Essential Steps To Avoid Ongoing Pest Infestations

No one wants to intentionally share their homes with pests or vermin, and sadly, for many homeowners across the country, this is a very real and often all-too-common problem.

Effective pest control is more than ridding your home of these unwanted guests. While a good Pest Control company can help you eradicate all instances of pests on your property, you need to take control of the situation to ensure that they never come back or that you make it harder for them to establish squatter status in your home.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. If you don’t want to repeat an infestation after removal, these tips can make your home as uninviting as possible for creatures trying to take shelter. Not following these prevention tips could lead to a recurring infestation, which can be costly and stressful to deal with.

Remove Food Sources

Pests that are attracted to food, such as rodents, will always be enticed if they have easy access to this valuable resource.

You need to eliminate all avenues of sourcing food for them across your property.

This means keeping countertops and floors clear of both human and pet food, keeping trash in receptacles and not on the ground to avoid enticing animals onto the property, and ensuring you don’t leave food or treats outdoors for pets that can lead them on their merry way into your home. Keep all food sources sealed and away in cupboards or refrigerators to remove temptation.

Check under appliances, around your garbage can, under beds, furniture, and other areas where they might be able to find food, such as pantries so that once you get rid of your pest problem, you’re not leaving an open invitation for them to return.

Block Holes

Post-extermination, you might be advised or be able to identify areas that are vulnerable and have enabled the infestation to take place. Addressing these issues could be a priority to prevent them from happening again. Leaving yourself wide open for repeat behaviors is inadvisable, so you need to be proactive in ensuring that any areas allowing access to pests are sealed.

It could be gaps under your home, enabling them to gain entry via the basement or crawl space or even remain in the crawl space. It could be open windows or doors allowing them to walk right in, cracks in floorboards, or holes in walls or the roof, for example, if your problem originated from the top of the property.

Regardless of how pests initially gained entry, it’s crucial to seal off their access points. Whether it’s using sealant or caulk to close gaps, wire wool to fill holes, or barriers for areas like a crawl space, taking these measures can make you feel more secure and protected in your home.

Understand The Pests

If you’re constantly battling a certain type of pest, it’s worth investing time learning about them. Each pest has unique indicators that make your home more susceptible to infestations. While you may not be able to eradicate them entirely, understanding what attracts them to your home can empower you to rectify the issue or make it less inviting, helping you tackle the problem more effectively.

If it’s an environmental aspect, it can be worth talking to your local department to ascertain what can be done. For example, if you’re living close to marshes or swamps, you might find that mosquitoes are a specific problem, and you’re at risk of contracting the West Nile virus from a bite. While pest control services can help you deal with the situation, you need to look at preventative measures and control to help you reduce the issue recurring. This can be done via regular lawn care, removing standing water on your property, using lights to keep them away, and implementing effective natural mosquito control measures for your safety.

Remove Standing Water

As mentioned above, some pests will be drawn to standing water, for example, mosquitos. If you’re guilty of not addressing any water concerns in or around your home, you’re simply leaving a welcome invitation for pests to come back. You need to identify leaks, areas of your property where water gathers post rainfall, blocked drainage, etc., and remove any possibility of standing water being present on your property to help you remove the welcome mat and put up a no-entry sign in its place.

Use Natural Remedies

Post-infestation is the perfect time to start using natural remedies to discourage pests from returning. There are numerous eco-friendly options available, and the choice depends on the type of problem you’re dealing with.

For instance, diatomaceous earth is an excellent insect repellant for gardens and the home, while mint can deter mice, spiders, ants, and mosquitos. You can use basil, to keep flies from entering your home, and cinnamon can protect against bed bugs, earworms, fruit flies, and spiders. Additionally, a mixture of cinnamon and denatured alcohol can effectively eliminate dust mites.

Effective Cleaning

One of the best ways to ensure your home isn’t a pest haven is to ensure you clean it thoroughly on a regular basis, inside and out. Regular cleaning not only keeps your home hygienic but also removes potential hiding spots for pests. Create a thorough cleaning schedule, including those places where pests like to hide and conceal themselves, using products designed to help deter them and natural remedies and keep on top of everything as much as you can.

The best way to prevent the return of your pest problem is to keep those areas of your home uninviting and monitored so you can spot signs of the problem recurring.

Prevention is better than cure, and even though you have experienced the problem, it doesn’t mean you cannot stop it from repeating and are unable to prevent further infestations. You simply need to understand the type of pests you are attracting, what you can do to block them from your home, and maintain your property so it’s habitable for its human and four-legged residents but not for any pests that try to set up home alongside you.

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