If you’ve ever spotted a tiny pest skittering around your home, you may have been seized by the sudden fear that there are more where that came from. That fear is likely justified: most insects reproduce at astronomical rates, and even larger creatures like mice produce a dozen babies every three weeks!
In other words, if you want to keep your home free of hundreds or even thousands of unwanted guests, you’ll need to put some effort in. Preventative maintenance tactics like sealing your home, getting rid of food and water sources, and keeping things clean can make your property unappealing to most small creatures. Here are some of our top tips for Visalia area homeowners.
First, make your home unappealing to pests by getting rid of anything they might enjoy snacking on.
Confirm that all opened packages are sealed, and ensure that everyone in your family knows the importance of closing food containers before replacing them.
If the original packaging is cardboard, you may want to go a step further by storing the contents in a plastic bag or container. Small rodents and certain interests can chew through cardboard, allowing them to sneak into these containers with ease.
After you spill food, make sure to clean up any leftovers, especially before going to bed.
This goes for your sink as well: make sure to clean out any food remnants by washing them down the drain. You should also clean any dirty dishes or place them in a closed dishwasher. This prevents pests from making free meals of your leftovers.
Pests will have no trouble sneaking into an open trash can, so keep them out by putting a lid on it.
This goes for the trash cans inside your home as well as the larger bins you put out on the street. You should also store these bins away from your home: if pests do get into them, you don’t want to start attracting pests to a property entrance.
Like us, most pests need water to survive. They don’t need much of it, as even small amounts of moisture can help them thrive. To avoid the need for professional pest control, get rid of any excess moisture to keep pests at bay.
Drain water from the kitchen and bathroom sinks in your home after use. This removes potential water sources for rodents and small insects.
In addition, wipe down any spills as they happen.
If you’re dealing with a leaky faucet or appliance, address the leak right away.
Experts recommend keeping your home humidity between 30-50 percent. Stick to the lower end of that spectrum to prevent tiny critters like dust mites, termites, and roaches from enjoying the moisture.
Outside, keeping water to a minimum can be a little trickier, especially if you have any landscaping to care for.
Try to keep mulch away from the sides of your home. This material is great at trapping moisture for your plants, but it also creates a water source right near your home! If you have planters or flower pots, drain away any standing water after you’ve finished watering them.
Clear away any leaf litter, grass trimmings, or other organic matter as soon as it builds up in your yard. These things can trap moisture against the ground, creating breeding grounds for pests.
This may come as a no-brainer, but the best method of preventing pests is to make it impossible for them to get into your home.
If you enjoy keeping your windows and doors open, consider investing in screens. This allows you to enjoy the sunlight and fresh air without presenting an easy gateway for small pests to get in. If you already have older screens, patch any small holes.
Beyond the obvious openings, do a quick inspection of your home to look for any other possible entrances. Loose siding, cracks around baseboards, and gaps around ducts or vents can make it easy for pests to get in.
As a rule of thumb, many of the same things you’d do when air-sealing your home will also keep critters out.
Most pests love having places to hide, especially small rodents. A dirty home can offer them plenty of hiding places, so maintain a regular household cleaning schedule to avoid an unwanted pest infestation.
Stacks of clutter can become a great hiding place. Tidy cluttered areas throughout your home, even in storage areas like the attic or garage. Newspapers, cardboard boxes, and paper bags are especially attractive to mice and roaches.
In addition to casual tidying, do a deep cleaning of your home now and then. Wiping down and vacuuming every nook and cranny of your home can help you get rid of any areas that might attract pests. It also gives you the chance to spot warning signs that pests have moved in, allowing you to call for an extermination early.
While you’re doing this, don’t forget about your bed linens and upholstery! We often forget about tiny but annoying pests like dust mites, fleas, and bed bugs, but these creatures enjoy softer surfaces. Toss any removable fabric items into the washer as often as you can, and use cleaners on your upholstery to disinfect them from time to time.
The preventative maintenance tips above will take some time and effort, but it’s well worth the trouble if it keeps pests at bay. Make sure to add the items we’ve mentioned to your regular household to-do list.
If you want to boost your efforts with professional services, Pest Control Now is here to help! We’re the trusted source for pest prevention, removal, and extermination services throughout Visalia and the surrounding areas, and our experienced contractors can help you keep a wide range of unwanted creatures at bay. To get a free consultation and a free estimate, call us now at 559-471-3147 or fill out our online form.
