Pest Control for Dummies

10 Tips for Home Pest Control

When your home was built it was bug free. Every bug in your home got in somehow, from a crack in the door seal or hole in the screen or via the chimney. Insects are small and can easily slip through even what might look like the smallest of holes.

Home pest control requires figuring out how pests are getting in and solving the problem before it gets worse. To prevent pests from entering your home:

Scan your house inside and out – Walk around the perimeter of your home (both inside and outside) and check for openings, small gaps, cracks and/or crevices through which bugs could enter your home. You can use caulk to fill small holes or duct tape to block them as a temporary fix.
Maintain your lawn – Remove any branches or trees hanging over your home so that bugs cannot transfer from the plant to inside. Eliminate piles of leaves or shrubbery that might invite unwanted rodents.
Repair holes, broken seals – Immediately repair holes in window screens and/or doors, and keep doors and windows without screens closed. If your family is always going in and out, consider a magnetic screen
Limit standing water, paper – Understand where bugs like to go and eliminate those sources. For example, standing water acts as breeding ground and watering hole, stacks of papers are a favorite spot for cockroaches and ants will find their way into unsealed containers of food.
Lookout for signs of issues – Be on the lookout for small issues before they become big issues. For example, if you notice a trail of ants going up the side of your house, figure out why and eliminate the problem. It’s still a problem even if they are not yet in your home.
Admit defeat when it’s time – its okay to admit defeat and hire a professional. Occasionally the bugs will win (there’s a lot more of them than you), and the only option you have left is to call a professional.
Take advantage of natural products – Use natural products to repel bugs, including fruits high in citrus (oranges, limes, and lemons), cucumbers, vinegar, cornmeal, cedar and mint. You can store herbs on windowsills and on kitchen counters as an added repellent.
Store trash properly – Store your trash properly to avoid bugs and larger critters like mice and rats. When recycling or throwing out containers, be sure to rinse before disposing them. If you keep a compost bin ensure it has a lid and is lined with a hardwire cloth.
Welcome natural predators – Create a habitat for birds and bats. They are natural predators of insects, and will reduce the number of insects that could infest your home.
Store food in airtight containers – Insects seem to have magical abilities that allow them to get into containers and baggies you thought were impossible to breach.

Pest inside your home and around the home can cause health and safety issues. If, after trying all of your home remedies to be rid of pest, your last resort would be to call a Pest Control Company.