Florida’s warm, humid climate makes it the ideal environment for many common household pests. Some of the most prevalent include mosquitoes, palmetto bugs and roaches, ants, termites, fleas, millipedes, earwigs, and rodents. Keeping these pests under control can be a full time job. Here are 3 home pest control tips you can use to help keep these Florida pests under control.
Seal The Exterior
Household pests get into your home from outdoors. Ensuring entry points are sealed off is the first step in keeping them out. Check your foundations for cracks and seal them with liquid cement or caulk. Do the same for exterior walls, around windows, and around fixtures. Keep screens on your windows year-round. Install door sweeps and use weatherstripping around doors and windows, especially on sliding glass doors.
Don’t Bring Them In
Inspect any items before bringing them into your home, including storage boxes, deliveries, used furniture and appliances, groceries, luggage, and even your shoes. Shake these items out or clean them before bringing them indoors.
Keep It Clean
Pests come indoors in search of one major thing – food. By eliminating their food source, these pests will go in search of their next meal somewhere else. Keep fruit in the fridge until it’s ready to consume. Keep food (including pet food) stored in sealed containers vs bags and boxes. Only put pet food down at mealtimes and don’t leave it out overnight. Clean up any spills immediately. Vacuum often and empty the bag or canister immediately. Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight; if you must, soak them in hot soapy water instead of leaving them in the dry sink or stacked on the counter. Keep trash in sealed containers. Keep your yard mowed and bushes, shrubs, and trees trimmed back from your house.
Pests in Florida are active year-round. There is no off season for pest control. For this reason, it’s important to stay on top of home pest control. The best way to do this is to invest in routine pest control from your local Florida pest control company.
