Throw Away or Take Food with You Before leaving the cottage, walk through the house and collect all the food that may spoil during your absence into a trash bag. You can take fresh food from the refrigerator with you. If the electricity goes out, the contents will spoil and emit an unpleasant odor. Leave only non-perishable items: grains, pasta, tea, coffee. Ensure airtight packaging so that insects and rodents cannot access the supplies. Clean Up at the End of Your Stay Leave the cottage in perfect condition. The next time you arrive after a long journey, you won’t want to clean up, so take a little extra time to pack. Wipe the floors, do a wet cleaning in the kitchen and rooms. Organize more closed storage systems — this will significantly reduce cleaning time. Ventilate the Room During your absence, the air in the room becomes stale. When you arrive, open all windows and doors. Install mosquito nets to protect the house from insects. If there is still a smell of dampness and mustiness, use diffusers or scented candles. Store Textiles in the Closet If the summer is rainy, feather pillows, blankets, throws, and towels may become damp in the house. Sleeping and using wet textiles is not very pleasant. Before leaving, pack the items in plastic bags and store them in the closet. You can also place aroma sachets there. Damp items can be dried near the stove or fire. Purchase Convenient Cleaning Items You don’t have to buy expensive equipment like a steam mop or a robotic vacuum cleaner. Gadgets may attract thieves who are eager to take advantage of cottage property. Buy a convenient floor cleaning set consisting of a mop, a bucket with a wringing system, a microfiber cloth, and a window cleaning brush. Be Friends with Your Neighbors Friendship with cottage neighbors is pleasant and beneficial. They can always keep an eye on the house and inform you if something goes wrong. For example, if vandals break a window or damage a door lock.