No one wants creepy-crawly pests scurrying around their home. And they certainly don’t want them carrying diseases or damaging their property.
The best way to safeguard your home is by being proactive. This includes cleaning up crumbs and spills immediately, as well as keeping food in sealed containers. It also means reducing clutter so pests don’t have places to hide. Calling Pest Control Chesterfield MO experts is the best way to get started.
Insects
As the weather warms, bugs and insects move out of their winter hiding spots, looking for food and water. They often find it in our homes. Fortunately, our specialists can help you prevent pests before they become problems.
Eliminating sources of food and water is the first step to protecting your home from common household pests. Keep garbage and trash cans tightly sealed, and remove them regularly. Store food in containers with tight lids, and clean up spills and crumbs immediately. Do not leave pet food out for longer than necessary, and if you must, place it in a sealed bin away from the house. Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible to prevent insect entry.
Insects such as flies, ants, silverfish, and crickets are attracted to damp places. Check and fix leaky faucets and pipes, especially in the basement and attic. Run a dehumidifier in humid areas. Store items in plastic or metal containers instead of cardboard boxes. Vacuum your home regularly and use the crevice tool to get in corners and along baseboards.
Clutter is another attractant to bugs and pests. Piles of newspapers and books provide hiding spots for insects. Putting out fresh food and drinks for pets may seem friendly, but it attracts flies, beetles, and roaches. Pet owners should be sure to feed their animals at specific times throughout the day and to clean up food scraps and discarded containers immediately.
Some plants emit a strong odor that repels flies, mosquitoes, and other pests. Try placing mint, tea tree, eucalyptus, or lemongrass plants near entrances or windows to reduce pests around your home.
Insects often enter our homes by hitching a ride on packages, the bottoms of shoes, and other things we bring in. Add door sweeps and weather stripping to prevent bug entry, and caulk cracks and holes where bugs can hide. In addition, use yellow or pink-hued bulbs to replace standard white ones, which attract many pests.
Rodents
Rodents are another household pest that can damage your home. Rats and mice are especially damaging to the structure of homes, and they also cause fire hazards by chewing through electrical wires. You can help prevent rodent infestations by keeping trash, pet waste, and firewood away from the foundation of your house. You can also keep your yard free of piles of leaves, grass clippings, and woodpiles. If you do have a rodent problem, you can use traps and bait to kill them.
Rodents like to hide in dark places, so you can discourage them by removing any cluttered areas where they might shelter. You can also take precautions to prevent them from finding their way inside by storing food in pest-proof containers, and by regularly emptying and cleaning garbage and pet waste cans. Keeping your home clean can also discourage rodents from entering, as they are less attracted to clutter than to crumbs and other sources of food.
The smallest cracks around windows, doors, and the foundation of your home can allow pests to enter. Sealing these openings can be a challenge, but it is well worth the effort to protect your home from pests. You can also plant plants such as marigolds that repel bugs or use expanding foam sealant to fill any gaps.
Droppings and excrement, unusual sounds, odors, and visible damage are all signs of pests. If you suspect that you have a pest problem, it is important to act quickly. Infestations can grow rapidly if they are left unchecked, and some pests, such as termites, can cause significant and expensive structural damage.
It is also important to monitor your home regularly and look for any changes in the behavior of pests. This will alert you to a problem, and it is easier to prevent pests than it is to treat them once they have infested your home. For example, you may notice that ants are suddenly moving more quickly in your kitchen or that there are more of them than usual. In this case, you can try putting out ant bait stations to lure them away from your home.
Birds
Although birds play an important role in pollination, they can be a nuisance in and around the home. They are attracted to areas with organic waste, exposed food, and open windows and doors. It is a good idea to keep garbage bins closed and to minimize outdoor food sources. Windows screens and mosquito nets help keep inquisitive wildlife away, as does a yard fence. If large amounts of bird droppings are accumulating in the yard, they can be safely removed by professional pest control technicians. Wet contaminated areas down with a solution of 1 part household bleach to 10 parts water to reduce dust and odor.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying, they also carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and chikungunya. Their bites can cause painful rashes, itching, and swelling. In some cases, mosquitoes can spread these diseases to humans, pets, and livestock. Regular preventative pest control measures can help to reduce the number of these insects in and around your home.
The most important preventative measure is to keep your property well-maintained and free of standing water. This includes fixing leaky pipes, gutters, and downpipes to reduce moisture in the garden and around the house.
Stagnant water provides breeding grounds for many pests, particularly mosquitoes. It is especially important to check the condition of birdbaths, ponds, ornamental water features, and pet drinking bowls regularly. Also, be sure to empty and clean them twice a week. Rainwater tanks, septic tank openings, and cisterns should be covered with mosquito-proof mesh. Old car tires, water tubs, wading pools, and unused swimming pools should be emptied regularly and ideally pumped out to prevent the build-up of mosquito eggs.
Regularly remove leaf litter, debris, and overhanging tree branches that could provide hiding places for insect pests. This can be especially important in winter when insects move indoors to escape the cold. Inspect firewood stacks and compost bins before bringing them into the home to make sure there aren’t bugs hitching a ride inside.
Overgrown grass, thick shrubbery, and ground cover can shelter mosquitoes which thrive during the warmer months of the year, especially at dusk and during the night. Mowing your lawn frequently to maintain a short height and regularly pruning overgrown shrubs can help. Mosquito repellents can also help to protect you and your family from the nuisance of their bites.
While the presence of a pest infestation can be frustrating, taking simple preventative steps will reduce their numbers and impact your lifestyle. Our specialists can help you identify the most common household pests and recommend effective treatments to safeguard your home. Contact us to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services. We service homes, offices, warehouses, and retail premises across the state.