Pest Control Tips & Prevention Strategies

What is the best way to prevent pest infestation? Here are some practical pest control tips for residential and industrial properties.

In order to prevent pest infestations, it is important to adopt different prevention techniques depending on the situation.  These strategies would help keep your home free from pest activity or stop re-emergence.

These procedures are easy to implement and cost-effective yet highly effective in ridding your home of pests. As you read through, you’ll find every basic detail and more.

Tips for Pest Control

Each year, homeowners deal with a variety of pest issues that may involve flies, roaches, mosquitoes, ants, bugs, termites, flies, spiders, earwigs, and fleas.

Others include beetles, rodents, silverfish, mice, rats, insects, mosquitoes, ticks, wasps, bees, carpenter ants, crickets, moths, etc.

These and many other pests cause significant discomfort in addition to posing health risks among others.

While an existing infestation will require comprehensive treatment to eliminate the problem, preventive control tends to be the most reliable approach to keep these pests at bay.

Adopting a Broad-Based Approach to Pest Prevention

When it comes to pest prevention, the goal is to prevent any pest problem from developing.

We’ve seen that there are lots of potential pest issues that can result due to actions or inactions on your part. These mostly have to do with your level of hygiene as well as how well you store your food items.

Also, waste disposal, clogged gutters, standing water, outdoor lighting, dirty grills, wood piles & bushes and many other conditions will readily attract pests.

Effective prevention strategies require adopting a broad-based approach to keeping your home free of pests.

Pest Prevention & Infestation Control

Pest issues can be addressed by adopting a proactive approach in the form of prevention. These actions include hygiene improvement as well as basic maintenance procedures that must be done routinely.

Examples of pest preventive actions include fixing leaky pipes and keeping bushes and trees away from your structure.

Others include inspecting dried food before purchase, inspecting your home for cracks or holes, frequent vacuuming, installing window screens, and eliminating clutter.

Other pest preventive actions include removing wood scraps, frequent examination of your pets, and avoiding wood mulch materials.

You can also prevent pest issues through proper food storage, using a trashcan with tight lids, frequently emptying your trashcan, and cleaning it routinely.

Clean up after each meal and use citronella candles when resting outdoors. Let’s discuss each of these points as follows.

i. Fixing Leaky Pipes

Are there any leaks around your home? All leaks, no matter how little attract all kinds of pests. This worsens when left unattended.

Preventing this situation will require checking for leaks around appliances, faucets, and pipes and having them repaired immediately.

ii. Keeping Bushes & Trees Away from your Structure

One of the most effective ways to prevent pest problems is by clearing vegetation.

As trees grow, their branches extend and may overhang your roof, thus creating ready access to pests like rodents, etc. Have overhanging branches trimmed to keep off your roof.

Also, bushes should be cleared to keep them as far away from your structure as possible.

iii. Inspecting Dried Food before Purchase

Pantry pests like beetles, moths, and worms usually originate from contaminated or expired foods. So, during purchase, you’ll do well to inspect dried foods for holes or packaging.

Also, the shelf life of these foods is something you should be concerned about.

iv. Inspecting your Home for Cracks or Holes

Tiny cracks on walls and foundations provide access points through which pests gain entry into your home. You’ll need to inspect for these holes and cracks and have them properly sealed to prevent further entry.

v. Frequent Vacuuming

Frequent vacuuming of your carpets, rugs, and couches is one way to limit the possibility of pest infestations. This helps pick up fleas and their eggs among many other pests.

vi. Eliminating Clutter

Pests like rodents and several others love to nest around areas with lots of clutter. One preventive approach you can adopt is having your surroundings cleared of all clutter.

vii. Removing Wood Scraps

Scraps of wood lying around your home might be a ready attraction for cellulose-seeking pests like termites. Wood-boring insects also come for the feast.

Eliminate such to keep your home free of pests.

viii. Frequent Examination of Pets

Whenever your pets go out, they’re likely to return with pests especially when their outing is unsupervised. You’ll have to be attentive to these pets and check them before they get indoors.

Pests like ticks and fleas are common with pets.

ix. Avoiding Wood Mulch Materials

A lot of times, people use wood mulch materials for their landscaping needs.

These have been found to attract pests like termites among others. You might want to go for alternative mulching materials like rocks, gravel, plastic, rubber, peat moss, manure, or pine.

x. Proper Food Storage

Proper food storage helps a great deal in controlling pest presence in homes. Consider using airtight containers like Tupperware jars with rubber seals to keep your food free from pest contamination.

xi. Using a Trashcan with Tight Lids

Trashcans with tight lids are ideal for disposing of your waste. This is important as it helps keep inquisitive pets and pesky pests from getting access to content.

More importantly, it serves as a more hygienic way to dispose of your trash.

xii. Emptying your Trashcan Frequently

Your trashcan needs to be emptied frequently to prevent it from becoming an attraction to pests. Trash left for long in the can begins to decompose, thus drawing all kinds of pests for a feast.

Daily emptying of your trashcan will help.

xiii. Routine Cleaning of Trashcan

Your trashcan needs to be routinely washed to remove any stains and accumulation of debris. Also, washing helps prevent bad odors from developing.

This is a simple pest preventive action that can be added to your usual routine.

xiv. Cleaning up After Each Meal

Cleaning up after every meal is one habit you’ll need to form to keep your home free of pests. Food particles no matter how small are known to attract all sorts of pests ranging from ants, roaches, and the likes.

By washing the dishes, sweeping, mopping, and cleaning countertops, you remove the incentives for pests to be around.

xv. Using Citronella Candles Outdoors

This preventive strategy works best when relaxing or working outdoors in the evenings. The scent released by this candle helps drive away mosquitoes, thus keeping you free of bites and transmission of diseases.

There you have it! These are pest preventive measures that can be implemented to keep your home free of pest activities.

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