Pests will always be around where we live. Pests depend on us for their food and shelter. They will always present an inconvenience for us. However, pests carry pathogens that cause diseases wherever they are, making pest control an urgent business. Moreover, especially in the case of termites, uncontrolled pest infestation (know more) can damage property. In this article, we will be sharing ten pest control tips that you can do now to limit the presence of pests.
Keep Your Water from Being Stagnant
Pests love stagnant water. Stagnant water is their preferred breeding area, especially mosquitoes. Always keep your buckets dry when not in use. If you have air conditioners, attach a pipe to drain the water directly instead of using a bucket to collect the water. Also, keep in mind your surrounding areas for stagnant water. Cover all drains as much as possible.
Dispose of Your Garbage Regularly
The best way to prevent pest infestation is by keeping your garbage from accumulating. Pests such as cockroaches, rats, and most insects thrive in dirty surroundings. Worst yet, if you have rotting food, these breed bacteria, and other harmful germs which will cause infection. If your garbage smells, indeed, your house can be a dangerous place for children and the elderly. Get rid of your garbage daily as much as possible.
Place Window Screens
Windows present opportunities for pests such as flies, mosquitoes, and spiders to enter your home. You don’t necessarily need to keep your windows closed because your home still needs fresh air. Placing screens and sealing-off large holes around window panes, for instance, can keep pests away. Don’t forget to check your doors too for similar gaps.
Check Your Walls and Ceilings for Gaps and Cracks
Please take note of your exteriors for gaps and cracks. Pests will always find a way to get into your home, and these tiny openings can present opportunities for them to do so. Aside from cracks, check your electrical wirings, loose house sliding, and pipes. Seal the area around the entry point with mortar, coarse steel wool, or copper mesh.
Use The Right Lightbulbs
One question people ask us is if white light attracts insects? The answer is not the color of the light but rather the type of light bulb used. For instance, LEDs least attract insects while yellow mercury-vapor lights and incandescent lights attract more. Another way to prevent insects from affecting your interiors is not positioning exterior lights near your door.
Declutter
Another way to prevent pest infestation is to keep stuff from accumulating in your home. The combination of having people around with mountains of unwanted things is an ideal breeding ground for a wide variety of pests. Moreover, clutter presents perfect hiding places for pests such as rats. If you have worn and unwanted items such as torn luggage, old toys, plastic bags, and unused boxes, it is best to throw these away immediately.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Dirty and moist surroundings are the perfect opportunities for pests to thrive. If you want to prevent pest infestation inside your home, one of the first places you need to keep in mind is your kitchen:
As mentioned in an earlier item, get rid of your garbage daily.
Clean up after you are done with your cooking.
Wipe your countertops, floors, and sink with disinfectant.
Keep Your Bathrooms Clean
Aside from preventing stagnant water from accumulating, it would help if you also kept your bathroom walls and floors dry. Put toilet cleaner and try to clean your pot every other day to ensure your pot won’t present a breeding area for bacteria and pests. Clean your sink daily with a bathroom cleaner as well. Lastly, ensure that your drains won’t clog because of hair and soap by always keeping them covered.
Cover Vegetables and Fruits
Pests won’t wait for your food to rot. Uncovered fruits and vegetables are ideal breeding areas for pests for a long time, even if they aren’t rotten yet. You may keep your fruits and vegetables in your fridge. However, once these are overripe, they can attract flies, ants, and cockroaches. The best advice is to buy only enough fruits and vegetables for what you need.
Don’t Let Your Garden Run Wild.
Gardens are one way to make your house achieve an excellent curbside appeal. However, letting it run wild and accumulate stagnant water makes your garden a perfect breeding ground for almost all pests. Clean your pond regularly if you have one. Regularly prune your plants to prevent them from growing wildly. Check for areas in your garden where water may tend to form puddles.
Conclusion
We hope you find these pest control tips helpful for you. These pest control tips can help you keep your home from being a breeding ground for pests. However, having pests around you is unavoidable. There may come a point when you can’t control the pest population despite your best efforts. There are some areas, for instance, where termite infestation is a certainty because of their geographic location and soil quality. Though these pest control tips can help prevent pest infestation, you may still need professional help to get rid of pests once their population gets out of hand and threatens your home and its occupants.