If you own any kind of property, routine pest control services are an absolute necessity. Even if your cleaning skills are top-notch and you’re always aware of what’s happening inside and outside your home, it’s impossible to keep pests away forever. The good news is that there are several different techniques that you can use while you’re waiting for a professional to fully eradicate whatever types of pests have invaded.
Below are some of our favorite pest control tips that you can start putting to use right away.
Pests typically enter your home or business through small openings. Closing off the easiest access points will help prevent an infestation. Start by sealing any gaps or holes you find around your doors and windows with either weather stripping, spray foam, or caulking. You may also want to opt for a whole-house blower test that will help identify problem areas.
Many pests, particularly insects, are attracted to standing water both inside and outside your property. Removing puddles close to your property will lower the chance of bugs and other pests getting inside. As for the interior, wiping up spills and drying off any moisture in your kitchen or bathroom will help as well.
Most homeowners concentrate on keeping their kitchen clean because that’s where you store food. However, it’s common these days for household members to eat while in their living room, bedroom, and even outside. Each night before everyone goes to bed, be sure that no food has been left out anywhere inside or outside the house.
Decaying foods, particularly meats, fruits, and vegetables, will attract all types of pests very quickly. If something in your fridge has gone bad, put it into a sealable bag, drop it in the garbage, and then take it out as soon as possible. That being said, it’s a good idea to keep these things in your fridge until a day or two before the trash gets picked up.
We mentioned keeping moisture from accumulating in places like your bathroom and kitchen, but these three areas are ones that are often forgotten about. When your basement, attic, or crawl space contains moisture, you may not notice the accumulation of bugs until it’s a full-on infestation. These places should be checked periodically, especially during the winter months when moisture is more likely to seep inside.
Rodents can be a huge nuisance because to get inside your home or business, it’s not uncommon for them to chew right through the walls. They may even get inside your garage, crawl up into the engine, and gnaw through a few wires. These pests don’t like the smell of peppermint, so sprinkling a mixture of peppermint oil and water around the perimeter of your property will help with rodent control.
An infestation of these nasty little bloodsuckers can be devastating, which is why you want to employ a professional bed bug heat treatment as soon as possible. To keep them out of your bed until you get a chance to call bed bug control services, invest in a mattress cover that will prevent bed bugs from getting inside. This won’t kill them, but it will keep them at bay.
These pest control tips should help you curtail infestation issues until you have a chance to hire a professional. Once you’re ready, McDonald Pest Control can take care of all your extermination needs. Give us a call at (727) 734-0963 to schedule an appointment for pest control services or for more pest control tips.
