Top 10 Tips for Keeping Your Home Pest Free : Pest Prevention Guide

Squaring up face to face with a rodent (such as a large rat) or a pest is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Besides the potential health implications, the pure fright of finding a critter around the house is enough for millions of households to call out a pest control professional. However, these services are often a costly short-term solution and re-infestation rates are high.

So, take matters into your own hands with these top ten DIY pest control tips on how to prevent infestation in your home, before it’s too late. Remember prevention is much easier than trying to rid your house of infestation so pay close attention to these very easy household hacks you can start implementing today! Besides these ten tips are just good habits to adopt to keep your place sanitary and I promise at the end of it you will wonder what you have been doing with your life up until this point.

1. Seal Any Possible Entrances

how to remove pests

Where there’s a will there’s a way. Pests will find any opportunity to enter your home. Not treating any gaps, cracks and crevices provides an open invitation for them. Some animals, such as squirrels (www.atticpestauthority.com/squirrels-in-attic), are experts at seeking out these entry points. Thoroughly inspect the exterior of your house for cracks in the foundation, missing tiles, and gaps between pipes. If the gap is big enough for a pencil to fit through, it will be big enough for a pest. It is also important to examine the interior of your house for any light creeping through crevices, especially in the close proximity to any pipes or wires that enter the home. It is vital that your house is regularly maintained; the quicker any damage is eradicated, the less chance of pests.

2. Install Screens Over Chimney Vents and Openings

If any opening is unable to be filled, the installation of specialist screens or vents can ensure that any pests cannot enter the home. These screens should fit properly and should be repaired or replaced regularly. If the pests can’t get in, the potential for harm is considerably decreased. More serious animal problems such as bat infestations, can occur from neglecting chimney vents and openings. If you want more tips about keeping other pests out of your home, go here.

3. Store Food Appropriately

You don’t want to be hosting a dinner party with a pest as an unwanted guest. Ensure that food is stored in lockable containers and preferably stored in a cupboard that fastens. Pests can easily enter cardboard boxes, so ensure that any open food is either placed in sealed boxes or in plastic bags. All fruit should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent fruit flies and ants. Pet food should also be stored away when not required, especially overnight.

4. Dispose of Waste Correctly

As well as food that you intend to eat, animals can also feast on your leftovers and waste. To prevent this, ensure that all bins have a tight lid and are emptied regularly. Bins should also be stored away from any entrance in order to distance any potential pests and your home. Any litter around your home should be taken care of immediately. If you recycle, any containers should be washed before being placed into the recycling. These are especially important if you have rats or mice problems (read this) in your home. 

5. Keep Your House Clean

It may seem as though you house is adequately clean, but pests can often thrive upon areas of uncleanliness invisible to the naked eye. By cleaning floors daily, animals can no longer feast on residue or crumbs that have fallen onto the floor. Any spills should be tackled immediately, and the kitchen sink should be clutter-free. A dishwasher should be used where possible and dishes should not be left to soak.

To learn more about why you should always keep your house clean, read this page: https://atticpestauthority.com/how-to-get-rid-of-water-bugs​

6. Keep Your House Dry

Water is the one thing more important than food to a pest. A cockroach can survive a month without access to food, but only a week without water. Gutters should be installed to the exterior of the house to direct water appropriately. Water should always be drained from a sink and any puddles should be mopped up. If any of your appliances are leaking, they should be fixed; all a pest needs is a drop of water to thrive on.

7. De-clutter

By not clearing away clutter, both inside and outside the house, you are providing pests with a house of their own. Newspapers, cardboard boxes, plastic bags and wood are ideal hiding places for any potential pests. If it is essential that these are kept, they should be stored away from the house. Where possible, clutter should be removed entirely. Plants and bushes should also be frequently trimmed to prevent providing animals with a bridge into your home.

If you are dealing with fleas then it is critical that you keep your home clutter-free to prevent them from having any hiding places. And, to learn more about that topic, go to this page: ​http://atticpestauthority.com/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas

8. Inspect Everything that You Bring in to Your House

pest removal tips

Anything that enters your house can be used as a free ride by a pest to get in behind enemy lines. Everything should be inspected from groceries to pets. Groceries should be immediately put away appropriately and pets should be cleaned weekly.

Unclean stuff going into your home can actually start insect infestation fast, and these bugs are really hard to get rid of. So, read this to keep yourself updated: atticpestauthority.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ants​

9. Change Your Lights

Animals are naturally attracted to light. To reduce the amount of flying insects, halogen lights should be used where possible. Any light with a pink, orange or yellow color naturally attract fewer bugs. This applies to the exterior as well, where lights should not be placed in the immediate vicinity of any entrances. The porch area is often a prevalent area for flying animals. By painting the ceiling in the same color as the sky to fool the pests and prevent the building of nests.

10. Try Natural Pest Prevention Methods

If you are wary of specific pests, there are several natural methods that can be employed. These solutions are often inexpensive and are centered around household items. For example, peppermint oil placed in cotton balls deter spiders whereas basil will keep flies away. These simple things can help you in the long run in keeping your home pest-free all the time. There are more ways to preventing the pests from getting in your property, you can learn more about it here.

Remember, prevention is better than cure, so be sure to follow the above pointers before any unwanted guests take up refuge in your home for good. If these top 10 do it yourself pest control tips just sounds like household chores to you, that's because they are! Keeping away pests is as simple as being clean and sanitary. If you don't want gross creepy crawlies infesting your house, simply change bad habits it's that easy!

If the damage is done and there are already pests inside your home, check out this page to help you identify, and deal with, your household pests in the right way