How to Protect Your Home From Pests

Courtesy Cleaners Cleaning

Animals and all kinds of pests may have access to your home. Before you freak out, you should probably consider that many households face the same problem and there is probably nothing about your home that is drawing them. Most commonly pests visit in search of food, but in some cases they access your home because of the warmth and better conditions inside.

Where are they coming from?

One of the most important things to consider about pests is how they gain access to your home. It can be quite frustrating sometimes, especially if you have taken care of the trash properly, you do your cleaning routines regularly and your walls appear to be solid. What you need to consider is that even tiny passageways make great entrance points for certain pests. Insects for example sneak through miniscule cracks, making bug-proofing all the more difficult. Careful examination of your exterior may reveal such openings. Take your time and be patient. Consider home cleaning, as often times such flaws in the integrity of your house are hidden beneath a layer of dust or other spoils.

If you want to protect your home from pests, you can follow these suggestions:

Deal with gaps

As it was already mentioned, some pests find their way in your home through various gaps that may be present around the building. Be especially careful around doors and windows. Such flaws will not only compromise your home and make an open invitation for pests, but also make heating ineffective. With colder months approaching, it is a good idea to seal all cracks, holes and other openings around your windows, basement sashes and doors with adhesive-backed weatherstripping. Always remember that a good cleaning of the surface is required first, so that the material will adhere well. The dryer vents are yet another location you should inspect for gaps. Check the damper to ensure that it's not damaged or broken off. The seal between the vent and the wall must be intact as well. Get a caulk gun and use it to fill any gaps between the trim and siding of your home. Acrylic latex caulk works great for this task. Bring a wet cloth with you to perform some cleaning service for stray caulk. See if there are any gaps between the foundation and siding joints of your home. If you see any, use some copper mesh and a screwdriver and then seal with expanding foam sealant.

Taking care of cockroaches

The main counter to roaches is dealing with their food. That means cleaning every crumb and speck is a must. Inspect your pantry, drawers, shelves, appliances, under your sink and over countertops - any place where food leftovers may be present. Remember that you should store any food in a container, be it plastic or other. Apart from food, roaches need water, so any drippy faucets and leaky pipes should be fixed. Keep your pet's water bowl elevated. Use boric acid pesticide as a long-lasting tool against roaches.

Keeping spiders in check

If spiders in the basement are giving you the creeps, there are some steps you can take to reduce their numbers. Sweeping down any cobwebs as they appear is a good way of keeping the situation in check. If such cleaning service alone doesn't work, you can take on a more drastic approach. Get a dehumidifier and use it to maintain a humidity level of 40%, which will cause even a large spider population to diminish in few weeks.

Keep pesky raccoons out

Raccoons like to eat just about anything, so an overflowing garbage can is like an open invitation for them. Add a vegetable garden in your backyard and you really have a flashy sigh 'open' above your home for just about any raccoon within the area. The thing about these creatures is that they learn to ignore chemical, noise, water and light repellents. Making your home inaccessible works better in the long run. Here are few steps you can take in that direction: cut overhanging tree branches; install a chimney cap; cover fish ponds with netting and secure your trash can; fence vegetable gardens.

Trap mice

While it is true that snap-traps may seem a bit cruel, they are in fact a very effective way to take care of the problem. That is mostly because you can toss the dead mice in the garbage and not worry about rotting smell if they die from chemical poisoning or other such slow-working repellent. The best location to place traps is along the walls, as mice like to feel their way when they are moving. Try to be on the lookout of brown pellets, which are indication of where mice have been wandering.

Protect your yard from moles

These creatures are nearly insatiable when it comes to worms and grubs, so they find well-watered lawns perfect for their meal. A single mole may devastate a whole yard in no time, so it's important to look into the problem in time. Luckily, they don't have too large population, so often time catching even one is enough. Live traps work well - simply dig and set a bucket below the tunnel level. Cover the hole with plywood or sod and check daily to see if the mole is caught.

Follow these methods and techniques for coping with pests around your home. Take your time in locating the problem areas and remember that you don't have to be too drastic in your countermeasures. You can find more interesting domestic cleaning ideas on: cleanerscleaning.org.uk