No matter what time of year it is, pests can be a very big problem, especially if an infestation occurs. They can bring sicknesses and diseases because of the germs, bacteria, and viruses they carry.
A mosquito bite can lead to dengue fever. Rats can cause salmonella. For this reason, a lot of people do what they can to protect their homes from bugs and vermin.
- 10 Ways to Keep Pests from Bothering You and Your Home
- 1. Keep an eye out for pests early on.
- 2. Get rid of mice as soon as you see them.
- 3. Seal all cracks, holes, and small openings you find.
- 4. Store firewood away from the house and off the ground.
- 5. Keep your trees, shrubs, and other plants trimmed.
- 6. Mow the lawn and keep the grass short.
- 7. Keep your trash covered.
- 8. Get rid of standing water.
- 9. Keep a spotless kitchen.
- 10. Plant insect-repelling plants in your garden.
10 Ways to Keep Pests from Bothering You and Your Home
When it comes to maintaining a pest-free home, prevention is the key. Calling in exterminators may be the ultimate solution to pest infestation but why should you wait for an infestation to happen in the first place? Preventive maintenance can stop the problem before it even occurs.
Here are some preventive steps that will keep your home free from pests:
1. Keep an eye out for pests early on.
One of the best ways to prevent an infestation is to catch them early on. Perform regular checks around the house and look for signs of possible infestation especially in problematic areas around the property like the garage, basement, attic, backyard, laundry room, and damp and wet places.
2. Get rid of mice as soon as you see them.
Whenever most folks spot a mouse around the house, their first instinct is to look for all possible holes rodents can get through and close them. Before you get to that, you should instead capture the mouse first and get it out of your house. Closing any passageways will only keep it inside your home.
3. Seal all cracks, holes, and small openings you find.
Since we’ve already touched on it, make sure you seal all possible entry points around your house. Look for holes in the walls, cracks in floorboards, gaps in doors and windows, and other similar tight spaces pests can come in and seal them tight. Installing screen doors and windows can also help keep unwanted guests away.
4. Store firewood away from the house and off the ground.
Two of the absolute worst infestations a homeowner can ever have are termites and carpenter ants. These two species often feed on wood and use it as their home. For this reason, it is wise to keep any firewood stored a few feet away from the house and keep them a few inches above the ground to prevent ants and termites from coming across them.
5. Keep your trees, shrubs, and other plants trimmed.
Another great preventive way of keeping pests away is to keep your garden and lawn well-maintained. Trimming branches and other stuff that touches your house and keeping them at least a foot away cut off any bridges that all manner of pests can use to storm inside.
6. Mow the lawn and keep the grass short.
Similarly, mowing your lawn and keeping the grass short can help keep the chances of pests coming into your property low. Pests like ants, ticks, and fleas love hiding weeds and blades of grass, according to exterminators and pest control experts.
7. Keep your trash covered.
So let’s say you’ve already trimmed and taken out the branches and mowed the lawn. Make sure you dispose of them properly because a lot of insects use them for food and shelter. Keep your garbage bins covered to keep rats and other rodents away from them, especially if there’s food waste in the trash.
8. Get rid of standing water.
One of the ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes is still and stagnant waters. Getting rid of any standing water in buckets and pails around the property minimizes the risks of mosquito infestation. Make sure that you also shut off your hoses properly and fix any leaks or drips as soon as you spot them.
9. Keep a spotless kitchen.
While a clean kitchen is never a guarantee of a pest-free home, it somehow cuts off their food supply. Pests such as roaches and rats are always on the lookout for food scraps that they can feed on. Keeping your kitchen spotless discourages any of them from turning up.
10. Plant insect-repelling plants in your garden.
Most pests are repelled by strong scents from herbs like mint, tansy, rue, and pennyroyal. Planting these herbs in certain areas around your house or placing dried bunches can help keep pests at bay.
When all else fails and you still find yourself with a pest problem, it’s time to call in the professionals to help you deal with it. They know what to do to get rid of them and can help give you tips and tricks to make sure you don’t get the same problem again.
Keep your house free from pests by going the preventive route. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
