Whether it’s in your home or business, the sight of a tiny intruder crawling or scurrying about can trigger an automatic ‘ick’ response and induce anxiety for a plethora of reasons. As a business owner, the last thing you want is for your customers to think you’re less than clean and have them run and write a bad review. Finding them in your home is no better.
The sight of an insect or mouse is enough to make you want to put up the for sale sign! A recent survey by Consumer Affairs found that most folks find ants most concerning, with spiders and roaches following closely behind.
However, you don’t need to sit idly by and watch as tiny troops take over and destroy your property. This blog will provide some simple yet helpful tips on how to keep your property well-maintained and free of pests.
1. Eliminate Standing Water
Believe it or not, standing water is a major cause of pest infestations. Like all living things, pests need water to survive. Some, like mosquitoes, need it to breed. So be sure to regularly check trash cans, flower pots, and other containers for stagnant water.
Clean gutters and drain pipes regularly, water will build up when it cannot drain.
Check your pipes and fixtures for leaks and clogs. Not only can the moisture attract pests, but it’s estimated that one in every ten U.S. households has leaky plumbing that can waste about 90 gallons of water each day.
2. Keep a Manicured Yard and Remove Debris
Pests of all types love nothing better than an unkept yard. The high grass, weeds, wood piles, and general debris make for great homes and breeding grounds for everything from spiders and mice to flies and mosquitoes.
Keeping your lawn mowed, and bushes trimmed and limiting debris can keep pests from setting up shop. According to Offgridgrandpa.com, wood chip mulch can take up to 3 to 8 years to decompose. So imagine how long pests can nest in other wood piles or branch debris!
3. Seal Entry Points
Pests are slippery little creatures that can find their way through even the tiniest of openings. Be sure to do regular inspections around windows, doors, pipes, and foundations for any cracks, gaps, and tears. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal up the areas.
4. Maintain a Clean Environment
Regular cleaning of your home or business can help reduce the chances of you ending up on a chair because you spotted a mouse or roach.
Nobody is saying you need to be a professional cleaner every day of the week, but keeping dishes out of the sink, sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming regularly can help reduce food debris that attracts bugs.
Also, wipe down counters regularly and empty trash bins daily.
5. Practice Proper Food Storage
Pests seem to be able to sniff out food from a mile away.
So you must keep food in airtight containers. This is especially true for pet food, cereal, and grains. Be mindful of the fruit you have in a bowl on the table, because one bad piece can attract a single fruit fly that can turn into hundreds within a week!
6. Appropriate Trash Disposal
Ensuring that your trash cans are cleaned regularly. Keeping them covered can help keep pests at bay. Tru to keep cans in a fenced-in area.
7. Hire Pest Control
Sometimes pests show up no matter how clean and tidy you are.
It can be due to any number of reasons including geographic location, weather conditions, and even construction. If all else has failed, consider calling a professional pest control service. They can help find the source and have the tools to fix your pest problems.
Bugs and other pests can ruin your day.
These icky creatures can carry disease, scare kids, ruin food, and make it impossible to enjoy time outdoors. But by following these tips, you can combat these creepy creatures and limit their impact on your home.