Sadly, pests can find their way into our households. They can spread disease and destroy property but fortunately, there are various strategies that can make your home pest-free. A crucial factor in removing pests is to pinpoint their habitats and then make your home less enticing for them to live and reproduce.
1. Block Possible Entryways
Tiny pests get into your home through openings in the roof, walls, doors, and windows. Inspect those areas to find specific openings that may allow pests into your home. Get any cracks in the doors and windows fixed in order to minimize pests’ chances of getting through or using these open crevices as habitats.
2. Clean Your Pets
Pests like fleas may thrive on your pets if you fail to maintain their hygiene. Clean your pets and schedule regular professional grooming to keep your pets free of pests. Feed your pets in a clean environment using a large plate, a feeding mat, and clean the leftovers right after they are done.
3. Dispose of Clutter
Hoarding clothing, cookware, newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, furniture, and old food containers offer effective habitats for pests to thrive. Declutter your house by recycling, reusing, or donating unused items.
4. Get Rid of Trash
Most pests thrive in environments where food particles are scattered and not cleaned up. Rid your kitchen of leftover food and clean plates and utensils to remove leftovers that may attract sugar ants, cockroaches, rats, and other pests. Develop the habit of taking out the trash daily to deter rodents and flies from feasting on your refuse.
5. Introduce Traps
You can get rid of most pests by trapping them. Employ your DIY skills to prepare simple home-made traps or buy ones designed specifically for the types of pests infesting your home. Then, identify specific areas to set traps within the shortest time possible.
6. Secure Containers with Food or Waste Materials
You are likely to meet pests making the rounds searching for available food. Starve pests further by putting lids on boxes and containers containing food or kitchen waste. Ensure that the food you store in your cupboard or shelf is securely in a box, container or ziploc bag that can be closed completely to keep pests away.
7. Use Natural Pest Repellents
Most common pest repellents include ammonia, mothballs, and peppermint oil. Place repellents in your doors, closets, garage, and basement to drive pests away from your house. Mothballs keep off cockroaches and mice, while peppermint oil and ammonia drive away mice and other rodents.
8. Use household pesticides
If the natural pest repellents don’t do the trick, consider purchasing household pesticides that are designed to eliminate various pests from your home. Most pesticides can kill common pests like cockroaches, mosquitoes, and other insects that may be sharing your living space.
9. Regular Inspections
Finally, if you employ all the measures outlined above and the pest infestation persists, you may need to hire one of the best pest control companies in Washington DC to inspect and rid your home of pests permanently. Professional exterminators will perform a detailed inspection to find the source of the pests and then will execute on a plan to deter them from ever invading your home again.
Pests raid a home seeking food, water and shelter. Deprive them access to these elements and they will have no reason to live in your space.