Nobody likes to find pests in their home. Whether they see a spider in the corner, a cockroach running across the floor, or ants in the kitchen, they want to eliminate them. It is important to use pest control services to get rid of any creatures invading your home, but you can also take steps to keep them away. Take a look at the top ten ways to keep your home pest-free.
Page Contents
- Make Sure That Your Kitchen Is Clean
- Get Rid of Standing Water
- Take the Trash Out
- Clean Your Bathrooms Regularly
- Don’t Keep Fruits and Veggies on the Counter
- Use Pest Control Services When You Need Them
- Take Care of Your Garden
- Make Sure That Your Windows Have Screens
- Don’t Bring Outdoor Furniture Into the House
- Declutter
Make Sure That Your Kitchen Is Clean
When pests move into your home, they are looking for food, water, and shelter. If your kitchen provides these things, they will stay and multiply. They already have shelter, as they will find a dark corner under the cabinet or in the pantry closet.
If you keep your kitchen clean, you won’t provide them with the food and water they need. Make sure that you clean up after preparing or eating a meal. Wipe your counters, and sweep the floor. If you keep your kitchen clean, you will minimize the number of pests that come in.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Standing water attracts pests, including mosquitoes. They breed in it. Check around your house for any stagnant water, and get rid of it. Make sure that your drains are working and your gutters are running off. Don’t leave a pot in the sink with water in it, and make sure that you clean dishes and put them away. Pests will find any stagnant water, and they will be drawn to it both inside and outside of your house.
Take the Trash Out
If you wait to take your trash out until it is overflowing, you will attract all kinds of critters. In the home, you might see cockroaches, ants, and other insects. Outside, you can draw rats and other kinds of rodents. They will make a big mess, as rats will eat any food and use paper and other trash to make nests.
Then they will reproduce, and you will have more rats waiting to eat your garbage. The best way to minimize this is to take your trash out, and make sure that it sits in a bin with a lid.
Clean Your Bathrooms Regularly
Another room in your home that attracts pests is the bathroom. You should keep them clean and dry. Make sure that you keep your shower curtain dry, and if you have an enclosed shower, leave the door open until it is dry. You should check the drain to make sure that it isn’t clogged, and wipe the counters. When your bathroom is clean, pests won’t be interested in staying there.
Don’t Keep Fruits and Veggies on the Counter
There is nothing wrong with placing fruits or veggies on the counter for a bit, but if they are ripe, they will attract pests. Fruit flies may not be harmful, but nobody wants to see them in the kitchen. They might also attract ants, roaches, and flies, which are hard to get rid of once they move in. Try to put fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator so that they are safe from pests.
Use Pest Control Services When You Need Them
If you notice a pest infestation of any kind, it might be easiest to call for pest control to eliminate the pests, and then do your best to keep them away. These companies have years of experience, and they can come in, determine what kind of pests you have, and come up with the best plan for getting rid of them. Once they finish the job, they will help you determine the best possible way to maintain your home going forward.
Take Care of Your Garden
If you keep a garden outdoors or indoors, make sure that you keep it clean. Don’t leave fruit growing after they are ready to be picked because this will attract pests. You should make sure that you pull weeds and prune your plants, and keep it tidy so that you don’t provide hiding places or food for pests including ants and rats. If you grow plants or vegetables indoors, make sure that you don’t leave water standing in the tray, and take care of them.
Make Sure That Your Windows Have Screens
People often open their windows to let fresh air in, but it is important that you have a screen or a net on your window. This is the only way to make sure that pests such as mosquitoes, flies, spiders, roaches, and more stay outside.
Openings in your windows provide them with a direct entry into your home, where they will multiply. Look around your window and other openings for any cracks so that you can seal them. You should check the doors and any other parts of the house where critters might find entry, and have them repaired.
Don’t Bring Outdoor Furniture Into the House
You might have objects outside that are for outside use, such as furniture, gardening supplies, outdoor toys, and more. You should keep them outside until they are thoroughly cleaned. If you bring them in without cleaning them, they can carry pests in with them.
Try to find space in the garage or in an outdoor storage shed when you need to move them out of the yard, but don’t bring them into the house unless they are fully cleaned. You can also make sure that you keep your garage or shed clean to keep pests away. Just remember that pests are always looking for an environment that offers them food, shelter, and water, so if those things aren’t present, they will find another place to dwell.
Declutter
Another way to deter pests from moving into your house is to declutter. When you have a lot of items that you don’t use, pests will have places that are undisturbed where they can live. Go through your drawers and closets, and throw away anything you don’t need. This helps keep the pests away. If you have items that have some value, you can sell them online or have a yard sale.
