How to keep insects out of your campervan this summer

There are few things better in life than lounging around your campervan on a summer’s evening with the doors and windows wide open.

But if there’s one thing that can ruin this idyllic scene it’s those pesky insects!

Before you know it, there are all manner of bugs and flies making a home for themselves in your home on wheels or buzzing around your head while you’re trying to sleep.

While we should, of course, appreciate that insects are just as much a part of nature as we are, that’s not to say we have to share our space with them.

They’d be better off outside anyway – getting stuck in your campervan will do them no favours in the long run.

So, there’s nothing wrong with coming up with a plan for keeping the insects out of your campervan – and we’ve got plenty of tips for you to do just that.

While you’re in planning mode, why not plan for your next trip by taking out some campervan insurance?

Getting the right kind of coverage means you can get on with all your travel adventures knowing you're protected.

Motorhome Protect can provide a range of quotes on specialist campervan insurance.

Right, let’s get back to guarding against insects. While they won’t do much physical damage to your campervan, they can affect your sense of relaxation.

Here are our top tips for keeping the beasties at bay without resorting to chemical sprays.

Fly screens and mesh

You might just get away with fitting fly screens on your doors and windows, which should keep the majority of bugs at bay.

If in your mind there’s nothing worse than having a wasp or a bee impose on your personal space, fly screens are a must.

You’ll be able to enjoy an ice cream without fear of a sting-laden insect ruining the experience.

However, the tricky bit is finding a fly screen that will fit nicely over your campervan’s doors and windows – campervan and motorhome owners both complain of having to pay over the odds for a made-to-measure screen, considering it’s only a thin bit of fabric.

If you run into a problem like this, there are some good guides to be found on building a tailor made fly screen for your campervan.

It can work out a fair bit cheaper than sourcing one through a manufacturer, but without wishing to state the obvious, you’ll have to impart a fair bit more effort!

 

Spray some peppermint oil

If you don’t want to have to go through the rigmarole of finding a fly screen that fits like a glove, or you’re finding that certain insects are still managing to sneak their way into your campervan, it’s time to reach for the peppermint oil.

Insects hate peppermint. In fact, the stick bug emits a substance from behind its head that fills the air with the scent of peppermint to fight off predators.

The peppermint oil won’t do the insects any harm; it’ll just send them packing.

Generally, eight drops per half litre of water mixed as a spray will be enough for ants and flies to find a new place to lodge.

They won’t be back anytime soon either – it’s said that ants can be deterred from returning for up to one month.

Spiders aren’t a fan of peppermint either, and you can spray one with the oil to get it moving in the right direction without doing it any harm.

The peppermint oil will also do a good job of freshening the air in your campervan, too!

Create a hygienic environment

One of the best ways of keeping bugs at bay is to ensure that anything that might tempt them to come and investigate your campervan – namely food and waste – are managed.

So, make sure that you’re storing your food into airtight containers. Not only will this keep food odours to a minimum, it will keep food fresher for longer and minimise waste.

Clear any food residue off surfaces and try to wrap up any food waste before discarding it.

Meanwhile, ensure all your waste bins internally and externally have fully closing lids, and try to dispose of any rubbish somewhere on your trip – you shouldn’t have too many problems finding a local recycling centre.

Part of practising good hygiene is to clean your caravan thoroughly after use.

So, when you return from your trip, get the hoover and the anti-bacterial spray out and go to town on your campervan, turning it into the clean and food-free environment that insects can get no joy from.

You might want to leave a small reservoir of peppermint oil somewhere just in case…

 

Cover any vents

Vents are there for a reason – to help keep campervans ventilated, of course. But they, too, should be well meshed to stop the ingress of insects.

Try a high-tech repellent

Finally, if you’ve done all of the above – or if you just want to be better safe than sorry – you might want to invest in an ultrasonic insect repellent device.

Obviously, they require some – but not much – electricity to work and they’re effective at deterring rodents such as mice, rats and squirrels.

 

Protect yourself with campervan insurance

As well as protecting your campervan against being overrun with insects, you should ensure you’re protected in the case of the unexpected with adequate campervan insurance.

Campervan insurance through Motorhome Protect can come with the following benefits:

• Cover for up to 365 days a year which can include foreign use
• Cover for your Campervan whilst you are converting it
• Enhanced cover for personal effects
• Panel of leading Campervan insurers
• Unlimited EU cover
• Up to £3,500 of cover for your camping personal effects
• Up to six months cover to complete a self-build conversion
• Value up to £150,000

Get a quote from Motorhome Protect today so you can hit the road when the time is right.