Pests—is there anything more annoying than finding ants or rodents making a home in your kitchen, basement, or attic? We say no! These pesky buggers can find the tiniest gap in our homes and, within minutes, get inside.
If only there were ways to help stop them in the first place. Thankfully, there are! These are ways to prevent pests from entering your house.
Repair Torn Screens
When the weather permits, it’s wonderful opening the windows and allowing the fresh air to move through the house. These open windows enable pests to enter if your screens have tears or holes. Take time to replace or repair all the torn screens on your windows if you want to open them. Repairs don’t take much time. If you’re dealing with a damaged frame, it’s best to replace it.
Stay on Top of Cleaning
Pests feel less compelled to enter homes without food crumbs or sticky spots left on the counters or floors. Sweep, mop, and clean up after preparing food to keep food particles and debris to a minimum in your home. Vacuum areas where you eat or have carpeting to eliminate tempting pests. The more regular you are about cleaning, the less attractive your house will be to rodents and insects.
Keep an eye out as you’re cleaning for potential problem areas. Look for little cracks or crevices where pests can sneak in unnoticed. The sooner you find these issues and fix them, the better.
Check for Gaps and Cracks
Routinely inspect the inside and outside of your home for any gaps, crevices, and cracks that form. Pay attention to the roof and look for shingles or loose siding. You might notice some areas where the foundation settled.
On the inside of your home, check around the cabinets, stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher for any gaps. These are all perfect examples of areas pests love to utilize to enter the house. And once one little animal finds an opening, they all follow!
The attics is another place pests love to hang out in. Head up there to check for holes or signs the vermin are present. These annoying insects and rodents can affect the lifespan of your insulation, so it’s good to check up there frequently. Plus, you could find other issues to deal with, such as moisture or mold.
Clean the Drain
Over time, floor and sink drains accumulate debris. This leftover waste is a happy place for pests. You could end up with a breeding site for small flies. Ew. Dump baking soda and vinegar down the drains to flush out the clogs naturally. The foaming action will eliminate the problem, and you can smile knowing the flies are gone. Ensure you do this to all drains in the house, not only the kitchen sink.
After following the advice above, you can take a deep breath, knowing you’ve done what you can to prevent pests from entering your home. Later on, if you find yourself dealing with annoying insects or rodents, circle back to this article to find direction on getting rid of them once more.
