How To Pest-Proof Your Home
Does your home have a pest problem? By taking a few measures, you may be able to deter these unwanted visitors. Here are just several ways to pest-proof your home.
Seal up all entrances
One way to stop pest getting in is to seal up all possible entrances. Cracks and holes in walls can be a common source for pests of all kinds. In fact, if you can stick a pencil in a crack, it could be enough for a baby mouse to enter. Caulk is the best way to seal these cracks (although bigger ones may require more professional intervention). Make sure to also seal up gaps around doors with plastic seals and consider bug screens on windows so that you can open them without letting critters in.
Use deterrent scents
Certain pests can often be deterred by certain smells. Peppermint is a great scent for deterring everything from mice to roaches. The likes of citronella can meanwhile deter mosquitoes. Eucalyptus, tea tree and cinnamon are a few other scents that many claim to help ward off pests. You can introduce these scents to your home by growing plants, lighting scented candles, using an oil diffuser or by buying scented air fresheners.
Try laying traps
You may be able to catch pests by laying certain traps. There are many humane traps available that could be worth looking into if you don’t want to kill the pests. There may even be ideas for DIY pest traps that you can look into online.
Keep your home clean
An unclean home is also more likely to attract pests. Crumbs and food spillages that are not cleaned can lure in rodents, cockroaches, flies and ants. Undisturbed clutter zones such as attics and garages can meanwhile make great places for various critters to nest. By keeping your home as clean and tidy as possible, you may be able to drive away pests.
Know when to call in the professionals
A pest problem may not always become noticeable until there is an infestation. By this point, it can often be hard to deter pests as they may have already made their home in your home. A professional pest control service could be worth seeking out in order to eliminate any nest. This can be particularly recommended with dangerous pests like wasps or venomous spiders. Some pest control services may also be able to offer assistance for specific local problems such as bed bugs control or termite control. Do your research online in order to find a reputable pest control service in these situations.
Consider getting a cat
Having a pet cat can reduce your risk of attracting pests. Cats tend to scare off rodents and other critters. You may also find that having a dog achieves this.
