Pests are a serious nuisance to homeowners. They eat our food, dirty the home with feces, and, in many cases, they carry disease. Many infestations will quickly get out of control, costing hundreds or thousands in pest control bills and repairs.
Thankfully, this doesn’t have to happen to you. Pests can stay out with some easy, regular maintenance. Here’s what you can do to protect your home from unwanted pests.
Keep the kitchen clean
Though we may take them for granted, it is important that you stay on top of your daily chores, such as cleaning the dishes and taking out the garbage. The kitchen is where most pest problems begin. Pests are drawn to the kitchen because of its odours and abundance of food.
Wash the dishes every day, before nightfall. Make sure you take out the garbage, too. Use a lidded receptacle and clean it every now and then to reduce the smell. Vacuum and mop the floors every week. Always keep the surfaces of the kitchen clean and store your food in sealed containers. Remember that it doesn’t take much to feed a family of mice.
If you’re too busy to keep up, consider hiring a cleaning company. You can choose to have someone clean for you every day, once a week, or at any rate that works for you.
Deep clean every 6 months
Every 6 months or so, do a deep clean. This will help eliminate the odours that attract pests into the home.
Empty out the kitchen cabinets and wipe them clean. Clean underneath the sink to remove crumbs and waste that has been forgotten. Clean the oven, range hood, and fridge interior. Then, pull out your appliances and clean the surfaces beneath them. Mice and other pests will feed on the crumbs there.
When you are done with the kitchen, tidy up the basement and garage. Reduce clutter and stay organized. This will reduce the number of hiding spots available to pests.
Reduce the home’s humidity
Insects and rodents are attracted to humid areas. If your basement is humid, consider setting up a dehumidifier. Clean out your fans and replace the filter in your HVAC system. Fix leaky faucets and replace your windows if there is an excessive amount of condensation. Always turn on the bathroom fan when taking a bath or shower.
Eliminate entry points
Have you ever wondered how a spider got in the house? There are loads of little cracks and crevices that let pests into the home. Check your windows, door frames, foundation, and vinyl siding for gaps and seal them up. Use a silicone caulking for cracks in the wood, and an epoxy sealer or mortar to seal little cracks in the foundation.
Fix or replace broken window screens and invest in weatherstripping for doors to the exterior. Plug holes in the wall with steel wool or expanding foam. For added protection, cover your wall vents with steel mesh, and block weep holes with stainless steel covers. You can find these at the hardware store or by contacting a local pest control company.
Tidy up the yard
Pests come from outside, so it is important that you keep the yard well groomed. The messier and more overgrown the yard, the more likely you are to attract pests.
Mow the lawn every week and get rid of weeds – especially when they line the sides of the house. Move plants and piles of firewood away from the walls of the home. Trim the vines and maintain the hedges.
In the fall, be sure to rake the leaves and bag them up for collection. Stop feeding the birds in the fall and winter. If there are many pests in your area, avoid feeding them entirely. Bird feeders attracts rats, squirrels, raccoons, and more.
Call an exterminator
Call an exterminator as soon as you notice the signs of an infestation. Getting the help of a professional, like Pest O Kill, is the most reliable solution to any pest problem. They can diagnose the issue properly, then treat it with the right products. Professionals use high quality tools and pesticides that work better than anything available in stores.
If you don’t have pests right now, but you want to keep them out, an exterminator can exclude your home for you. He or she can block out every potential entry point, protecting your home from a future invasion. This service is invaluable and often comes with a warranty.
