7 Pest Control Tips That All Homeowners Should Know

A pest insect next to a sign for pest control tips

There are a number of complex and expensive pest control tactics out there. However, the simplest (and cheapest) ones are also the most effective!

If you’re a homeowner who’s interested in keeping pests out of their house without breaking the bank, read on. This post covers the most efficient pest control methods that anyone can do.

1. Seal Your Windows & Doors

This might seem obvious, but it’s one of the most effective forms of pest control out there. Pests don’t need much room to gain entry into your home, and that’s an understatement. Even the smallest of openings can be enough!

Because of this, you should do your best to reduce the amount of entry points into your home. You’ll never be able to get 100% of them of course, but the more you can patch up the better.

Some of the obvious ones are your doors and windows. These are the largest openings into your home, so you want to make sure they’re not bringing in unwanted house guests!

Make sure your window edges are sealed nicely and there aren’t any holes in your screens (which is quite common). If you want to spend money there are a number of cheap ways to patch and seal these. Also, you ideally want to invest in screens that have a higher count of holes per square inch. That means smaller gaps for little bugs to crawl through.

2. Seal Your Food

At the end of the day, we all want to eat. And that includes pests. Because of this, the more inaccessible you can make your food the better.

This is especially true for rodents, who will happily set up camp in your home if they have a consistent source of food. If it’s hard for them to find something to eat, they can’t stick around.

Reassess your food storage situation and see if there are ways to seal things up more effectively. Any food that gets opened and then reused regularly (like crackers) should ideally be stored in a well-sealed bag or container. This will not only make it difficult for critters to find and access your food, but it will also help you food last longer.

The great thing about this is that it’s also very cost-effective. You can buy a bundle of containers and bags once and continually reuse them. When you compare that to the cost of other more extreme pest control methods, it’s hard to beat!

3. Keep Your House Clean!

This is another simple but effective way to reduce the chance of pests getting interested in your home. Over time it’s easy for food to build up in your home, even in places where you don’t normally eat. The occasional cookie in front of the TV could lead to little critters in your sofa if you give it enough time, so you want to view this as a house-wide mission.

Vacuum regularly and do some dusting and wiping on windows. This will cover the most likely areas where pests will be drawn, and it will also be time-efficient for you. A quick pass with the vacuum and some fast wiping of the window sills shouldn’t take long which will make you more likely to stay consistent.

Washing sheets, pillow cases, and cushion covers should also be on your list of things to do. Pull up the cushions on your couch and vacuum underneath occasionally as well (and enjoy the free money you’ll inevitably find). If you stick to these straightforward house cleaning tasks, you’ll be making your home far less appealing for pests.

4. Get Rid Of Your Trash (The Right Way)

How you handle your trash can make a big impact in your overall pest situation. And while it seems simple, many people do it wrong.

Trash is one of the most appealing things in the world for a wide range of pests. Your trash can is everything they could ever want, all in one place. That means you need to make a concentrated effort to dispose of (and handle) trash in a way that doesn’t attract critters from all over the neighborhood.

That means you should do your best to keep your trash can well-sealed and as clean as it can realistically be. If it’s hard for pests to smell and access the pets inside, you’re going to be in a far better position than most homeowners. Also, try to clean out the trash can (even though the task is a bit gross) every once in a while. You don’t want old garbage constantly wafting smells that critters want to investigate.

5. Maintain Your Yard

Keeping your yard in good shape is another highly effective method of pest control that many people overlook. This is the area where pests have the most freedom to explore, so reducing its appeal should be high on your list.

Cutting your grass short is a great place to start. This will make your lawn less pest-friendly since there will be fewer places to hide (and less moisture). It’s as simple changing a setting on your mower or asking your lawn care service to shave off an inch or two!

You should also make sure that any loose organic matter like leaves or branches are disposed of. These are natural pest magnets and can easily be removed from your yard without much effort. Spend some time doing a little weeding as well! While this might seem basic, it will make all the difference.

6. Keep Outside Items, Outside

Another fantastic way to prevent pests from entering your home is to draw a clear line between outside items and inside items. It’s incredibly easy for small critters to hitch a ride and end up inside your house.

Obviously this means storing outdoor tools like rakes and shovels outside of your home. However, you should do the same with toys (as much as possible). If that means getting two soccer balls instead of one, it’s worth it.

7. Don’t Store Firewood Near The House

This is one of the most common mistakes we see homeowners make when it comes to pest control. Everyone likes the idea of a nice cozy fire, but no one wants to hike out into the elements to get their firewood.

Because of this, many people keep a big stash of firewood right next to their house without realizing they’re inviting pests to live right next to their home. Rodents and insects love piles of firewood. In fact, outside of food there’s not much they like more!

If possible, keep your firewood away from your home. Make it a weekend project to build a little covered area where you can keep wood so it stays dry. You’ll be happy you did.

Conclusion

As you can see, pest control doesn’t have to be complex. All it takes is a little bit of discipline and knowhow to drastically reduce the amount of unwanted critters you find in your home.

These might seem a little boring, but that’s the point. Anyone can do them! There’s no point in forking over money for expensive pest control services if you can keep pests at bay for free.

If you make it a habit to stick to the principles above, we’re confident that you’ll be able to see a big change. If you have any questions about the list above, feel free to send us a message.

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