Whether there are many-legged bugs, mice or rats, no one likes the idea of pests overrunning their home. The good news is you can prevent this from happening on your property by following the suggestions below.
Be proactive rather than reactive
When it comes to pests, taking a proactive approach rather than a reactive one is a much more sensible idea. This means doing all that you can to prevent infestations from happening in the first place. Doing this you won’t need to worry about all the work that goes into getting rid of a pest infestation once it has become established.
One of the best ways to be proactive against pest infestation is to use repellents around your property. There are many different types you can choose from including all-natural options such as garlic, essential oils, and even vinegar.
Indeed, as a preventative method, natural repellents can work well as they tend to be less toxic around the home. Although, as always you would still need to make sure that your pets cannot get access to them.
Proper food storages
What many people do not understand is that one of the main things that attracts pests whether they be rodents or insects into the home is improperly stored food. Indeed, food left open on the counter or even inside cupboards can be too tempting a treat for pests!
With that in mind, making sure all food is properly sealed and stored away is the ideal approach. For example, if you open a box of crackers instead of just returning them to the cupboard, try to seal them up in a tin or plastic bag.
Manage your garbage effectively
Pests aren’t picky, and while they are attracted to new food, they’ll also happily consume old and waste food as well. This is why it’s so important that you properly manage your waste and garbage.
To that end, you’ll need to take your trash out regularly and clean your bin. You’ll also need to make sure that your outside garbage bins do not sit up against your house. Instead, you’ll want to leave a large gap, so even if pests are attracted to your outside bins they won’t be tempted to enter your house.
Make sure your property is properly sealed
Another issue that can bring unwanted pests to your home is to leave cracks and gaps unsealed around your property. The issue here is that pests tend to be small such as rodents or insects and so can use even the smallest gaps to get into your home.
To prevent pests from entering this way, be sure to seal up gaps and cracks whenever you can. To do this you can use things like spray foam, caulking, or filler. Typically such gaps tend to occur around the joints between the walls and floor and around any entrances such as windows or doors.
Maintain your yard
Overgrown can be a haven for bugs and other pests, making it hard to catch and easier for them to enter your home. To that end, if you want to prevent your home from getting overrun you’ll want to make sure your garden is well-maintained.
This means regularly cutting the grass, weeding, and trimming overgrown trees or bushes. Especially if the latter reaches out and touches your property in any way. Also attracting local birds to your yard can help as they will keep the bug population down.
Use insecticides
Next, if you want to ensure your home or property stays pest-free then it’s a good idea to invest in some quality insecticides. Indeed, the right type of insecticide will get rid of just about any type of bug you are dealing with.
For example, if you have an issue with bed bugs, then a specially formulated bed bug insecticide will be your go-to product. This is because it will contain a formula custom-made for targeting and effectively ridding your home of pesky bed bugs. Indeed, even though they are known to be very difficult to get rid of, a good insecticide should have your property back to normal in no time.
Take good care of your pets
One way to ensure your property does not become overrun with pests is to make sure your pets are kept as clean and healthy as possible. Indeed, by regularly grooming and treating your pets for fleas, you will help keep the chance of any infestation down.
The type of grooming and treatments that your pets will need will depend on the type of animal they are. For example, short-haired dogs may only need flea treatments at the correct times, whereas longer-haired varieties will need regular brushing to ensure their oats do not become a haven for unwanted pests.
Bait and Trap
Depending on the type of pest you are dealing with, baiting and then trapping them can be particularly effective. For instance, rodents such as mice and rats can be trapped quite easily if you use the right kind of bait. Many people think that cheese is the preferred bait to lure a rodent in, while others have had a great deal of success with peanut butter.
However, you will likely find that it will often take some trial and error to see which one appeals to them most.
When it comes to the type of trap you will use, it’s a good idea to consider the ultimate goal you are looking to achieve. If you have already spent a lot of time trying to rid your home of rodents and it’s not working, it’s best to go with a lethal trap. These are traps designed to kill anything they catch to ensure that any infestation is completely removed as quickly as possible.
A more humane alternative is to use no-kill traps which simply capture the rodents so they can be released later on. Many people prefer these as they do not want to kill the rodent. Yet it is important to remember that when the rodent is released, it must be done so far away from your property, or they can end up just coming back inside over and over again.
Also, it is crucial to remember that when using any type of trap you must go back and check them regularly either to release what they catch or to dispose of the dead rodent before it begins to smell.