Creepy crawling critters are the worst. They wreak havoc wherever they decide to invade, leaving behind a trail of destruction. And once they enter your home, you can kiss goodbye to your peace of mind. So, how do you best deal with those unwelcomed invaders?
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. There are steps you can take to keep bugs and pests away from making a mockery of your living space. Here are a few helpful tips.
Knock Them Dead
Bugs come by the thousands. Insects make up the most populous group of living creatures on the planet with an estimated one million species. So, when they attack, they bring all their family and friends and then some. And once they’re in, they take over quite rapidly.
One of the most infamous home invaders is the annoying cockroach. It’s one of the most challenging bugs to get rid of, but you can keep everything in check using roach killers. The best roach killers are safe to use and come in a variety of forms, including gels, tablets, powders, or sprays, while offering effective results. So, get those roaches before they get your home.
Set Up Traps
Sometimes, it’s not just little bugs that infiltrate your home. There are times when you get significantly larger unwelcomed guests who are equally as destructive. Mice might move in to add to your pest woes alongside other bugs. Putting traps in strategic locations around your home could be a great way to stop the barrage of invaders.
When dealing with mice, you’ll want to employ the use of mouse traps to get the job done. The best mouse traps offer an effective kill rate with a mess-free cleanup while also incorporating a robust design that can last you for years to come. If you prefer a poison-free alternative, then glue traps are an excellent option for eliminating pests.
Put Up Screens
A majority of homes rely on natural ventilation from windows or doors to add some fresh air into the house. During those summer months, in particular, ventilation becomes a necessity. But summer also creates the perfect conditions for a variety of bugs to breed, meaning there’s a higher likelihood of infestation. Those handy ventilation inlets suddenly turn into a gateway for pests to enter.
Suddenly, you find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you want to enjoy the fresh air without the inconvenience of letting bugs in. Installing screens on your windows and doors offer an easy solution. Ideally, choose a screen with a fine mesh to keep out even the tiniest pests. On the plus side, installing screens is a straightforward DIY exercise that requires minimal tools, so you end up saving on labor costs.
Seal Any Cracks
Bugs come in all sorts of sizes, with some being nearly undetectable to the naked eye. And given that wear and tear take their toll on even the best-built homes, cracks inevitably begin to form. Any nooks and crannies in your home provide an easy access route for bugs to enter your home.
That’s why it’s important to seal cracks as soon as they begin to form. Examine your house and look out for any damaged sections. Once you identify these spaces, fill them up with mortar. You could also opt to replace parts of rotten wood or damaged cladding.
Keep Your Yard Neat
An unkempt yard is like a big welcome sign for bugs. Tall grass and bushes growing out of control all create an excellent breeding ground for insects. Pooled water is another way to encourage insects, especially mosquitoes, to set up camp in your backyard. That’s why a bit of yard maintenance can go a long way.
Get rid of stagnated water as soon as it forms. Also, trim your grass at least once every week (twice a week during the rainy season) to keep your lawn at a decent height. If you’ve planted bushes around your house, keep them short and neat to eliminate the chances of bugs breeding there. Maintaining a well-kept yard is an easy and effective way to keep the bugs away.
Stash the Trash Properly
Taking out the trash is one of those chores no one enjoys doing, but it’s necessary. Trash often contains all sorts of stuff from discarded food containers to used bottles. The little bits of food and drink left in these discarded items are a sort of buffet for insects, and they’re more than happy to indulge.
To keep insects from infiltrating into your trash, you need to store and handle your refuse carefully. It’s best to use a recyclable polyethylene bag to avoid spillage. Additionally, use a trash can with a lid to help seal the trash can when not in use. If you notice the trash can starting to reek, then take it out as soon as possible to avoid the foul smell attracting insects.
Repair Leaking Pipes
With time, pipes age and start to leak. If you carry out a random inspection on your home, you’ll probably notice one or two leaking pipes. Aside from wasting a significant amount of water each year, leaking pipes also increases the probability of pests invading your home. Reason? Well, bugs need water just as much as any other living thing.
If you notice a couple of bugs around a leaking pipe, then it’s time to act before the situation gets out of control. Some leaks happen out of sight, say underneath your floorboards or behind your walls where piping passes. The worst-case scenario is you’ll have to hire a contractor to come in and fix all the leaking. However, for smaller localized leaks, then you can take a hands-on approach and fix it up before any bugs decide to move in.
Having your home invaded by bugs can destroy your home’s image and also damage yours. So, don’t wait for the bugs to gate crash your home. Follow these tips to ensure your home remains bug-free. By keeping bugs out, you’ll end up saving time and resources as well as maintaining your peace of mind.
Resources— How Stuff Works, Pests in the Home, Arco Plumbing