Imagine this scenario; important people are visiting your home, and as they are about to sit down on the sofa, they see a cockroach scurrying between their legs. This is one of the most dreadful things that can happen when you have people over. And the only way to ensure this horrific scenario never happens is to implement preventive pest control techniques. Today, we’ll be looking into 10 pest prevention tips and methods that can protect your home from pests.
Properly Store Trash
When it comes to attracting pests, litter and trash are the prime culprits. If you ask anyone for pest prevention tips, this is the first thing they’ll say. Inadequate trash management invites pests to feast on garbage and fester. Edible material, particularly, has a strong impact on drawing bugs and pests to the house. Neglect is the root of this problem, and you can easily protect your home from pests if proper storage measures are taken. First of all, lids should always be closed not to attract bugs. Furthermore, trash cans should have waste bags in them to easily dispose of each night. This will also prevent any spillage and/or accumulation of junk on the inner sides of the bin.
Clean Drain Pipe
Keeping in tune with cleanliness, a good way to protect your home from pests is cleaning out the pipes of your home. This includes pipes in the kitchen, bathroom and even the dining room sink. Pipes have the habit of accumulating debris and gunk that attract pests, creating the ideal breeding ground for bugs. These pipes also work as conduits for pests to spread throughout the flat. A quick cleaning of the pipes will prevent a pest infestation from occurring. Pouring down a mixture of boiling water, vinegar and detergent will clear out grease or such material. You can also use conventional drain cleaners to get rid of gunk from the pipes.
Seal Openings
Every home is filled with utility installations such as pipes, phone wiring, or internet cables. More often than not, you have to drill through walls to get these cables in their proper place. If these openings are not properly sealed, they create a gateway for pests to enter your flat. They can get inside no matter how small the gap is. A little bit of cement or plaster can be applied around the cables or pipes to seal the openings permanently. It is better to seal these gaps all the way through to ensure maximum pest control.
Replace Door Frames
This is one of the most overlooked ways to protect your home from pests. Very few people think about door frames as a possible pest infestation location. In most cases, there isn’t anything to worry about; especially if you buy a new flat. However, with time, moths can hollow these wooden frames out and make a home for themselves. It becomes their breeding center, and moths pour out from time to time to create disarray. This is a common phenomenon during rain. It’s best to replace the wooden frames altogether as soon as they start showing signs of possible infestation. The cost is well worth it to maintain the integrity and beauty of the home.
Wax Wooden Furniture
While taking care of wooden door frames, you should also take measures to protect your wooden furniture from pest infestation. Wax polishing is a great technique for increasing the longevity of wooden items as well as protecting them from pests. And it’s not just furniture; wooden home decor items benefit from a wax coating too. Termites can eat away and damage these items from the inside. The coating keeps away termites from easily penetrating wooden objects; which is why it’s a good idea to apply a second coat to ensure not even the tiniest spots are missed.
Use Nets on Windows
Even though it might seem a little on the nose, but, most pests will enter apartments through open windows. We tend to keep our windows open at all times to let fresh air come in. That, however, also becomes in invitations for bugs to come in. This creates a dilemma. No one wants to keep a gateway open for pests to fly in; nor do we want a stuffy home by keeping windows sealed all day. The best way for pest proofing and to get out of this without sacrificing anything is to install nets on windows. Sadly, it is one of the more underutilized pest prevention tips that people employ. These nets will prevent any pests from entering your home while keeping the flow of air uninterrupted.
Strong Smell
Smell is one of the most powerful preventive pest control elements people can utilize. It is also one of the best pest prevention tips out there. This is an age-old method that most households use. A very familiar example of this is the coils we burn to keep away mosquitoes. We have also often seen little round white balls on sinks. These little naphthalene balls work wonders to prevent pests from climbing up drain pipes. And when it comes to pest prevention tips, burning incense is another great way to keep bugs out.
Houseplant Maintenance
Houseplants, which are a staple of green home design, can be a source of pest infestation if not properly maintained. If a houseplant gets attacked by pests, they can quickly spread throughout the apartment. Periodically washing the plants, clearing out weeds and refreshing the ground can be good measures of pest control. Many people also use pest control sprays to safeguard plants.
Moisture control
Did you ever notice that on hot and humid days there are more bugs than usual? Pests love humid homes and will definitely try to enter it. A 70%-80% humidity level is perfect for bugs to thrive. You need moisture control to counter this unpleasant scenario and protect your home from pests. Research has found that bugs die out when humidity levels drop below 60%. Air conditioning is very effective for this. But, if you don’t want to spend so much on electricity, you can go for a dehumidifier. They are great to control the moisture in your home.
Natural Tricks
There are so many natural tricks to pest control that we would need to create a new article just to list them! You can prevent virtually any type of pest infestation with some form of natural item. Sprinkling cinnamon around points of entry can prevent bugs from entering; while mint leaves are fantastic for repelling moths. Combining a few items together can also produce some amazing effects. For example, a paste made by combining two tablespoons of turmeric powder with water is excellent for driving away spiders.
The last thing you want in your home is a pest infestation. By following these simple pest prevention tips, you too can have a beautiful and elegant home all year round.
Which technique works best for you to protect your home from pests? Let us know in the comment section.
