A seasonal home, rental or boat stands empty for stretches. That quiet is an invitation. This checklist helps you reduce the pull before you leave and check what happened when you return.
Before you leave.
- Remove all food, including pet food and bird seed.
- Empty and clean the pantry, and take out the trash.
- Store linens, cushions and clothing in lidded plastic bins.
- Close gaps you know about, and check door and garage seals.
- Trim plants and fronds back from the walls and roof.
- Set up a periodic check by a friend or manager.
A clean, closed building offers less than a cluttered one. Cardboard on the floor, open bags and fabric piles are the first things animals use.
On arrival, before you clean.
Open doors and windows and let the building air out for about thirty minutes. Wear gloves. Walk each room and look for droppings, gnawed items, nests and smells. Check the pantry, closets, under sinks and the garage.
| Place. | Look for. | Do. |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen and pantry. | Pellets, chewed packages. | Photograph, then wet-clean. |
| Closets and linens. | Nests, shredded cloth. | Bag soiled items. |
| Under sinks. | Droppings, gnaw marks at pipes. | Seal gaps. |
| Garage. | Droppings, nests in totes. | Air out, wear gloves. |
| Attic hatch. | Noises, droppings. | Do not enter alone if heavily soiled. |
Boats, trailers and carts.
Stored boats can hold nests in cushions, covers and compartments. Check them before use, and look at trailer wiring and any covers. For vehicles, see our guide on cars, carts and boat trailers.
Cleaning safely.
Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings. Spray them wet with disinfectant and let it sit about five minutes. Wipe with paper towels, bag the waste and wash your hands. The CDC page linked below explains the steps.
Seal and recheck.
If you find signs, the entries must be located and closed. The exclusion page lists the materials, and an inspection will find the gaps. Trapping removes the animals first.
Whether we can come today depends on the schedule, so call and ask.
Tap to call (888) 686-4821A pre-departure routine you can repeat.
- Walk each room and check for open food, crumbs and loose cardboard.
- Empty the trash and clean the kitchen thoroughly.
- Close the garage door and check its seal.
- Take photographs of closets, the pantry and the garage so changes are easy to spot.
- Leave a note for whoever checks the property, listing what to look for.
When to call.
Phone any hour if you find droppings, nests or gnawing, or smell something unpleasant on arrival. Tell us how long the property stood empty.
While you wait for a technician: do this, skip that
These lines restate public health guidance, and any household can use them whether or not a visit ever gets booked.
- Wet it first, wipe it second, and sweep nothing.
- Hot, stuffy storerooms and attics should air for thirty minutes before cleaning begins.
- Gloves go on at the start and your hands go under the tap at the end.
- Spray every pellet and stain with disinfectant, then let it stand for around five minutes.
- Everything you gather goes into a closed bag before it reaches the bin.
- Feeling feverish or short of breath after exposure is a question for a physician, so describe the cleanup to one.
Where the safety steps come from
Prefer the original guidelines? Their titles and links appear below.
- CDC advice on cleaning rodent droppings and nests: Handling urine stains, pellets and shredded bedding without raising dust.
- EPA rules for rodenticide products: Why the strongest products stay with licensed applicators while consumer products come in tamper-resistant bait stations.