The pest control industry is hard to understand. There has been debate as to which method is the most effective. Before you pick an ideal pest control method, it is vital to recognize the types of pests you are dealing with. In this post, we have shared tips for controlling pests in and around your home.
1. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Pests will always thrive in dirty, smelly surroundings, and that is what you must not give them. To ensure that your home is not pest infested, keep the kitchen counters and cabinets clean at all times. The drawers and stove-tops must also be kept clean all the time.
Check to see if there are any food leftovers in the open, be sure to clean them and don’t leave any smell behind. It should be noted that this method might not entirely make the pests go away, but it is a great starting point. You will notice that the number of pests in your home has dropped significantly.
2. Don’t Rid The Good Ones
The fact is that most household pests are not good for your health, such as roaches and rodents. Some of them can also cause a lot of damages to your house, but there are some that are good for you, more so when you have a garden.
Ladybugs, for instance, feed on spider mites and aphids. Ground beetles are also going great when it comes to feeding on caterpillars and slugs. Also, bats, as long as they are not in the house, might reduce the population of mosquitoes around your home.
3. Look for Interior Gaps
There are many pest preventive measures, and most of them work perfectly outside your home. However, some openings to your house will be visible when you look from the inside. Thus, whenever you are free, check for openings behind the kitchen cabinets and refrigerators for any signs of pests.
Try to see if there are any gaps and make sure they are filled as soon as you spot them. These gaps are mostly available around vents, cables, and pipes, so you need to check them carefully.
4. Seal Doors and Windows
Some pests are so adaptable that they can easily wriggle through small cracks. Therefore, you should always look for any openings around the doors and windows and have them sealed as soon as possible. You should also ensure that all areas fit well, so try to keep them in good condition.
It is advisable to use screen mesh sizes with around 200 openings per square inch. They are common in hardware and home stores. They will help keep the pests from accessing and finding shelter in your home.
5. Dispose Litter and Trash Properly
Many people are naturally aware that garbage can easily attract pests to their homes, especially mice and rats. Some pests, such as roaches, can also use the garbage as a source of shelter or food. To be safe, you should keep all the trash cans tightly fitted so that pests can’t access what is inside.
The areas where the trash cans sit must be cleaned regularly since cockroaches like to live in dirty places. Don’t let trash sit there for too long before getting rid of them. Also, keep decks, patios, and garages free of plant clippings, plant litter, and standing water.
6. Rinse The Recyclables
Just like you do with the trash, it is essential to keep the recyclables in a clean bin with a tight-fit lid. In some places, municipalities provide their residents with open bins to keep the recyclables. If this is what happens in your area, you must rinse the recyclables thoroughly so that they don’t invite pests to your home.
This is not an activity that will take too much of your time but will keep your home pest-free. Also, if possible, try to keep the bin away outside your house instead of having it sitting in the garage.
7. Use The Right Light Bulbs
Suppose you want to reduce the number of flying insects around the doors and windows, then you should use halogen or high-pressure sodium vapor bulbs. Light bulbs with orange, pink, or yellow tints will not be attractive for the insects.
If possible, consider changing the location of the light bulbs. Many people have the lights positioned on the exterior walls close to the doors, but the best alternative is to place the light away from the house walls on a pole.
Final Thoughts
Pest identification is the first step toward ensuring that your pest doesn’t have stubborn, destructive uninvited guests. Once you have realized that your home is susceptible to pest infestation, the pointers shared above might come in handy. Even if you are trying to get rid of pests, try to use natural methods since some chemicals might not be good for your health. Note that you don’t have to be an expert to prevent the pests from accessing your home.
