10 Tips for Pest Prevention in Your Home 

Do you have pests in your home? Are you worried about getting pests in your home? Did you know that there are hundreds of bugs that inhabit an American home?

If thinking about pests in your home gives you the creeps, it’s time to think about pest prevention. Keep reading to learn more about pest control and how to keep those unwanted house guests away.

1. Seal All Cracks and Crevices

Check the outside of your home for any crevices, cracks, or gaps. Pests can squeeze through the tiniest of openings. You should also look for gaps near utility lines, foundation cracks, missing roof shingles, and loose siding.

Fill all these openings with coarse steel wool, mortar, copper mesh, or sheet metal. Caulk does not work as well because many pests can chew right through it.

2. Avoid Standing Water

Some annoying pests, like mosquitoes, breed in water, so it’s important to drain and dispose of standing water pools. Don’t forget to check your gutters and drains outside for any stagnant water.

Don’t let the kiddie pools stay full of water for long. These are big breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

3. Clean the Kitchen

Pests love dirty and damp atmospheres. In the kitchen, make sure to keep the counters, racks, drawers, and stove-top clean. Use a disinfectant cleaner and never let food particles sit on these surfaces because it will attract more insects.

Some pests have an excellent sense of smell, like rodents. They will find an open food container in your home quicker than you think.

To help keep pests away, store pantry foods, like crackers and cereals, in reusable, airtight containers. This will let you fully seal the food and minimize the attraction to pantry pests.

4. Clean the Yard 

Before pests can get to your home, they are in your yard. If you want to keep them away, it’s important to clean your yard and remove tall weeds, dead plants, and fallen limbs. 

Keep your plants trimmed back because the extra foliage is a favorable spot for nests. You should also keep woodpiles away from your home because you are inviting pests, like ants and termites, into your home and foundation. You should put them on a less attractive ground cover like rocks.

Be sure to trim any shrubbery or tree branches that touch your home. These can create a bridge for pests to reach your home. Keep mulch back from your foundation because it is an ideal shelter.

5. Seal Doors and Windows

Along with cracks and crevices, you need to seal up your doors and windows. Repair any broken windows or doors along with any that do not fit or close tight.

Repair all tears in screens as these are open invitations inside your home. When replacing screens, use a mesh size that is at least 200 holes per square inch, so pests can’t squeeze through. Don’t worry; this is a common size at the hardware or home store.

6. Keep Items Outside

If you want to bring in things from your garden, patio, or deck, you may bring in more than you bargained for. Before bringing in anything like furniture, buckets, or shoes, clean them thoroughly.

This also applies to your kids’ bicycles, skates, and battery-operated cars. You should keep them in your garage or another outdoor area and avoid bringing them inside.

7. Don’t Keep Vegetables and Fruits Too Long

When fruits and vegetables are overripe, it attracts flies and various other insects. Avoid letting ripe fruits sit outside of the fridge for too long. Fruit flies are relatively harmless, but these rotting fruits can attract bigger pests like cockroaches, ants, and house flies, which are more difficult to get rid of.

8. Clean Your Drains

Your floor and sink drain accumulate a lot of debris and gunk. It attracts several pests as an ideal breeding site. Make sure you clean all those drains in your home, like in your basement and laundry room.

If you want a homemade drain cleaner, use baking soda and vinegar. Together, they create foam and flush out clogs to keep your drains clean and clear.

9. Dispose of Garbage

You should take your garbage out every day. When you let the garbage accumulate (even in a sealed trashcan in your kitchen), you can get a rodent, cockroach, or rat infestation. 

They can drag these rotten food pieces around your house and spread diseases to your family and your pets.

You should also store garbage in a bin with a tight-fitting lid. If you recycle, you should always rinse the food before you add it to your bin. Spending that little extra bit of time can save you from pests.

You should store the recycling bin outside your home to help keep the pests out.

10. Call a Professional Pest Control Company  

Sometimes it’s hard to get ahead of a pest problem on your own. You may feel like you are facing an uphill battle.

If you’ve had enough of pests or want to stay ahead of an infestation, it’s best to hire a professional. They can conduct an inspection and give you more pointers on preventative pest control.

They have the latest products and services that rid your house of the nastiest of bugs, like using heat extermination to eliminate a bedbug infestation.

These professionals can take care of just about any problem you have and help you with controlling pests.

Start Your Pest Prevention Plan Today

It’s best to prevent pests before they invade. By following these pest prevention tips, you can help keep those creepy crawly critters away. Remember to clean all areas of your home, from your mulch beds to your kitchen and also your garbage.

If you want to learn other ways to keep your home tidy and looking its best, check out more articles in our home section.