Pests are something that sends a chill down the spine of every homeowner. Despite most pests being tiny creatures, the devastation they cause can be gargantuan in scale.
If you have ever had pests in your home, you know just how devastating they can be. Therefore, you should take it upon yourself to ensure that your home is completely pest-free. The following are some of the best tips to ensure you get rid of pests from your home:
Cracks and Gaps
One of the first things you should do if you notice you have pests in your house is to check for cracks and gaps. Pests such as rats and cockroaches can crawl through even the tiniest gap in your house.
Check everywhere in your house, from the attic to the foundation. Missing roof shingles, loose siding, and cracked electrical sockets are only a fraction of the entrances pests can use.
The key in this respect is to regularly check your house for cracks and gaps as they are constantly appearing. Moreover, pests can create these entrances into your home themselves.
Fix these cracks and gaps as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the greater the chances of having a full-scale infestation on your hands.
Proper Disposal of Garbage
The main thing that attracts pests to your home is dirt and filth. If you regularly clean your house, much of the filth will end up in the trash can. In other words, your garbage is the main source of attraction for pests.
Garbage is a great source of food for pests, especially rodents. Therefore, if you want to properly rid your home of pests, you should properly dispose of your garbage.
You should ensure that your trash cans have tight-fitting lids, which pests cannot disturb. You should also keep the garbage in a designated area away from the house and clean the area regularly.
Clean Your House
The simplest and most basic advice is usually the most potent, and the same goes for preventing pest infestations. If you want to get rid of pests from your house, you should ensure that you keep your house as clean as possible.
Cleaning your house is the best way to make it inhospitable for various pests. It is certainly a better alternative than calling pest exterminators. It is also much cheaper by a significant margin. You should ensure that you vacuum the entirety of your home at least once a week. You should also use soap and water whenever and wherever you can get around the house. Chemical house cleaning supplies are essential too.
Reduce Plants
It is common knowledge that plants attract insects and other animals; it is very natural. However, some of these plants may attract pests that can invade your home.
Therefore, if you want to get rid of pests from your house completely, you should minimize the vegetation on your property. You should especially trim any branches or shrubbery that touch your house as they can be excellent bridges for pests from the outside to inside your home. You may also have to do some landscaping around your house. It will not only make your house more attractive, but it will also repel the pests.
Mulch in the yard or garden can provide ideal hiding spots for various pests. You should use less attractive alternatives to pests such as rocks.
Lighting
The lights you use in and around your house can have a substantial impact when trying to get rid of pests. Many pests are attracted to lights hence drawing them to your home and eventually inside it. You should seriously consider the location of the lights as well as their color. The farther away the lights are from entrances to your home, the better. Pink, orange or yellow lights are also more repellent to pests than other colors.
Keep it Dry
Most pests infest your house to look for water and food. The water in your house is especially integral when ridding your home of pests. You should ensure that there are no water leaks in your home. When water pools, it offers great breeding grounds for most pests.
Clean the drains in your home to ensure water flows smoothly and to the appropriate places. If there are any water spills in your home, ensure you clean them immediately.
Getting rid of pests in your home may seem like a gargantuan task. However, it is a matter of diligence in doing the small things such as those outlined above. If you can use the tips outlined, you should have an easy time getting rid of pests in your house.