: Featured photograph is by Constance Gennari, courtesy of The Socialite Family, from A Fashion Designer’s Cabin in the Cape Cod of France.
As a kid, there was something magical about that first drive north, to Maine, for summer vacation. One time we arrived to discover that, over the winter, something had nibbled all the way through a wooden recipe box in the kitchen.
Photograph from A Shipshape Cape Cod Cottage Inspired by Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic.
1. Air out.
An open window at the Glen Wilde.
Photograph from DIY: Homemade Dish Soap; for more natural cleaning solutions, see Expert Advice: Editors’ Top 23 Cleaning Tips.
2. Make a natural room spray.
We use a version of this spray all season, changing up the mix of essential oils, to keep the bungalows smelling great.” (For another recipe, see DIY Essential Oils: All-Natural Alternative Air Freshener and DIY Essential Oils: Lavender Linen Freshener.)
The summer bed, refreshed; see more in A Cottage Reborn in Coastal Maine.
3. Turn over the mattresses.
“We store our mattresses on a 45 degree angle, so that the mattresses get full air circulation during the winter. Then we always flip our mattress from head to toe to help avoid creating dips in the mattress from wear.”
Photograph from 7 Life-Changing Reasons to Dry Laundry Outdoors over on Gardenista.
4. Refresh bedding.
The wind and sun helps to refresh and re-fluff the comforters.” Running sheets and washable cushions through the wash helps, too, to get rid of any lingering mustiness.
If you turn off water in the off-season, run taps and flush toilets before using.
5. Flush the toilets.
6. Dust the fans.
Vintage fans in the Glen Wilde bungalows. We first dust using a feather duster to get the top loose layer of dust off.
A Glen Wilde cabin at night.