The pest control service is always on the lookout for new pest-control technologies. Yet, some pest problems are best handled through routine home cleaning habits, not pest controls. Here are eight ways doing things around your home can reduce pest problems.
Mop Floors Weekly With A Disinfectant
Mops, buckets of water, and perhaps a mild dish soap will clean most floors well enough to prevent pest infestations. But to build barriers against pests, mop weekly with a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs. Pests are just as afraid of germs as humans are, so disinfectant cleaners can help keep critters out.
Suppose you want to kill an insect, just it with a bleach-based cleaner. If you’re going to kill germs, buy a disinfecting cleaner that contains quaternary ammonium or bleach.
Get Rid Of Spilled Food & Liquids Quickly
When you spill something on the floor, it’s best to clean up right away. But did you know spilled liquids can also attract pests? They are drawn to liquid spills just as humans are for three reasons:
- They need water.
- The liquid offers an easy-to-cross surface into your home.
- There might be food in the spill.
Pests are not very discriminating when choosing where to live. Some pest problems have more to do with humans than their choice of homes. Spilled junk foods or pet food on which pests can feed is one pest attractor. Spilled liquids on which pests can feed is another pest attractor.
Dump Trash Out Daily, Even When Just A Little
When the bin is complete, you take it out. That’s a no-brainer when it comes to trash service. But what about when there’s just a little bit of trash in the bin? Take that out too. Pests are very attracted to certain odors associated with food and garbage so that they will be drawn to a home with overflowing bins. Again, if you don’t want pest problems, tidy up regularly before the pest has a chance to take over your home.
Clean-Up Food Spills In The Kitchen Immediately
Everyone in the family needs to clean up after meals, but it’s essential for those with pest problems. Spilled food is a pest attractor, and the more of it there is around, the more likely pest will live in your kitchen.
Reduce The Amount Of Junk In Your Home
Pests will move into a home without a second thought. They don’t care if you have a luxurious king-sized bed or just a pile of old clothes that have been sitting on the floor for months. That pile of clothes might as well be a luxury penthouse suite compared to where pests can be living. Often, pest infestations are most common in homes that contain lots of clutter because these conditions provide pests with many places to hide. Many pest control professionals recommend reducing the amount of stuff in a home to deal with pest problems.
Store Food In Sealed Containers
Fresh, raw food is a pest attractor, and the pest can’t tell the difference between food that’s been sitting out for a day or two vs. fresh produce. If pests find that your kitchen counters are a reliable food source, they will come back for more and not just at night. Pests invade homes during the day, too, especially when they’re looking to settle down and start their own families. Once pests pick up on this tidbit of information, storing food in sealed containers makes it easier to keep pests away from your dining room table.
Take Care Of Your Lawn And The Landscape
It’s easy to forget about pest problems that don’t happen inside the home. That’s why pest control professionals recommend regularly maintaining your lawn and using landscape maintenance service (or hiring someone else to do it). The idea is pests will be less inclined to move indoors if they are busy outdoors. It can be tough to take care of an expansive lawn, but pests manage to find homes even in the tiniest of patches of grass. There might also be a pest living in your landscaping (e.g., under bushes or down below), so pest control services are always available.
Hiring regular home cleaning service and reduce Clutter Inside Your Home. Sometimes clutter happens whether you have a pest or not. But there may also be something you’re doing that attracts pests. You might not realize it, but pests can be drawn to homes with lots of clutter. It’s the pest equivalent of moving into an opulent home with a spacious living room and big kitchen. If you don’t want pests inside your home, consider relocating piles of junk that could give pests a place to settle down.
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