There are of
course many, many different kinds of pests out there that want to get into your
house. Depending on what part of the country you live in, its climate, and your
own propensity for taking out the trash, you may end up dealing with a
relatively benign infestation of easily squish-able ants or the repeated clawing
of a possum looking to bust through the floor of your raised home for reasons
only a possum knows. Below are eight things you can do to keep a broad range of
unwanted critters outside of your home where they belong.
1 Seal your
home:
Mice, rats, and
cockroaches are just a few of the lovely visitors who can find their way into
your home through the tiniest of cracks, including cracks in your foundation and
between your walls and floors. Caulking, a foam sealant, or steel wool are all
materials you can use to effectively seal up those cracks. As an added bonus, by
sealing up your home you save energy, which in turn saves you money on the cost
of heating or air conditioning your home.
2 Keep food in
canisters:
Pests can get
into food even when it’s shelved in cupboards that close and contained in its
cardboard or plastic packaging. Hard canisters, either metal or plastic, are a
great alternative for storing and keeping food fresh and deterring mice or
cockroaches. As an added preventive measure, you should regularly wipe down any
area where food is shelved and stored in your home.
3 Rake soil and
mulch away from house:
To keep pests
like termites and other insects out of your home, keep soil and mulch raked away
from the structure of your house. Experts suggest you keep firewood at least 20
feet away from your home and five inches off the ground in order to deter
termites. You should also keep your gutters cleaned out, your bushes trimmed
back, and your lawn regularly mowed.
4 Clean under
kitchen sink:
The space beneath
your kitchen sink can be both moist and cluttered, which is a combination pests
love. Take a half hour to remove all the stuff from beneath your sink and clean
the area thoroughly. Check for leaks and be sure to seal up any cracks where a
pest might enter.
5
De-clutter:
Pests love to
hang out in piles of stuff, including newspapers, cardboard, and dirty clothes.
Make it a project each season to do a serious cleaning of your home, throwing
out or better yet recycling stuff that has piled up over the months. If you
discover droppings as a result of your cleaning, you’ve got pests and may need
to call an exterminator.
6
Vacuum:
Vacuuming
regularly ultimately won’t get rid of an infestation of fleas or bedbugs, but as
a preventive measure, it’s extremely effective and only costs whatever you end
up paying for the electricity you use. To make sure any pests you sucked up
don’t return to your environment, after each vacuum, be sure the empty the
vacuum bag outside.
7 Clean and plug
drains:
When water
subsides in the sewers, cockroaches, sometimes euphemistically referred to as
“water bugs,” can find their way into your home by climbing up out of your
drain. Keeping your drains clean is a smart thing to do regardless, and doing so
will also help deter these unwanted visitors. Try using a combination of baking
soda and vinegar to clear and clean your drains, and use a chemical product like
Drano just once a month. When not in use, keep those drains
plugged!
8 Call an
exterminator:
Keep in mind that
some pests are just impossible to eradicate without professional help. If you
own a home, consulting with and hiring an exterminator is a good investment,
especially in areas of the country where termites are prevalent. A good
exterminator will closely inspect your home for pests and treat it accordingly,
depending on what evidence he or she finds of an infestation.
