How To Keep Pests Out of Your House
Every time you step outside, there is a chance of running into a pest. Pests can be anywhere, and they are present year-round. Pests include cockroaches, fleas, rats, mice, bedbugs, black ants, the moths─the list goes on. Since pests already live outdoors, why invite them into your home? The consequences of a pest infestation can be quick or gradual, but no pest is innocuous. Moths seem harmless, but there are certain species of moths that are poisonous. Baby moths will eat the fibers of your clothing, thus gnawing holes into your favorite shirt. Don’t live in fear in your own home. Make pests feel like they’re not at home.
Seal Your Foods
Keep your foods sealed, such as loaves of bread, bags of chips, packs of cookies, and all other food items that are resealable. There will be times where you are too busy to wash your dishes. Look, it happens. However, the price of a pest invasion isn’t worth a few dirty plates. Avoid leaving stacks of unwashed dishes in your sink. If you have a pet, make sure to keep your pet’s food inside a container. Leaving your pet food in its original bag is an invitation for rats to think you’re offering them free food.
Block Their Path
Microscopic pests hardly face challenges when entering your home, which is why you must make it challenging for pests to invite themselves in. Make sure that all the cracks and crevices in your home are sealed, and that you keep your doors closed. While leaving your door open during the summer will cool you down, just remember that it’s a direct invite for mosquitoes to swarm into your living room. You’re better off using a fan or air conditioning instead. Ensure that your windows have screens installed.
Declutter
Keep only the items you use frequently. If you have a child, perform a routine check-up on their toys to make sure that there are no bugs hiding. You don’t want your daughter finding spiders inside her dollhouse, so it’s crucial that you inspect objects that are kept in garages, basements, and attics. Discard old newspapers and magazines that you no longer read. Pests will have nowhere to take shelter in if you don’t leave objects lying around.
Dry Any Damp Areas
There are certain bugs that seek moisture, such as cockroaches. A cockroach can live submerged underwater for some time, so it’s essential that you dry wet floors, fix leaky faucets and drains, and repair damage pipes immediately. Make sure that your washing machine and dryer are in tip-top shape, as broken washers and dryers leak water.
Sometimes, a pest infestation is inevitable. A person who lives near fields is susceptible to field mice scurrying into their home. There are pests for each season, so the summer is peak season for stinging insects and bedbugs. The winter experiences roaches and rodents. Basic maintenance is the best preventative measure for a pest infestation.
