Having pests in your home is the worst, especially if those pests threaten your family’s health and safety. Have you wondered if there’s a way to keep pests outdoors where they belong? Let’s explore a few ways you can deter them from entering your home.
Cleanliness Is Key
Image via Flickr by Paintzen
Most pests, such as mice or harvester ants, will enter your home searching for food, water, and shelter. Eliminating access to these will make your home less desirable for those pesky pests. Ensuring your kitchen counters and floors are free of food crumbs, dirty dishes, and open food containers will remove easy access to food sources.
When you have a leaky faucet in your kitchen or bathrooms, this can provide a sustainable water source for all kinds of undesirable critters. Correcting such issues and preventing humidity problems associated with your heating and cooling system will eliminate access to water and moisture.
Having clutter throughout your home allows pests to find shelter and remain hidden. This can be dangerous if the intruder in question is a scorpion, as a startled scorpion can dish out a nasty sting. Keeping your floors clear of debris and vacuuming often will make it difficult for pests to stay hidden.
Gaps, Cracks, and Holes, Oh My
The structure of your home will need to be routinely checked for access points where pests can find their way inside. You may see gaps, cracks, or holes seemingly appear out of nowhere over time, and these will make your home’s interior easy to invade. Repairing damaged areas, sealing cracks and crevices around doors and windows, and plugging holes will fortify your home against intruding pests.
Landscaping
Shrubs, plants, trees, and mulch that are too close or touching the exterior of your home can be a freeway for pests to travel between the inside and outside. Your landscaping will need to be maintained and kept at least one foot from your house’s exterior.
Concerning Pests
Some of the most concerning pests to find in your home are harvester ants, spiders, and mice. Though these are only a few potential pests you could be dealing with, they can cause the most trouble when they have invaded your home. Harvester ants are considered to have one of the most painful stings in the world and can sting multiple times. They can cause severe allergic reactions in children and adults.
Spiders, in general, aren’t much more than a nuisance, but let a brown recluse or a black widow find its way inside your home, and you could be in for a nasty surprise. Both of these spiders’ venom packs a punch and can cause serious risk to you and your family’s health. Mice are a menace for sure and can cause electrical issues, spread diseases, and destroy valuable items as they create their nests and breed.
Hiring a professional pest control agency is one of the best ways to keep your home clear of pests. A trained exterminator can assess the situation and identify what pests your home is at risk from. Having a plan to eliminate and prevent those pests in place will help you ensure your family’s safety.