Whether you are dealing with rodents or roaches, spiders or silverfish, there are a few basic things you can do to keep most pests away from your home. Here are five general tips that every homeowner needs to know.
Seal the Exterior
One of the most important things you can do to prevent pests from coming into your home is to seal the exterior. Walk around the entire outside of your home looking for cracks, crevices, and holes. Pay special attention to areas where pipes or electrical wiring enter the home, as there are often gaps left behind. Use caulk to seal up the small cracks. Fill the large gaps with steel wool, and then use expandable spray foam to completely seal them.
Clean Your Home Regularly
Insects, rodents, and most other pests enter homes in search of food, water, and shelter. If you can eliminate their access to food and water, you will have far fewer problems. This is done by keeping a clean home. Get rid of food crumbs by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping regularly. It is also important to wipe counters and food prep areas, wash dishes immediately after use, and take out the rubbish often. A perfectly clean home is unrealistic, but any effort you make will help keep the pests away.
Get Rid of Excess Moisture
Along with food, extra moisture will definitely attract a wide variety of pests. Moisture problems can occur both inside and outside the home. Get rid of these problems by: fixing any leaky pipes or faucets, making sure you have a bathroom exhaust fan that is working, purchasing a dehumidifier if necessary, and making sure there is no standing water in your yard. Areas of standing water may be due to poor landscaping, clogged gutters or downspouts, or clutter that collects water.
Take Action with Livestock and Pets
Sometimes we forget the most common reasons pests love our home, sanitation and pets/livestock. There are plenty of control options to curb the of ways to take care of livestock so flies and other insects are not so prevalent around your property. The same can be said for pets, which can transfer pests around the neighborhood quickly and cause an infestation.
Be Careful of Outdoor Lighting
Bugs are attracted to lights, so the lighting outside homes can be a major source of problems. Lights are most often near entryways like doors and windows. The more bugs that congregate there, the more that will eventually get inside. You can help this problem by switching out the bulbs in your outdoor lights. It has been shown that bugs are less attracted to pink, orange, and yellow bulbs than to bright white ones. There are companies that make and sell special bug lights that help do this very thing. You can also consider moving the lights farther away from the door or turning them off during the night.
Try to Keep Your Yard Well-Manicured
If your yard is a gathering place for bugs, rodents, and other pests, chances are good that they will eventually get into your house as well. Keep pests out of your yard by keeping your grass, shrubs, and plants trimmed. You can also get rid of potential hiding places by removing any clutter and/or leaf litter that builds up. Lastly, try to keep plants, mulch, and other organic material away from the foundation. These types of things provide an easy bridge directly to your home.
Sunshine Coast Pest Control
Following these five simple tips can save you loads of time and energy. Prevention is always a great idea, but sometimes even the best plans and effort require some help. That is where Radar Pest Control can come to the rescue. Our exceptional customer service, highly trained technicians, and top-notch products will keep you coming back time and time again. For Sunshine Coast pest control, trust Radar Pest Control to get the job done right.