How To Safely Control Pests at Home
When your home becomes infested with pests, it’s wise to get on top of the situation quickly before it gets out of hand. No matter how hard you try, there is always a chance that a pest will take root in your home. If there is a pest problem, you must react quickly. The sooner you drive them out, the less likely they are to spread and return.
Pest’s don’t just try to grab a snack in the kitchen; many turn up in winter to hide in soaring temperatures and look for food and water. There is no reason to share your home with unwanted pests. Instead of waiting to take defensive measures when a pest invades your home, go on the offensive and prevent pest problems before they occur. There are several ways to eliminate conditions in your home that appeal to pests and reduce the likelihood that they will bother you. Here are some tips to safely keep pests out of the house.
Do not set traps or place bait in areas accessible to children, pets, or native animals. Store the pesticide in its original container with the lid closed and out of the reach of children, e.g. in a tall cupboard or garage. Never transfer a pesticide from a container that children might mistake for food or drink. Keep pets and children away from areas where pesticides may be used. Preventive measures should be taken before using bait, which is the first line of chemical defense against insects and rodents.
Overripe fruit and vegetables attract flies and other insects. To avoid this, keep chopped ripe fruit in the fridge. Pests such as fruit flies are harmless, but overgrown and rotting fruits attract larger pests such as house flies, ants, and cockroaches. Cockroach pest control is significantly more difficult to manage compared to other pests, so ensure you do not allow them a place in your home.
Do not keep stacks of wood chips or mulch around the house. Mosquitoes drain collected puddles of water because they breed there. Keep bins as far away from your home as possible, as they are a breeding ground for pests, who can easily make their way into your home if the bins are situated close to an entry point. If you don’t have space and must leave the bins close, make sure your walls and doors aren’t displaying any cracks where the pests can sneak in from.
The care of your house plays a major role in case of pest infestation. Leaf piles and other debris are attractive to house mice and rats. Rat pest control should be quickly taken care of, as rats carry disease which can be transferred to any pets or family members who they come in contact with.
Firewood is home to ants and termites, so store wood at least 20 feet from your house. If your garden design is problematic, try to keep branches and shrubs away from your walls so that bedbugs do not make the natural transition from your home to yours.
Pests such as rodents have an excellent sense of smell. If there are open food containers in your house, the probability that they are there is zero. Store food such as cereals and crackers in reusable containers or resealable bags if the original packaging is not properly sealed.
If you follow the above points, you can keep insects and pests out of your home. There is no guarantee of results, but doing so will help to ensure that your home will be free of pests for the next 4-6 months.