Just imagine sitting at home… You’re nice and comfortable on the couch, you grab a bowl of your favorite snacks, and turn on a movie that you’ve been waiting to watch all week. Just as the movie begins, you see a roach crawl across your TV screen.
This is a nightmare scenario for anyone, but it can be completely avoided in most cases by using a few preventative measures.
Our homes are our sanctuaries. As such, we want to keep them free from invasive pests of any kind. Not only can these pests cause a problem related to home value, but they can also create a health and safety hazard for you and your family.
Water leaks are something that can’t be taken lightly because water leaks can cause pests problems to a home. A leak can cause more significant problems like warped walls or ceilings, foundation cracks, mold growth, and, worst of all, pests. Dampness and dark areas are like a haven for mold growth. Even a small amount of moisture can attract pests and make them feel right at home.
If you’re experiencing a serious invasion of pests, you’ll want to enlist the help of pest control services. Here, we’ll explore some preventative measures to keep your home free from pests.
Securing Your Exterior
Your home’s exterior is the entryway for all of life’s little critters. With this in mind, you’re going to want to take measures to secure any open areas that are exposed.
If you notice an infestation such as with rodents and mice, these critters are most likely getting in through an opening in your roof or via an exterior wall. Now, rodents are notorious for chewing through wood, so even if your home is new, your walls could still be breached.
In order to mitigate any type of entry, you need to carefully inspect your exteriors for weak points, holes, and any small openings that can be used as a way into your home.
Seal off any visible breaches in your home exterior with sealant or foam, or use wood to patch the areas and seal them as well.
Cleanliness in the Home
One of your best defenses, aside from the walls of your home, is going to be the conditions you keep inside the home. It’s extremely important to ensure your home is deep cleaned regularly to prevent pest infestations.
If you have a sink full of dirty dishes, and a table with leftovers still sitting out, this is an ideal condition that pests will exploit.
Bugs such as roaches and flies will seek out food sources wherever they find them. This opportunistic tendency is made worse by a home that is left unclean. Leftovers and crumbs that find their way to the floor and along the baseboards act as beacons to the pests lurking around your home.
In order to mitigate the onslaught of pests infiltrating your home, ensure that you regularly sweep and vacuum your floors, and avoid keeping any food items out in the open such as on the kitchen counter.
Your sink can also attract pests, especially if you tend to let dishes “soak” for a longer time than normal. And while we all tend to avoid doing the dishes from time to time, keeping this area clean is only going to help deter would-be pests from entering your home to have a snack.
Natural Deterrents
Nature provides a wide array of pest deterrents, and most of these are safe and will not harm humans.
For example, did you know that flies hate the chemical composition of basil? Yes, this tasty herb that goes well in numerous dishes can actually deter flies from entering your home.
As a dual-purpose strategy, consider planting basil in a small window planter and keep these nearby doors and windows to keep those pesky flies at bay.
In addition, a marigold garden placed outside windows and near entry ways can deter bugs of many types from flying near your entry ways. And, if you’re looking to deter spiders, citrus is a great way to keep those eight-legged critters outside of your home.
Spraying a lemon and water solution around entryways or cleaning your surfaces with a citrus based cleaner will keep spiders away and out of sight.
Your home needs to be a safe haven for you and your family. Only by taking sound preventative measures will you be able to deter pests from entering your home. So, taking the time now to make sure your home is safe will prove beneficial in the long-run.
