If you’re a homeowner, you should do everything possible to ensure that critters and bugs don’t invade your residence. Besides carrying diseases, pests can cause significant damage to your house if not controlled on time. One way to keep your house free from pests is by keeping it clean and tidy. You can do this by keeping your food in air-tight containers and cleaning any crumbs or spills on tables and kitchen counters.
It’s also important to close the entryways for pests in your home by sealing off cracks in the foundation and repairing torn screens. Here’s a detailed guide on the steps you can take to prevent pests from invading your house.
Ensure That You Keep Home Clean
Pests usually thrive in areas that are damp and dirty. So, if you want to keep them out of your residence, always keep your kitchen counter and drawers clean. You should also clear leftover food from your dishes as soon as you eat and clean them as quickly as possible. If not, your food may become contaminated and can easily be picked and consumed by your children unknowingly.
If you’re a mother with such negligent behavior, it can be a reason for your spouse to file for a divorce. Remember that if you reside in a state like Georgia, the law requires spouses to equally share their income when supporting their child after a divorce.
Keep Plants and Mulch or Dry Wood Far From Your Home
Even if you’re an avid gardener, you shouldn’t have your garden too close to the house. The moisture created from mulching plants attracts ants, cockroaches, and mice. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Affairs, ants are the most problematic pests, followed by spiders and cockroaches.
If you add plants around your house to beautify your outdoors and are concerned about the ants problem, ensure that you place the mulch a few inches from your foundation. You should also avoid overwatering them so as not to attract them. It’s also not advisable to store wood logs adjacent to your house.
When you do so, you’ll create a conducive environment for termite infestation. Remember that termite infestation can go unnoticed for a long time. Before you notice visible signs of their activity, they’ll have caused significant damage. If the destruction occurs in sections of your bathroom constructed from wood, you can expect to part with huge repair costs.
If you plan to sell your house after pest extermination and bathroom remodeling, you’ll likely get a good price for it. According to Zillow, the return on investment for an upscale bathroom remodel is about 56.2%.
Clean Your Drains Regularly
If you notice a foul smell coming from your drains, it’s a sign of collecting debris, and you might even have cockroaches living in it. If you want to avoid dealing with such stench and the possibility of cockroaches infesting your house, consider pouring vinegar and hot water into the drain.
This will not only help you to eliminate the bad smell but also deter such pests from making it their home. In addition to pests, a filthy drain also acts as a breeding ground for pests like drain flies and fruit flies.
Seals Gaps Around Your Home
One of the ways for pests to gain entry into your house is through unsealed gaps like where the pipes or electrical lines enter your residence. You can caulk such areas or use expanding foam insulation to prevent their entry. If you regularly keep your windows open, you should prevent bugs from entering your house by using a bug screen. If you’re using lights that attract pests, such as the white porch lights, ensure that you switch them with the warmer yellow bulbs.
When pests start to invade your residence, they aren’t just a nuisance but can also contaminate the surfaces, causing the spread of diseases in your house. If you have been dealing with pests or want to take a proactive step to keep them out of your house, you should pay attention to the few ideas in this guide.