Keeping your home safe and pest-free can be expensive. But with the right know-how, you can keep your home pest-free without spending a fortune. In this blog, we’ll lay out some of the best ways to save on pest control and keep your home safe from all kinds of pests!
Keep your home clean and clutter-free
Keeping your home clean and free of clutter is an important part of pest control. Clutter, such as piles of boxes, newspapers, and old furniture, offers a great place for pests to hide, feed and reproduce. Remove any clutter from your home to reduce the number of possible places for pests to hide and create hiding spots.
Vacuum often removes food particles that attract pests. Clean up spills immediately, wash dishes after every meal, seal all food containers, and pick up pet food promptly. Regularly sweep or vacuum areas where crumbs can be found around the kitchen or other living areas in your home.
Repair any leaks or moisture issues
Pests are opportunistic, and they’ll use any source of water they can find, such as leaks in plumbing or damp spots due to poor insulation. This is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent an infestation. Repair any damage caused by leaks, and make sure all your doors and windows close tightly so there’s no access for pests to get inside.
And speaking of access: check every few weeks for any cracks or crevices around drains, windowsills or anywhere else pests might be able to get in. Seal up any possible entry points with caulk or weatherstripping. If you do spot an infestation, act fast! It’s easier to prevent an infestation than it is to eliminate one that has already taken root.
Seal any cracks or openings
Keeping pests out of your home starts with sealing any cracks or openings that they may use to enter. Look around your windows, the foundation of your house, doors, and vents. Even if the crack seems too small for pests to fit through, it is worth sealing anyways since they may be able to chew or squeeze themselves in. This is an effective way to keep several different types of pests out of your home including mice, roaches, and other rodents.
If you can fill any gaps or cracks with caulk, use this method as it has been proven to work well for pest control. However, if you are unable to caulk all openings then steel wool can provide an effective way to block them up for now until the caulk can be included in a future home maintenance task.
Use a dehumidifier
Using a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity levels in your home, making it a less inviting place for pests. Most experts recommend keeping the relative humidity in your home between 40-60% to deter some common pests like dust mites, rats, and cockroaches. To do this, you can use a dehumidifier to take moisture out of the air and lower the relative humidity to the recommended levels.
Additionally, some pests are attracted to damp surfaces caused by condensation on walls or pipes; using a dehumidifier can reduce this buildup and make your home less inviting to these little invaders. Finally, in colder months heating systems can dry out your environment; using a dehumidifier can add back additional moisture needed to maintain proper humidity levels. Keeping pests away from your home through proper humidity control not only helps protect you from potential health threats related to these pests but also saves you money on costly extermination services.
Use mesh screens on windows
Installing mesh screens on your windows is a great first step in keeping out pests such as flies, mosquitoes, and other creepy crawlies. Not only does it prevent them from getting inside, but it also prevents dirt and dust from coming into your home. This can be especially helpful for those in areas prone to high pollen counts or who suffer from allergies. Mesh screens are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes to fit standard windows.
Be sure to check for any tears or holes before installation and consider replacing the mesh every few years to keep up with the pest-prevention efforts of your home. Not only will this help protect against pests, but you will also save money during seasonal pest control treatments by limiting the need for spraying chemicals around the house.
Store food in airtight containers
An effective way to keep pests from invading your home and damaging your belongings is to store food in airtight containers. This includes anything that could be used as a potential food source – grains, cereals, sweets, or anything else that can be eaten by small pests like ants or cockroaches. Once food and other materials are stored in airtight containers, pests won’t have access to them and won’t be able to get into your home through cracks or crevices.
Additionally, if you use glass jars with tight lids they also make great bug-proof containers. Through proper storage of food items and basic cleanliness around the house, you can dramatically reduce the risk of an infestation by the most common forms of bug life.
Use a professional pest control service
When it comes to controlling pests, prevention is key. A professional pest control service can protect your home against a wide range of pests, which can help save you time and money in the long run.
Professional pest control services use effective techniques for both preventing and eliminating pests. They inspect your home for any potential problems and assess how likely it is that a particular pest problem will occur. Pest control technicians also use baits, traps, sprays, and other methods to prevent or eliminate pest infestations.
Pest control companies can also provide ongoing monitoring of your home to ensure that any problems are caught early before they become severe infestations. The best companies use integrated pest management (IPM) techniques for their services to reduce the need for chemical treatments and pesticides. These tactics look at all of the environmental factors that are involved in creating or sustaining an infestation in order to identify the best possible solution for each unique situation.
A professional pest control service can not only save you money by reducing the need to hire multiple companies, but they will also be better able to treat common problems quickly and effectively. And because these services are experts in their field, they should also be comfortable discussing with you how often you should be serviced as well as helping you choose treatment plans that will work best for you and your budget going forward.
Regularly inspect your home
It’s important to routinely check your home for any potential pest-related issues. Your goal should be to detect an infestation before it becomes a larger problem. When inspecting, don’t forget the outside and exterior of your home, as well as smaller access points, such as gaps under doors.
Pay particular attention to areas where water may have seeped into the house and repair any dripping faucets or leaking pipes that may attract pests. Also, consider using a flashlight or UV light source to look for telltale signs of insect droppings in dark places. Regular assessment can reduce the need for more costly and labor-intensive repairs down the road.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a variety of methods you can use to save on pest control and keep your home safe. Keeping the area around your home tidy, using natural pest control methods such as traps and repellents, and getting help from local professionals when necessary can go a long way toward maintaining a pest-free environment.
However, should you need to act quickly and decisively, contact a professional pest control company that will know how to safely remove any infestation and preserve the health of your home? By taking the steps mentioned here today, you can ensure your family’s health and well-being remain secure now and into the future.