With all the craze of everyday life, it can be easy to overlook some of the simple steps that can be taken to keep unwanted pests out of your home. Families come and go, meals are cooked in a rush, and the food is eaten on the go. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life consuming the average American, it’s no wonder that homes across the country are constantly battling insect invasions. Depending on the state you live in, you may deal with some insects more commonly than others. Common problematic pests may include spiders, ants, cockroaches, rodents, bed bugs, mosquitos, ticks, fleas, and other parasitic pests. For more in-depth pest control solutions for your specific problem, you can search the web for content that was made specifically for the insects you are dealing with. For this article, we will cover general pest control methods that are broad, rather than insect specific. We will start with some of the more obvious steps and then discuss other ideas that you may not have considered yet.
Source: familyhandyman.comAccording to the pest control expert Merle Jackson from Eugene Oregon’s Pest Control Company Merle’s Pest Control suggests calling a professional company to evaluate the problem. She suggests starting with these more obvious steps first.
Source: The Balance Small Business
It’s important to put food away when you are done the cooking and clean up any messes made before leaving home. Food that has been spilled on the floor is like a magnet for insects, especially ants and cockroaches. Sweeping and mopping regularly to keep the floors free of food and beverage spills is a great way to keep the interior free of the elements that attract pests indoors.
The exterior of the home should also be kept up to keep unwanted pests out of the yard, the more you can keep them out of your yard, the less of a chance you have of them entering the home. Clutter in the yard becomes a great hiding place for insects and rodents, so keeping the property free of wood stacks and garbage piles will prevent them from nesting on your property. Nesting rodents and insects can become a major issue, eventually, these insects and rodents will find their way into the home in search of food and shelter. During the winter months, they may be seeking a warm place to burrow, and heated homes are an attraction they can’t resist. This becomes even more appealing for them if there is food available on the floor or countertops of the home.
Keeping your yard free of clutter is one thing, but you should also keep your yard landscaped and maintained. Tall grass provides great shelter for cockroaches, ants, and rodents. Keeping the grass cut down will open the yard and prevent unwanted insects and rodents from finding cover in the lawn. Keeping trees trimmed back from the roof of your home will also be important if there are roof rats, possum, raccoon, squirrels, and other tree-dwelling rodents from entering your attic space and making a nest of your insulation.
Source: familyhandyman.com
You may or may not be an animal person, but owning a cat or multiple cats is a great way to add automated pest control solutions to your property. Cats will kill rodents, birds, cockroaches, and other unwanted creatures from roaming the property and infesting your yard. Cats are pretty low maintenance animals and can be outdoor or indoor pets, the value they bring to larger properties in rural areas is great for rodent and insect control.
Maybe animals aren’t your thing, maybe a cat is a too much responsibility for you, and you would prefer something else for your pest control needs. Have you considered adding plant life around the property that may repel the pests you don’t want, and possibly attract the insects you do want? This is definitely something to consider, and plant life can be used in apartment complexes, condominiums, and in homes. These natural solutions can be planted outdoors around the yard, and indoors in pots to prevent unwanted pests that may have already entered the home. Some of these natural insect repelling plants have amazing fragrances that can naturally provide a crisp sent to the air of the home. Hints of lemon, pine, rosemary, and mint are all scents that can be found in some of the most common insect-repelling plants.
Source: pinterest
For those of you that don’t have time to deal with these steps, you can always refer to a professional to get rid of your problem. Homes can be treated bi-weekly or monthly for pest control depending on your needs. The buildingandpestinspectionmelbourne.com.au also recommends a thorough visual inspection of your areas including interior and exterior to detect all the pests that are hiding in your home. Some insects require more involved treatments that may require the home occupants to leave the property while the treatment is being applied, these are things to take into consideration when discussing pest control with your local provider. When looking for a pest control company, make sure to ask questions and ask for referrals. You should also look online for reviews and customer feedback. This organic feedback from members of your community is a great way to gain a better understanding of the pest control company you are dealing with.
