Nobody likes it when trespassers intrude into their property. But in the case of tiny, almost unseen offenders such as insects, it can get really frustrating. Finding an ant in your home is one thing, but finding a cockroach in your kitchen is another. But keeping your house free from creepy crawlies and the like are all part of any homeowner’s responsibility. Below are some ways you can try to keep them out of your property.
Cleanliness Is Important
It’s a pretty common scene to find pests in dirty places. The simplest and most straightforward way to addressing the issue is to make sure your home is always clean and tidy. Leaving dirty clothes, piles of books, and other things unorganized leaves spaces for pests to hide and breed. They find warm and hidden spots adequate to breed, making unorganized homes prone to pest infestations.
You don’t have to always hold general cleaning sessions. As a matter of fact, it can be counter-intuitive. Instead, try cleaning bit by bit but consistently. Putting things back to where they belong is an easy way to make sure your house is always clean. Daily sweeping or vacuuming the floor, making sure that nothing piles up, and immediately mopping or cleaning and spillages are also effective ways in making sure you don’t give insects a chance.
Find the Root
If there is already an insect situation, the next logical step is to find out where the root is. As mentioned before, they find warm and hidden spots appropriate for breeding. Check the hidden nooks and crannies of your home, such as under the sink, the basement, or closets you don’t often open.
Areas containing stagnant water are prone to becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and decomposing matter can house flies and other insects. Also, check potential entry points for these insects too. Windows near a tree, a backyard garden, or even indoor plants are also suspect locations. Once you’ve found where it’s coming from, consider getting professional pest control. Sometimes infestations can be too much to handle, especially for non-professionals.
Understand Your Location
Your environment can play a part in causing insects to swarm around your property. For example, if you have a garden, even insects that aren’t necessarily pests can find their way to your house. Even outside garbage bins can contain insects, and these insects can follow a trail back to your home.
Understanding your environment is necessary for keeping any pests out. If there’s an area where water often pools, consider making it part of your cleaning routine to make sure it’s dry. Or, in the case of a backyard garden, ensure that your windows and doors facing it don’t have any cracks or gaps these insects can wiggle through. Putting fresh herbs or other natural insect repellents in key locations can also help in keeping them away. Screen doors towards areas with bushes and trees can also help in keeping the bugs at bay.
Check Your Neighbors, Too
Sometimes, no matter how much you keep your place clean, some pests still make their way to your house. In this case, it would be good to investigate your neighbors’ places and check if they are having problems, too. Especially in apartment buildings where units are right next to each other, pests like ants or roaches can move from others’ units to yours through cracks and crevices.
If this is the case, your initial step should be to discuss the matter with your neighbor. There may be moments where your efforts alone won’t be enough. Working together with your neighbor to improve your area’s cleanliness will go a long way in ensuring that mosquitoes, flies, and rats won’t have a chance to find their way into your area.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Whether you’ve just bought a new house or if you’ve just moved to a previously owned place, one of the first things you should do is check for pesky pests. In and out of the house, check for ants, roaches, bed bugs, and other pests infesting the place. It’s best to take care of these things while still in the unpacking stage or even before moving in.
Even if you don’t find any pests, you should still make sure that the place is clean and hygienic to not allow any pests or insects of any kind to flourish. All in all, cleanliness is still the number one way to make sure that your house pest-free. That’s why making sure your place is clean is the best way to prevent infestations from happening in the first place.