What Is The Best Way To Prevent A Pest Infestation?
You feel at home in your house. It’s perfectly understandable that you wouldn’t want your home to become a haven for pests. Doing your research is important, whether you’re looking to prevent pests from entering your home or are trying to eliminate an infestation.
Pests are found in many shapes and sizes, from ants to cockroaches, rodents and more. However, they all share the same need for food and shelter. One man’s garbage is another pests treasure, to modify the old saying.
Tips to Prevent Pest Infestation
Regularly dispose of trash
Pests will feel like they are at a buffet when you leave your trash outside or in the garage. Keep the large trash container outside or in your garage if you receive a weekly garbage service. This will reduce the chances of pests entering your home.
Consider upgrading your open trash cans in the home to ones with lids. When trash is your main pest problem, you should wash food containers before throwing them away. Pests don’t like the milk jug, they prefer the residue.
Repair Exterior Holes
Infestations of pests are only possible when the pests can enter your home. Modifying some of the obvious pest entryways, such as using screens on windows or keeping exterior doors closed, is easy. Regularly inspect your home’s interior and exterior to look for any cracks or holes. Be sure to pay attention to your foundation, roof, and utility lines. When you find any holes, patch them up or fill them in. This will not only keep pests away, but also prevent the openings getting worse.
Store food in secure containers
It’s true that pests are super-efficient at tracking down food. According to Terminix, ants, for instance, have five times more odor receptors than other insects. This allows them to smell the leftover apple pie on your counter even from a long distance. You can stop pests from entering your home by using food in containers that are sealed and have a strong smell. This includes items on your counter and in your pantry.
Deep Clean the House
You should schedule a deep cleaning if you want to prevent pests. You can reduce the likelihood of pests entering your home by wiping, mopping, or vacuuming every corner. Deep cleaning your house is not just about cleaning up crumbs. It’s also a great way to find and eliminate possible breeding grounds for pests. Drain cleaner can be used to eliminate small flies that thrive in drains.
Reexamine Your Landscaping
It’s also not good to have pests around your exterior. Walk around your yard and look for things that might invite pests into your home. For example, woodpiles need to be kept far away from exterior walls. gutters also need to be cleaned regularly. You should be aware that pests can cause damage to your house even when they are outside. Therefore, you need to keep an eye on any changes in the siding, roofing, or foundation.
Sanitize Soft Surfaces, Too
Do more than just wipe down your floors and counters when you clean inside. Beds, couches and rugs can be a haven for fleas and bedbugs. All items that fit in the washing machine need to be sanitized regularly. For your mattress and pillows, first vacuum them thoroughly and then use a disinfectant spray.
Pest Infestations: Safety Issues
Pests are more than just unwelcome guests. They can bring disease, germs and other health risks to your home. The best way to prevent pests is to do so before they arrive. It is best to address any pest infestations immediately before they cause structural or health damage to your home.
Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you always use pesticides according to the directions. The EPA offers additional advice on how to deal with pest infestations.
- Start by using baits instead of pesticides that are sprayed across a large area
- When possible, use ready-to-use pesticides
- Use fogging devices only when absolutely necessary
- Use only interior pesticides outside
- Storing pesticides and their original containers
- Pesticides: How to store them safely and dispose of them properly
