Is there anything worse than coming home after a lovely afternoon out spending time with friends to find that a whole host of ants have moved into your home and are currently enjoying themselves feasting on a smear of honey on your dining room table? Probably not-at least not in terms of household pests. I recently had a problem with pest control and had to call in the serious big guns for a problem that I was having with some termites. Luckily I managed to nip things in the bud, so to speak, otherwise it could have been a potentially sticky situation. I wanted to share with you some of my top tips on how to prevent household pest problems in the hopes that it helps you to enjoy a nicer summer without any unwanted visitors!
Indoor pest problems always begin outside-after all, you know that ants and termites weren't building houses to live in before humans existed! At least-I don't think they were… Ants, cockroaches and other creepy crawlies are all going to head to your home if there's a nice and easy source of food, water or living space. You can protect your home against these critters by ensuring that you have a barrier in and around your house.
In addition to this, here are some easy tips to follow:
- Seal the cracks around your home-including doors, windows and areas where the utilities (things like gas and water) enter your home-as these are prime insect channels!
- Stack any firewood or spare timber away from your home-as this is a prime way for termites to enter your property!
- Inspect your home regularly for signs of insects-especially in boards close to the ground.
- Keep mulch piles well away from your home's foundations
- Get rid of any kind of standing water in your home by using correct drainage and other methods of keeping water flowing
- Don't keep large pet bowls full of water or food near your house as these are a prime calling spot for hungry critters.
- Keep your home clean and make it a space where insects would tremble to enter
- Keep your cupboards clean and food stored in airtight and sealed containers
- Keep food and spices clear of moths and cockroaches by cleaning regularly
- Get rid of old newspapers and clear up any old items that are lying around the home
- Be sure to keep the area where you keep your rubbish nice and clean and clear of any spillages
- Empty your rubbish regularly, and don't let it overflow into your yard or kitchen
These short tips are by no means a comprehensive list of things that you can do to keep pests at bay-and you can find that by using common sense and ensuring that you get regular cleans by a qualified pest control person-that your house will remain pest free for longer! Good luck with keeping your home clean, and remember-make it as unattractive for pests as you possibly can!
