Summer season is right here, and meaning the bugs are out. That is one thing we’ve battled yearly since we moved into our RV, and this 12 months is not any totally different. It looks like each single time we open the RV door, the bugs are already there, ready to get in. We’ve had every little thing from ants to fruit flies invade our house, and the time our pals had stink bugs in their RV was an absolute nightmare.
The excellent news? We’ve got discovered a number of methods to maintain the little invaders at bay so our RV stays comparatively bug-free, regardless of the swarms of creepy crawlies we discover outdoors. Use the information under to maintain bugs out of your RV as effectively.
Seal Entry Factors
The very first thing we do initially of every bug season? Seal any and all entry factors. In spite of everything, we aren’t more likely to have a bug invasion if the little critters can’t simply get in.
Ensure that to examine for gaps round home windows, doorways, slide-outs, vents, plumbing, and the undercarriage. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal cracks and crevices, and set up mesh screens over exterior vents (fridge, furnace, water heater) utilizing bug display screen kits. We additionally prefer to test our door seals often and substitute worn gaskets or add foam tape to enhance the seal.
Preserve the RV Clear
Generally tremendous small bugs can sneak in even after we suppose we’ve sealed every little thing off in addition to it may be. We’ve discovered that preserving the RV as clear as doable and ensuring to take away all entry to meals helps guarantee we don’t entice these tiny bugs, particularly the ants.
We all the time wipe down counters after every meal and do our greatest to brush every day. I’ve additionally discovered it helps to retailer meals like cereal, crackers, cookies, and chips in hermetic plastic or glass containers. Lastly, we empty our trash a number of instances a day to take away meals waste from our house.
We don’t have pets, however in the event you do, be sure that to wash pet meals bowls and don’t depart them out in a single day, as some bugs like pet meals.
Management Lighting
Bugs are drawn to meals, sure, however some are additionally drawn to gentle. Due to this, we have now found that it’s tremendous necessary to concentrate to the way you’re lighting your RV. This may occasionally sound a bit unusual, however it actually does make a distinction.
One factor you are able to do is use yellow “bug lights” for exterior lighting. These entice fewer bugs whereas nonetheless offering a little bit of lighting for hanging out outdoors at evening. We additionally make a degree of turning off outdoors lights (together with these yellow bug lights) when not wanted, particularly close to doorways or home windows.
Closing blinds or curtains at evening will help by preserving the sunshine inside, in order that the sunshine from the home windows doesn’t entice bugs to your rig.
Use Pure Deterrents
I’m not a giant fan of utilizing a bunch of chemical substances in my home-on-wheels if I don’t need to. Positive, I’ll use the sturdy stuff if we’re coping with a full-on infestation, however in relation to simply preserving bugs at bay, I a lot choose to show to pure deterrents—and truthfully, they work fairly effectively.
Cedar blocks, peppermint oil, and bay leaves can deter spiders, ants, and roaches. Merely depart them out in locations the place these critters would possibly like to hang around. In the meantime, vinegar spray (white vinegar and water) can deter ants whereas cleansing surfaces on the identical time. I like to make use of this round home windows and in locations the place ants would possibly attempt to sneak in.
In campgrounds the place bugs are particularly unhealthy, I’ll sprinkle diatomaceous earth (food-grade) round tires, jacks, and below sinks.
Deploy Traps & Boundaries
Generally, when we have now a pest downside that received’t go away or after I suspect bugs might develop into a problem, I’ll flip to traps and limitations. Ant baits and roach traps positioned in hidden corners and below cupboards will help forestall infestations and can assist eliminate points that exist already. Sticky traps additionally assist by catching wandering bugs.
I’ve additionally discovered that wheel and jack pads submerged in water or handled with insecticide can cease ants from climbing up.
Shield the Entryway
Some bugs (particularly the flying sorts) prefer to sneak into doorways as they open. For that reason, you will need to open and shut the door as little and as shortly as doable. It additionally helps to restore any holes within the display screen door and guarantee your display screen door shuts tight so critters can’t sneak into cracks.
For further measure, chances are you’ll wish to add door sweeps to maintain crawling bugs out. We’ve additionally seen many RVers use magnetic display screen curtains to allow them to depart the door open for airflow however nonetheless have loads of safety from wandering bugs.
Handle Moisture
Do you know moisture can entice some sorts of bugs? For that reason, and to guard your rig from costly water harm, it’s crucial that you simply repair leaks instantly.
In the event you’re in a damp local weather or tenting in chilly climate, use a dehumidifier to take away moisture from the air and forestall condensation. It’s additionally a good suggestion to dry out sinks and showers after use so that you don’t depart standing water that may entice undesirable friends.
Watch The place You Park
Top-of-the-line issues about RVs is that you could park them wherever you need. This implies you possibly can really select a campsite based mostly on how unhealthy the bugs is likely to be. In the event you journey all the nation, you possibly can usually attempt to head to areas with fewer bugs. That stated, this isn’t all the time doable. In these instances, simply do what you possibly can to search out the campsites which might be least more likely to home bugs.
As an illustration, it would be best to keep away from tenting close to standing water, tall grass, or piles of wooden, as these are all bug havens and people critters are more likely to discover their manner into your home-on-wheels. You’ll additionally wish to be sure that to maintain awnings and out of doors gear clear, as bugs can hitch a journey.
Common Upkeep
Holding bugs out of your RV is one thing you need to keep on high of on a regular basis. This implies it would be best to examine your RV exterior a minimum of as soon as a month, resealing any gaps within the seals or round home windows and doorways. Be sure you additionally look out for insect exercise as you examine!
Moreover common inspections, it’s additionally a good suggestion to spray insecticide limitations (like permethrin) round tires, jacks, and stabilizers each time you park in a brand new spot, or a minimum of as soon as every week. Changing sticky traps, ant bait, diatomaceous earth, and so forth. regularly can be key.
If You Have a Bug Drawback
Generally, regardless of our greatest efforts, we nonetheless find yourself with a bug downside in our tiny home-on-wheels. If this occurs to you, don’t panic. Follow the information above to attempt to maintain the bugs at bay after which comply with the steps under.
Establish
Establish the pest first. Be sure you know not simply the kind of bug, however the actual species if doable. This may show you how to decide what kind of bait, lure, and/or repellent to put money into. Prior to now, we’ve been in a position to eliminate all of our bug issues utilizing easy store-bought baits and traps.
Up Your Recreation
If traps, baits, and deterrents don’t do the trick, think about using RV-safe foggers or sprays. Simply be sure to ventilate effectively, as these could be unsafe for people, particularly in such a small house.
Rent a Professional
If all else fails, chances are you’ll want to usher in a professional pest management service. Be sure you rent an RV-aware firm or particular person, as the way in which they sort out the issue might differ from the way in which they’d sort out such a problem in a sticks-and-bricks house.
Sure, bugs are annoying, however we’ll by no means have the ability to keep away from them fully, particularly after we head out to probably the most distant and wild of locations. Happily, by utilizing the strategies above, we have now been in a position to get pleasure from loads of comparatively bug-free adventures, and I’m assured you’ll too!
