5 Ways to Keep Your Home Pest Free
Any type of unwanted pest in your home is a serious problem. A proactively aggressive approach to pest control is the best way to keep critters outside of your home where they belong. Strategic preventive treatments and smart habits can go a long way towards fortifying your home against insect intruders. Nevertheless, you may have to take swift action to counter a developing infestation. Here are some of the best ways to handle pest control in your home.
- Know Your Enemy
There are some types of pest infestations that homeowners and landlords really want to stop before they start. By the time you see one of these pests, you can be assured that there are probably many more where he came from that you simply haven’t seen yet.
If you aren’t already familiar with the most common types of pests in your area, make it a point to find out. In areas where homes have high incidence of termite damage, for example, property owners may want to address this serious risk with a comprehensive extermination plan.
- Make Your Kitchen Unappealing to Insects
Many pests are drawn to water in various parts of your home, but you may have noticed that your kitchen is a frequent hotspot for insect activity. Cleaning your countertops and floors frequently will deprive crawling insects of the food sources that they’re after and make your kitchen a less worthwhile place to hang out and wait for snacks. Also, be sure to use a covered trash container so insects won’t crawl in and out or be attracted to food odors.
- Mount a Strong Offense Against Crawling Insects That Feed on Blood
The most pernicious pests aren’t in your home for a water source or food leftovers. These home invaders are after you for their next meal. At the very first sign of a bedbug infestation, it’s imperative to act quickly and effectively because bed bugs can multiply rapidly.
Heat is one of the best options for home treatment of bedbugs because they cannot survive in high temperatures. You should run all of your linens and clothing through a heated dry cycle. You can also purchase a steamer to treat the area where you sleep. Bed Bugs commonly make their way into people’s homes after traveling, so a steamer is also a good tool to proactively treat luggage and clothes.
Also, make it impossible for bugs to crawl into your bed by pulling it away from the wall and putting all four feet of your bed in small plastic bowls coated with glycerin.
- Seal Cracks and Crevices
You can prevent bedbugs and other insects from moving between rooms in your home by using a clear silicone caulk to seal cracks where the wall meets the floor. This defensive measure can also be applied to the areas under sinks as well as spaces where cabinets are affixed to a wall or floor.
- Schedule Preventive Extermination
Professional extermination services are generally the right remedy for an active infestation. Ongoing treatments can give you considerable peace of mind.
An extermination technician can advise you about how frequently you need to schedule treatments to maintain effective deterrence against infestation. The frequency may depend on the type of pests you are targeting, the conditions in your home, and the pesticide that an exterminator is using.
If you have children or pets at home, be sure to ask about any safety concerns that you may have about treatment. A technician should be able to advise you about potential health risks with the use of various chemicals and may be able to suggest alternatives if harsher treatments could be problematic
Pests are icky and disturbing, but you don’t have to stress out if you encounter one in your home. Respond calmly and decisively with targeted attacks while also equipping yourself with safeguards to prevent insects from returning. A good action plan will enable you to vanquish your tiny enemies and reclaim the sanctity of your home.
