Have you ever gotten bugs, rodents, or other pests in your home? Instead of waiting to take defensive action against pests once they have entered your home, go on offence to prevent pest problems before they occur. There are several ways to eliminate conditions both inside and outside your home that appeal to pests, which should reduce the chance of them ever bothering you.
1. Minimize Plants
Trim back any tree branches or shrubbery that touch your home. This helps to eliminate "bridges" that pests can use to easily reach your house and find their way in. Likewise, mulch in garden beds can provide ideal shelter for pests. So instead of using mulch in areas that touch your foundation, place less pest-attractive ground cover, such as rocks.
2. Doors and Windows
Pests can wiggle through tiny cracks and gaps, so you should regularly inspect and repair any warped or broken doors and windows, as well as those that simply don't fit well. Also, promptly repair any rips or tears in screens. Use screen mesh sizes with at least 200 holes per square inch; these are commonly available at home and hardware stores.
3. Check for Cracks and Gaps
Doors and windows aren't the only places that can have tiny openings. Routinely inspect the entire exterior of your home for other cracks, crevices, and gaps through which pests could enter. Check for foundation cracks, loose siding, missing roof shingles, and gaps around utility lines, including pipes, electric wiring, and cable wiring. Seal any openings with copper mesh, coarse steel wool, sheet metal, or mortar. Expanding caulk is not ideal to use because many pests can chew through it.
4. Properly Dispose of Trash and Litter
Most people know that household garbage can attract pests, such as ants, roaches, and rodents. But yard waste also can draw in pests that might see it either as a nest or a food source. Make sure that all of your trash cans have tight-fitting lids, and clean the cans and area where they sit regularly to remove debris and spills on which pests can feed. Additionally, keep yards, patios, decks, and garages free of leaf litter, plant clippings, and standing water, all of which can provide ideal environments for pests to create a home.
5. Rinse Recyclables
Just like with trash, it is preferable to store recyclables in a bin that has a tight-fitting lid. However, some municipalities provide open bins to their residents. If this is the case for you, thoroughly rinse all the food from your recyclables before putting them in the bin. Taking a little extra time to do this should keep your bin pest-free. Furthermore, store the bin outside rather than in your garage or home.
6. Use the Right Light Bulbs
To reduce flying insects around doors and windows, replace standard mercury vapor lights with high-pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights. Bulbs with pink, yellow, or orange tints will be least attractive to the insects. You also might want to change the location of your light if possible. While it is common to place lights on exterior walls near doors, it is better to position the light farther away from your house on a pole. This will keep most of the insects by the pole and not your house. Just make sure the light still reaches the door to keep it illuminated for safety purposes.
7. Look for Interior Gaps
Many pest-preventative measures take place outside the home. But some cracks and gaps will be visible only from the inside. Regularly check inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, and stoves for signs of pests. Also look for gaps in trim, as well as around pipes, vents, and cables. Seal any gaps you find, especially those of a quarter-inch or greater. A good indicator that these gaps lead directly outside is if you can feel airflow coming from them.
8. Clean Drains
Sink and floor drains often accumulate gunk and debris. This can attract pests and provide an ideal breeding site, especially for small flies. So, make sure to regularly inspect and clean all the drains in your home, including those in the laundry room and basement. Baking soda and vinegar make an excellent homemade drain cleaner, providing a foaming action that flushes out clogs.
9. Store Food in Sealed Containers
Some pests, such as rodents, have an excellent sense of smell. And if there's an open food container somewhere in your home, odds are they will zero in on it. Always store pantry foods, such as cereal and crackers, in reusable containers or resealable bags if the original packaging can't be fully sealed. Aim to clean out your pantry on a regular basis to get rid of spoiled food or other items you don't plan to eat. This will help to minimize the attraction of any "pantry pests."
10. Regularly Clean Your Home
The cleaner your home is, the less attraction it will have for pests. When you keep up with your vacuuming, mopping, and other household chores, you will regularly disturb any areas where a pest might be considering making a home. Plus, you'll pick up crumbs and other debris that might have been a potential food source for pests. And when you regularly make the cleaning rounds, you're likely to spot any potential entrances for pests before they become a problem.
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