Most homeowners hate the thought of having pests invading their personal space. Unfortunately, there are dozens of different pests that can make their way inside of properties, causing damage, frustration, and lots of unwanted stress. If you want to keep your home as pest-free as possible, there are quite a few simple steps you should take.
Cover Any Holes You Can Find
If you have even the smallest holes inside your home, there is a fairly good chance that some mice and rats will make their way inside the property. Both mice and rats are extremely flexible and can often fit into some of the tightest spaces, although it all depends on their size. If there is a gap underneath your front door, consider installing a longer and thicker metal door bottom to keep the rats and mice from squeezing their bodies underneath the door and into your home. If you find random holes around the home, consider filling them with an insulating foam sealant.
Take Precautionary Measures When Traveling
Although mice and rats are two of the most common types of pests found in homes, bed bugs are a huge concern for homeowners, too. These bugs are frustrating to deal with because they spread rapidly and like to feed on human blood. They are not attracted to garbage or crumbs of food that may be found on the floor, so cleaning up often does little to help with the problem. So how exactly does someone end up with bed bugs in their home?
Over the past several years, these bugs have become even more prevalent in the United States. It is likely because more people are traveling to other countries and unknowingly bringing the bugs back in their luggage. If you are traveling, consider keeping your suitcases in sealed plastic bags throughout the trip. You may even want to empty everything out in your front yard before bringing your belongings back inside the home.
Keep Trash in a Sealed Trashcan
If you are not dealing with mice, rats, or even bed bugs, you may find yourself dealing with cockroaches. These bugs are often found in homes throughout the year, even during the colder months. The one thing about cockroaches is that they are normally attracted to any kind of food that has been left out. If there are crumbs on a table or food left to sit on the counter, the cockroaches may start coming out of nowhere. When dealing with this problem, it is often best to keep your trash in a sealed trash can, wipe down the counters regularly, and vacuum any crumbs that may be on the floor. Aside from keeping the home as clean as possible to keep the cockroaches away, there are some sprays and gels designed to kill the roaches.
Hire a Pest Control Company
If you would like to take precautionary measures, you may want to hire a pest control company to visit, inspect, and treat your home. The professionals may help you with pest prevention by making sure holes are sealed and infestations are not starting. If there is any kind of infestation developing, the professionals would be able to identify the problem and handle it accordingly. While there are some at-home pest control solutions that work well, it is always in your best interest to enlist help from experts who have a lot of experience dealing with specific types of pests.
If you would like to keep pests out of the home, there are many preventative steps you can take. Covering holes, being cautious while traveling, keeping trash sealed, and getting help from the professionals are just some of the steps you may want to start taking to keep your home protected from these common yet unwanted intruders.