5 Clever Tricks to Keep Pests Away from Your Home

Pests are a nuisance nearly every homeowner has to deal with at some point. And while some pests are harmless, others can transfer diseases to you and your loved ones and damage your property and food. Pests like bedbugs and cockroaches can turn a nice lunch with friends into an embarrassing ordeal. The good news is that you can take some simple steps to keep your home pest-free. Here is a rundown of five:

Maintain a Dry Home

Experts like Anti-Pest advise homeowners to, first and foremost, maintain a clean, dry home. Pests love dank, dark, and dirty environments and will often take up residence in the wettest, least-used parts of your home. To prevent this, drain all the stagnant water in or around your home. This will keep mosquitoes at bay. You should also clean all your drains, dry your bathroom after use, hang damp towels and towel-dry utensils, and unclog all your sinks and drains.

Clear and Clean Your Kitchen

The kitchen is where all the magic happens, especially when it comes to pest infestation. Pests mostly enter homes to look for food, and since the kitchen is where you prepare and store your food, it can become a hub for infestation. To keep them out, store all unrefrigerated food in tightly sealed containers. Keep these containers on high shelves and avoid storing food on the floor. After cooking a meal, clean and wipe down kitchen surfaces with a disinfectant and dispose of all garbage.

Maintain Your Garden and Yard

The outside of your home is just as important as the inside. If you have a garden or yard, maintaining it can prevent pests from nesting outside and eventually making their way indoors. In addition to draining stagnant water, fill in all holes and pits where water could collect. Mow your grass and keep any mulch in your garden from touching your home’s foundation, which could create a bridge through which pests can enter your home. Also, prune your plants regularly to eliminate bushes.

Dispose of Garbage Regularly

Pests are just as attracted to garbage as they are to food. Once you secure the food inside your home, make sure your garbage is properly disposed of in tightly sealed containers and take it out regularly. Clean and sanitize your garbage cans after emptying them, and avoid keeping trash cans inside your home. When possible, seal rotting food and fruits in bags before disposing of them in cans.

Seal Your Windows and Doors

Finally, protect the inside of your home from the outside by sealing all your entry points. Windows and doors, in particular, are excellent entryways for pests, although some pests can find their way into your home through drains and cracks. To curb this, seal the perimeters of all entry points into your home with material such as a screen, caulk, door sweeps, or weather-stripping.

Most Importantly, Seek Professional Pest Control Services

Although these and other steps can help you keep pests away from your home, the most effective solution to a pest infestation is professional pest control. Trained experts like the team at Anti-Pest can perform definitive tests to find the cause of an infestation and nip it in the bud before it causes you thousands of dollars in damage. With regular screenings and treatment, you can also enjoy the peace of mind of knowing your home is pest-free. Contact Anti-Pest today to learn more.