Having unwanted pests in your household is never ideal, causing stress and frustration for all. Certain pests can bring homeowners a host of problems such as leaving a mess, causing structural damage, and even health risks to our families. Luckily, there are a few do-it-yourself pest control measures you can place throughout your home to reduce the chance of an infestation.
Keep Your Home Clean
While pretty obvious, keeping your house clean can make pests less attracted and hospitable towards it. Pests are attracted to food, shelter, and water. You’ll want to get rid of any leftover food or excess moisture throughout your home. Excess moisture found on your property attracts pests like roaches or termites. Look throughout your house for leaky pipes or faucets, repairing them immediately. Don’t leave your pet bowls outside overnight as this attracts pests like raccoons or rats. Mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming will all help to contribute to keeping pests away.
Seal Pests Out
Certain pests, like mice, are so small that they can fit in the smallest gap or hole. Sealing your home will help to keep these pests out and reduce the chance of infestation. Inspect the exterior of your home for any potential or visible entry points. Look to seal these areas up with caulk, steel, wool, etc. Don’t forget to look at your foundation, door frame, windows, utility pipes, vents, and roof.
Maintain Your Yard
Before pests get inside your home, they get to your yard first. Maintaining a clean, well-groomed yard helps to create an environment less attractive for pests. Keeping a regular lawn routine such as keeping your grass short, eliminating weeds, and applying fertilizer will help keep your grass healthy and rid of pests. Likewise, pick up any piles of leaves, debris, or fallen branches, as pests like mosquitoes or rats will utilize these areas as a habitat. Look to elevate your wood piles off the ground, and at least 20 feet from your home, as termites will infest the wood.
Call a Professional
Sometimes a pest problem can best be dealt with by a professional. If your pest problem is more than you can handle, consider calling your local pest control company, which can identify the pest and provide you with the proper treatment and prevention plans.
