8 easy ways to maintain your beach house

To make maintenance easier, keep your cleaning tools and other materials at the beach house. That way, you've always got everything handy when you need it.

You can keep your garden healthy while you're not around with a good quality mulch. A nice thick layer stops weeds from growing, prevents soil erosion, adds nutrients, and it looks good. It also retains moisture in the soil to keep your plants moist while you're away. When using it, make sure you wear gloves and a dust mask.

It's also a good idea to give your house a once over with a cobweb broom. This will keep the spiders from getting inside your place while you're away. If there are any areas that you can't reach, then give them a spray with your water blaster. It'll also get rid of any salt around the house or any build-up from the weather.

If you have a deck, give the floor and any rails a clean with your water blaster and scrub with your wire brush. Then oil the timber with some decking oil to protect it from dirt and mould, and keep it looking its best for longer.

Air conditioners have filters to catch dust. Over time these can get quite dirty so remove and clean them. You can use a brush or rinse with water, but make sure they're dry before you put them back in the unit.

Give your fans a good wipe over with a cloth to remove any dust or build-up. It will improve the efficiency of the fan and prolong their working life. If your fans are positioned over a bed or furniture, lay down a drop sheet to stop any dust getting on them.