trays.

A quick walk through the house looking for these spots takes ten minutes and removes the two things pests need most.

Seal the entry points

Pests get in through gaps you walk past every day. Before you leave, check the obvious ones.

• Look at door sweeps and weatherstripping for worn spots.
• Inspect window screens for tears.
• Seal cracks around pipes and utility lines where they enter the house.

For more on protecting your home before a trip, our spring pest proofing checklist has additional steps that apply year round.

Outside the home

Your yard sets the tone for what comes inside. Mow the lawn before you go so overgrowth doesn’t creep toward the foundation. Clear gutters so water drains instead of pooling. Move firewood and garbage cans away from exterior walls. These small moves keep ants and other pests from finding a path indoors while you’re gone.

The strongest protection is a plan that runs whether you are home or not. A professional treatment before you travel means you are not relying on a checklist alone.

Knockout Pest Control has kept homes pest-free across Nassau County, Suffolk County, NYC, and Westchester County since 1975. We offer 24-hour service, seven days a week. Call (800) 244-7378 or request a free estimate before your trip, and new customers get $50 off their initial service. Travel easy knowing your home is covered.