While you consider yourself an animal lover, house pests probably make an exception. Pests can be a major source of annoyance for any homeowner. Whether they’re insects, rodents, and other creepy crawlies, no homeowner likes pests invading their home. They are notorious for spreading various diseases and pose serious threats to your property.
Pests such as spiders, rodents, cockroaches are more active indoors during the spring. While this is a part of their survival instincts, sharing your living space with pests can worsen your life. Homeowners who are too desperate to get rid of pests hire mosquito control services for a fast and easy way to kill mosquitoes. They also offer all-natural solutions to protect the family and environment against harmful chemicals.
Besides hiring pest control companies, taking preventative measures is a great way to protect your family and property against pest infestation. This is very helpful to get your house prepared for any pests regardless of the season. In this article, we listed down the best home improvements with an eye toward pest control. These simple solutions will not only reduce pests in your home, but they will make your home look and feel pleasing.
Look for entry points
Roof, foundation, and basement repairs are the largest renovation projects to make your home pest-free. Regular inspections of these areas will detect potential entry points such as holes, cracks, and other crevices that serve as entryways for pests to invade your home.
Mice, rats, and tiny insects can easily slip into the foundation and walls through small cracks. Meanwhile, cockroaches and slugs hide in damp and dark gaps during the day and explore your home as the night settles in. During their night-time wanderings, these critters slide their tiny bodies through windows, doors, and utility lines to get into the kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of the house.
Prevent these unwanted guests from entering your home by sealing all potential entry points. This means you have to cover every tiny hole around the house and seal them with caulk, plaster, cement, hardware cloth, or steel wool. During the night, make sure the door, windows, and garage are properly closed. If the chimney is not in use, seal it with a cap to prevent pests from passing through the fireplace.
Aside from holes, inspect for entryways in the cable holes, door frames, wooden windows, and the screens of joints and vents and cover them as necessary. If you love using second-hand furniture, check for signs of pests, such as termites and bed bugs. A great tip is to apply pest treatment before using a secondhand item.
Ensure garden maintenance
The most effective pest control technique does not take place inside your home. It all starts outside, which includes the garden and yard. The aesthetic value of your property lies in its curb appeal, but if a garden is infested with pests, it will likely decrease the house’s selling value.
Keeping the outdoors clean is one of the secrets to a pest-free house. Sadly, not all homeowners are paying much attention to this. Moisture-laden soil and stagnant water are great places for pests to breed, such as mosquitoes.
Even trees and bushes are perfect hiding places for insects. If you have plants sitting beside your home, trim their branches to keep them from touching the gutters, roof, and façade. If you’re planning to start a garden, make sure the plants are at a reasonable distance from the walls to prevent pests from using them as a bridge to enter the house.
Garden accessories are also ideal breeding places. If you have bird feeders, rubbish bins, and woodpiles, keep them in order and away from the house. Also, ensure moderate use of water on the soil since excess moisture attracts pests and kills plants.
Keep the kitchen and bathroom clean
Pests often thrive in damp areas of your home, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Keeping them dry and clean will prevent the accumulation of flies and rodents. Keep the drawers, stove-top, racks, and counters clean by regularly wiping them with a disinfectant solution. Remove excess food particles lying around since they easily attract pests.
For the bathroom, clean the toilet and sink regularly using a bathroom cleaner. Make sure the shower curtain is always dry and moss-free. Plumbing repairs are also a must to prevent leaking pipes and further moisture. Also, keep the traps and drain openings tightly fixed since they serve as gateways for rodents.
Keeping pests away from your home is a challenge any homeowner is likely to face. While following the steps above, make sure to do them regularly for better results. Otherwise, if you want fast and guaranteed results, contact a professional pest control service to prevent further infestation and give yourself peace of mind.
