Few things can ruin the otherwise dreamy nature of a house quite like a pest infestation. When fleas, roaches, mice, or other pests are overrunning your home, it’s hard to feel safe and comfortable. Cockroaches are especially frustrating to deal with, and to get rid of, after all. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to prevent pests from becoming a problem, as long as you know where to start. If you’re looking to pest-proof your home, here is a handy homeowner’s cockroach and pest prevention guide to kick off your efforts:
Begin Outside of Your Home
Many pest infestations begin outside of your house. Standing water sources, poorly trimmed bushes, debris, trash, and food waste can all create issues that will attract pests to your home (especially when it comes to rodents and roaches). Firewood can be an issue as well, as some wood attracts the type of household pests (including termites) that you do not want within even a mile of your home. When it comes to protecting your foundation from pests, you must keep any mulch you lay down at least six inches away from your home’s foundation. The outside of your home’s condition is your first line of defense against pesky pests, so making sure you take this section of the prevention guide in a deadly serious fashion is highly recommended. After all, the outside of your home is key to getting rid of roaches overnight and protecting your sanity.
Cracks and Entry Points are Key
Once we get past the exterior of your home, we have to begin thinking about entry points, cracks in doors, and cracks in the floor and foundation of your home that will potentially allow pests into your home. Sealing crevices, cracks, and entry points leading into your home will all be especially critical when protecting your property from cockroach and rodent infestations. Weatherstripping is one of the top causes that can lead to the breakdown of sealed entry points and cracks, so staying on top of these repairs is a must. Check for holes around pipes, light fixtures, and your foundation to be extra sure that your home is protected. If you do so effectively, you’ll be ready to move on to pest-proofing the inside of your home.
Food Sources and Messes Inside the Home
Even if you do everything in your power to prevent them from finding a way in, the occasional pest will find their way into your residence. To keep them from sticking around long enough to cause further problems, or to start breeding within your house, you need to make sure you’re keeping the place as clean as humanly possible. Cleaning up food messes, food waste, clutter, and any standing water in your home becomes especially critical to this step. Many common pests, including mice and cockroaches, prefer to eat at night, so cleaning up before you hit the sack is highly recommended. If you slack off and leave partially empty food containers and soda cans laying around, you’ll soon find yourself being overrun by flies and other insects.
Reducing and Eliminating Water Sources
Moisture is precious to many pests, especially standing sources of water that contain extra bacteria and nutrients that they crave. Sweaty pipes, leaky faucets, non-emptied bathroom sinks, water build-up, and other water issues within your home (or outside of it), will all significantly increase your chances of gaining a pest problem. However, this is also the most straightforward area of this pest prevention guide, so simply stay on top of your home’s water, and you’ll be safe. By checking on the status of your pipes and other water sources to ensure they are in safe working condition, you’ll also ensure that you do not have a potentially-costly problem waiting to creep up on you later on. If you plan on selling your home down the road, you’ll need to perform this maintenance once a year at a minimum.
Clutter is Your Enemy
Beyond the food messes we mentioned earlier, many other types of clutter and trash build-up can attract pests. Insects, mice, and other pests can make meals out of styrofoam and other materials that we never even consider as being food, after all. Be sure to do extra cleaning behind tv stands, couches, and other spaces that rarely see the light of day, as the messes are more likely to attract pests in these areas. A solid spring cleaning session throughout your home each year will prove especially helpful, and will greatly boost your chances of keeping your home pest-free.
Prevent Pest Problems Now
With the right grit and determination, you’ll easily implement these prevention steps, and protect your home from annoying, potentially-costly pest problems. Remember to stay patient and vigilant, and you’ll handle pest-proofing like a professional. As you handle these important pet-prevention tips, you’ll make your house feel extra clean and comfortable as well, so stop waiting and prevent pest problems now!
