Summertime To Do’s for Your Home and Yard ~ Part Three

Summertime To Do’s for Your Home and Yard ~ Part Three

Summer is in full swing, and I want to make sure your home can stand up to the heat. This is the last of a three-part series called, “How to Summer-ize Your Home.” We have covered topics relating to the interior and the exterior of your home. Today I’m sharing tips on how to keep pesky pests away and some summer projects that will make your home shine!

Keep Mosquitos (and other Pests) at Bay

It’s good to be vigilant when it comes to mosquitos, ticks, mice and other summertime pests.  Make it a standard practice for your yard and continue to monitor and adjust during the summer months.

Keep mosquitos from breeding in your yard. Mosquitos love standing water – any amount! So do your part to cut down on places where they can breed. Double check for standing water in your yard and any outside containers – such as wheelbarrows, flowerpots, buckets, watering cans, garbage cans, kids’ toys. Even the little bit in your gutter drain can lead to breeding. Store items in your garage and shed as much as possible.

Be proactive about mosquitos – both larvae and adults. Take protective measures for mosquito control to prevent larvae from flourishing. Look into non-toxic solutions such as nonchemical larvicides (Mosquito Dunks for larvae; Mosquito Bits for adults); goldfish, koi, and mosquitofish that prey on these pests; and solutions to make the water “move” more. Put the Dunks or pellets in your gutter drains to prevent larvae.

Make sure your door and window screens don’t have holes. A simple task you can do today! Walk through your home and check all of your screens. No one wants a buzzing mosquito nearby while trying to sleep! You can patch a screen yourself if you like … check out DIY instructions on YouTube.

Use an oscillating fan to blow mosquitos away. It’s an easy solution for an outside gathering on your deck or patio. Plus, a standing fan is great way to cool things off on a hot night too.

Keep flies away neatly & safely! My favorite restaurant in college was a hole in the wall that served the best enchiladas on the planet.  The décor lacked style, but was super practical… bags of water to keep the flies away.  I think of that place every time I see a fly in my kitchen. There has to be a better way!  I finally found it ~ Check out this inexpensive and much better-looking fly trap.  I just ordered one for my kitchen!

DIY Projects in the Sun

Take advantage of summer mornings or late afternoons for some outside projects that need ventilation or sunny weather. Fumes won’t bother you and items can dry in the sun.

Spiff up inside or outside furniture. It’s a perfect time to strip, sand, or stain any flea market finds. You can even spray paint something a fun, bright color without worrying about the mess (still put down newspapers or covering to protect your grass or patio).

Clean windows and screens. If you haven’t done this yet, a summer morning is the perfect time before it gets too hot. Spray wash your screens with a hose and the summer sun will dry them quickly.

Remember preventative maintenance is so important for your home!  Please contact me for any recommendations for service providers.