10 Effective Pest Control Tips: Safeguarding Your Home and Health

Though it is cliche, your home should literally be your castle. This means that it should be the ideal setting where the family can spend time together without any stress or anxiety. You work hard to ensure that this is the case and you definitely do not want your environment threatened by insects, rodents, or pests of any kind. There are many things that you can worry about as you manage your home or business affairs, but exterminating should not be one of those things. Yet, no matter how much you try to avoid it, there will probably come a time when you will see signs of pest infestation. When that occurs, there are a variety of reasons why you should call a professional to handle your issues.

Best Ways to Prevent Your Home Against Pests

1. Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy

A clean and organized home serves as the primary defense against pests. Regularly clean floors, countertops, and surfaces to remove food crumbs and spills. Dispose of trash promptly and properly. Declutter living spaces to minimize potential hiding spots for pests.

2. Seal Entry Points

Inspect your home for any cracks, gaps, or holes in walls, windows, doors, and foundations. Seal these entry points to prevent pests from invading your home. Use weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps effectively, ensuring a tight seal.

3. Properly Store Food and Pet Supplies

Store food in airtight containers to prevent pests, such as ants and rodents, from accessing it. Clean up pet food dishes promptly after feeding and store pet food in sealed containers as well. Avoid leaving food or water dishes out overnight.

4. Install Window Screens and Door Sweeps

Use fine mesh window screens to keep flies, mosquitoes, and other insects outside. Install door sweeps at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent pests from sneaking in under the gaps.

5. Treat the Root Cause and Not Just the Symptoms

There are many ways that you can treat a pest problem with do-it-yourself techniques and products, but your solutions will probably be only temporary and not provide any future security. However, a professional pest control technician understands how to eliminate your pests and the tools and methods to use to prevent their reentry. The technician will investigate your premises to find all the access points and properly seal them so that they will be secure in the future.

6. Use Safe and Eco-Friendly Chemicals

A research study reported that the incidence of childhood cancers greatly increased due to the use of insecticides. It takes a professional to use only family and pet-friendly products and to propose other long-term solutions. Also, different geographical areas present specific types of problems, but a pest control company can eliminate your specific pests and provide the annual protection that you need. To find a company that offers the services you need, search online in a particular area. For example, if you are in Las Vegas, you could research a company like Moxie Pest Control from the long list of local professionals.

7. Regularly Inspect and Clean Storage Areas

Attics, basements, and garages are common hideouts for pests. Regularly inspect these storage areas and clean them thoroughly to discourage pest infestations.

8. Protect Your Property

One of the reasons that it is important to rid your building of any pests immediately upon seeing them is that they can create considerable damage to your property. Termites can eat through the building’s foundation, rodents chew through insulation and electrical wiring, moths will destroy linens and clothing, and a collection of insects such as roaches and large ants can clog pipes and other drainage systems. Some pests, like termites and bed bugs, must be removed professionally to stem the damage as quickly as possible and to ensure that they do not return. The best pest management systems are those that are annual prevention plans. Some of these contracts may be costly but this type of annual service is actually less expensive than the costs of repairing the damage caused by untreated pest problems.

9. Eliminate Health Hazards

One of the most important reasons to eliminate pests from your home or business is to keep your family and employees healthy. Most insects and rodents carry diseases that can be easily transmitted to humans and pets. Children are especially susceptible to these conditions. Also, pests can infect your food in a way that you may not be able to detect. If you use certain poisons, there is no guarantee that the pests will leave your home. In fact, it is more likely that they will die within your walls and ceilings leaving an odor. Regular pest control service often includes treating the exterior of your building. You may not think this is important but mosquitos and ticks carry Lyme disease and other viruses that are very debilitating.

10. Seek Professional Pest Control Services

If your efforts to control pests prove ineffective, consider seeking help from professional pest control services. Expert exterminators have the knowledge and tools to handle infestations safely and effectively.

The Bottom Line

A regular year-round pest management plan conducted by a professional relieves a great deal of stress. The contract includes scheduled inspections and an on-call service in case there are any issues. Believe it or not, pests adapt and learn, and the company you hire must use the latest techniques to stay one step ahead. If you leave the service in the hands of professionals, you will be pleased with the results.