When it comes to maintaining a home, pest control is one of the things that you shouldn’t neglect. Other than the regular pest control treatments, there are some other things that you can do to help keep your home free from pests in between treatments.
If you want to have some sort of rodent, ant, or spider control around your home, you can start by doing the things we listed below.
7 Effective Ways to Pest-Proof Your Property
From bugs to rodents to all sorts of creepy-crawlies, here are some very effective ways that pros do to keep pests away from houses in between treatments.
1. Seal all doors and windows.
One of the most obvious ways that bugs and other pests can get inside a home is through your doors and windows. Inspect them and make sure they all close properly. If they don’t, you might want to consider installing some weather stripping or caulk the gaps in their frames. You also might want to check on your screen doors for tiny holes. Replacing the screen isn’t expensive and is relatively easy to do.
2. Do the same thing with cracks and holes on your walls.
Regardless of whether your home is old or brand new, when the foundation begins to settle, it creates tiny cracks on the walls and on the sheetrock. These cracks may sometimes be big enough for birds to nest in. Take time to go around your property and check for holes and cracks and patch them up as needed.
3. Keep your house dry.
If there’s one thing that pests like, it’s water. Keeping a dry house is a great repellant for bugs that thrive in wet damp places. Make sure that all of the pipes going in and out of your house do not have any leaks or vulnerabilities that could attract pests of all sorts to your home. If you do notice some gaps next to the pipes, you can fill them up with expandable foam. If your pipes or fixtures are busted and you can’t DIY them, call a plumber immediately to get them fixed.
4. Keep firewood stored away from the house.
Even if your firewood is stored outside your house, it is still prone to being a haven for bugs and other pests. Wood has moisture-absorbing properties that make them damp and cool, perfect for bugs to settle in. If you can invest in a good firewood holder, go ahead and do so as it is very handy in keeping your firewood safe and dry. Look for another area around your property where you can neatly stack your excess firewood. Keep it above ground and at least five feet away from your house.
5. Maintain a clean house.
One obvious way to keep pests away from your home is to maintain an orderly and clean house. Roaches, spiders, mosquitoes, rats, and other common household pests are attracted to clutter and mess. You can prevent any infestation from taking place in your home if you keep it clean and organized.
Regularly declutter so that you don’t end up with too much junk in your attic, basement, or garage. Take out the garbage nightly and make sure you keep the lids on the bins closed properly so vermin don’t make a mess out of it. Clean up your kitchen after every use so you don’t attract rats. Do away with clutter on tables and countertops. Maintaining a clean house is a simple, inexpensive, and effective pest-repellant.
6. Provide a dedicated space where your pets can eat.
Pets are great to have around the house. Not only are they fun companions but they also help keep certain critters and bugs away. Cats, in particular, are great at chasing away mice and roaches. But no matter how useful they are at getting rid of some pests, they are also sometimes part of the problem, especially when it comes to their food.
More than 50% of households with pets complain about ant problems. In most cases, exterminators found that dog or cat food is typically the culprit, especially for homes with no dedicated feeding area for pets. Giving your pets an area solely for feeding prevents them from sprinkling their food around the house which makes it a lot easier for you to clean up afterward.
7. Lay down traps around the property.
Lastly, when all else fails, set traps around your house to capture bugs and critters. You can set mousetraps in different areas of the house. A sticky trap is another effective means of capturing insects and small mice. These things may not be pleasant to the eyes but they can be placed in strategic places that are hidden from sight.
So as early as now, start preparing your home for springtime and protect your home from pests and other creepy crawlies. Not only will proper pest control increase your property’s market value but it will also protect your home and keep it in great shape for a long time.
