If you’ve been dealing with pest infestation, here are our tips to prevent pests from invading your home. Rodents, bugs, and other pests are more than just a nuisance. They also pose a threat to you and your family’s health. Thus, it is essential to keep them away from your home and right where the pests are supposed to be.
When preventing pests from entering your home, we often advise our clients to keep all the holes closed. It could serve as an entryway for pests. More importantly, maintain a clean house, especially in the busiest areas of your home. This includes the living room, kitchen, and shared bathroom.
9 Tips to Prevent Pests From Your Home
Instead of not taking action to protect yourself after a pest has gotten into your home, you should be on offense to stop pest issues from occurring. There are many methods to get rid of pests in and out of your home. So, we present the 9 tips to prevent pests from your home.
Tips to Prevent Pests #1 – Minimize Plants and Mulch
Cut back any tree branches, or plants that are near your home. It will help eliminate “bridges” that pests can make to get into your home and find their way inside. Also, mulch in gardens can provide a perfect habitat for insects. Therefore, instead of putting mulch on areas near your home, place it in a less attractive area more favorable to pests, like rocks.
Tips to Prevent Pests #2 – Seal Doors and Windows
Pests can crawl through small cracks and gaps. Thus, you must regularly check and fix any damaged doors or windows. Also, immediately repair any tears, or rips in your screens/mesh. Pro tip: Use mesh sizes with a minimum of 200 holes for every square inch.
Tips to Prevent Pests #3 – Check for Cracks and Gaps
Windows and doors aren’t the only areas that could be a bit secluded. Be sure to check the exterior of your house for any cracks, crevices, or gaps that pests might be able to get into. Cover holes using copper mesh, coarse steel wool, sheet metal or mortar.
Tips to Prevent Pests #4 – Properly Dispose of Yard Trash and Litter
Preventing pests from entering your home starts with cleanliness. Many people know household waste is a magnet for pests, like roaches, ants, and rodents. On the other hand, yard waste can also attract pests that may see it as a nest, or food source. So, ensure your trash containers have lids that fit tightly.
Once you dispose of garbage, wash the cans and the area where it often sits to eliminate the debris and spills that pests could consume. Also, keep your decks, yards, patios, and garages clear of leaves, plant clippings, and standing water. These factors could provide perfect habitats for pests to build their own home.
Tips to Prevent Pests #5 – Use the Right Light Bulbs
To keep insects from flying around windows and doors, you should change standard mercury vapor light bulbs with high-pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights. Bulbs with yellow, pink, or orange hues look the least appealing to insects. You can also alter the position of the light if it is possible to do so.
Although installing lights on exterior walls close to doors is normal, putting the light away from the house on the pole is more beneficial. It will help keep most bugs away from the pole, & prevent them from reaching your home. Be sure the light is still reaching the door and stays in good working order for safety reasons.
Tips to Prevent Pests #6 – Look for Interior Gaps
A lot of pest prevention actions are performed outside of the house. However, some gaps and cracks can only be seen when you look inside. Check regularly inside, under, and behind refrigerators, kitchen cabinets, and stoves for evidence of insects. Also, look for any gaps in trim, such as around vents, pipes, and cables.
Make sure to seal any holes that you can see, regardless of its size. When you sense the airflow from the gaps, cover it right away. It could be an entryway for pests to go inside your home.
Tips to Prevent Pests #7 – Clean Drains
The drains on floors and sinks typically collect gunk and other debris. It could be a magnet for pests and an ideal place to breed tiny flies. Therefore, it is essential to periodically clean and inspect all the drains that are in the home. It includes the ones in the laundry room as well as the basement. Baking soda and vinegar are excellent drain cleaners at home that provide perfect foaming action that clears clogs.
Tips to Prevent Pests #8 – Store Food in Sealed Containers
Pets, especially rodents, ants, and cockroaches have an extreme sense of smell. As a result, they can track the most delicious meals and even the smallest crumbs that fell on the ground. If you have an open food container in your house, there’s no doubt that these pests will eventually find it.
Thus, it is essential to keep pantry food items such as cereal and crackers in containers that are reusable, or bags that can be resealable. Also, try to clear your pantry frequently to eliminate any spoiled food items or other products you do not intend to consume. It can help reduce the potential for “pantry pests.”
Tips to Prevent Pests #9 – Regularly Clean Your Home
The tidier your property is kept, the less potential it is for insects. If you are diligent about mopping, vacuuming, and other chores for your home, you’ll likely disturb the areas where pests could be thinking of making a home. When you create and follow your cleaning routine, you can prevent pests from your home.
Final Words
When you’ve tried the above methods and still suffer from the pests you’ve been fighting, call Expel Exterimators LLC immediately. We’ll inspect your office or home to bring your pest issue under San Jose pest control. When it comes to pests, there’s nothing that we can’t do.
Expel Exterminators LLC
3622 Tuers Road San Jose, CA 95121
(408) 417-1545
