Pest Prevention: Tips To Avoid Infestation

The thought of creepy, crawly critters residing inside your home is enough to make anyone shiver. Insects and rodents can get in your home even in the smallest of passageways, making it difficult to keep them out completely. But dealing with pests doesn’t need to be a game of cat and mouse. With a few pest prevention tips, the unwanted visitors will be out the door in no time.

What Can You Do To Prevent The Presence Of Pests?

A pest is anything that is unwanted in your home, such as bed bugs, cockroaches, mice and more. Pests can spread disease, cause destruction or are simply a nuisance. Even bigger animals, such as raccoons, bats and rats, can enter a home and cause havoc.

The best methods for preventing pest infestations are simple and well planned out. Sealing entry gaps, repairing torn screens and even having a clean home can be as effective as setting up traps.

Top 8 Tips On How To Prevent Pest Infestation

While no one is entirely immune to infestation, there are multiple ways to keep pests out of your home. However, the best methods depend on your unique home situation. With the proper knowledge and tools, you can prevent, identify and remove pests the right way. By eliminating sources of food, water and shelter, pests will have to find a home somewhere else.

1. Set Up Traps

Perhaps the most instinctual way to remove pests, setting up traps is a great first step for pest control. Whether you want to set up sticky strips to attract flies or snap mousetraps, it’s vital to place the traps properly. For bug traps, set them up where you notice the bugs the most.

However, with mouse traps, the placement of the traps should remain on the perimeter of the walls of your home. Mice use walls to gain their bearings, so try setting up two spring traps along the walls, with the triggers facing the middle of the room. There are also different types of mousetraps besides spring traps, such as electric, glue and humane traps.

If you are dealing with rats, a standard mousetrap will not do the trick. You’ll need to place rat-sized traps in areas where rats are likely to stop and navigate.

2. Clean Your Home Regularly

Keeping a clean home is a key proponent of preventing pests from flocking to your home. A cluttered space offers places for pests of all shapes and sizes to hide and even breed. Establish a cleaning routine to maintain a well-kept household and remove any stacks of newspapers or cardboard, as these are ideal spots for pests to reside.  

3. Dispose Of Garbage Frequently

While it’s trash to us, a full garbage can is a three-course meal to pests. A consistent garbage disposal schedule keeps rodents away from your home. If larger pests, such as raccoons or skunks, have been getting into the trash, place a tight bungee cord over the lid or use a wildlife-proof garbage can.

4. Maintain Your Yard

Overgrown landscaping is the perfect hideaway for pests, so it’s best to keep landscaping trimmed and maintained. Removing piles of wood around your home can prevent termites and ants, while good plant health care reduces the need for pest control. Healthy plants resist pests, so remove any unhealthy or dead plants if possible.

5. Keep The Outside Out

Outdoor toys and furniture likely have been introduced to pests at one point or another. To avoid bring the pest problems inside, try to keep outdoor items outside or thoroughly wipe them down before bringing them inside the home.

6. Don’t Leave Fruits And Veggies Sitting Out

Sometimes the smallest problems can create the biggest nuisances. Fruit flies and small fleas love to flock to a fresh bunch of bananas, ripe tomatoes or apples that you leave on the counter space in your kitchen. Instead of leaving your fruits and vegetables out on your countertops, keep them stored inside your refrigerator.

7. Block Pest Entryways

It’s hard to have a pest infestation if the pests can’t get inside. Even the smallest of cracks can let pests in, but fortunately there are a couple of methods for keeping pests out. Installing screens on all floor drains, windows and doors blocks pests from entering your home. Placing weather stripping on doors and windows or caulking gaps works as well.  

8. Contact Pest Control 

If you tried any of these methods and are still dealing with pest problems, give your local pest control company a call. Pests are smart and know how to weasel their way in through the smallest of spaces, which can be too much for any homeowner to handle. Pest control companies are trained to implement strong pesticides, so their assistance can help with pest treatment in a swift manner.

The Bottom Line: Pest Prevention Is Achievable But Requires Effort

By taking away pest’s food, shelter and water, you can protect your home and your family’s health. While pest prevention is achievable, it requires careful planning and consistency. Combine different pest treatment methods and see what works best for your home, even if it’s calling a pest control company when the infestation gets out of control.

Ready to learn more about keeping your home in top shape? Check out our Learning Center for more tips on home maintenance.