Pest control is important for homeowners and it cannot be understated. It is estimated that pests such as termites can cause up to $5 billion damage annually to homeowners (PestWorld). While it is prudent to use professional pest control services, it is also important as homeowners to take steps to prevent these issues from arising in the first place, saving time and money in the process.
Pests such as ants, termites, and rodents can cause damage to your property and your health. They damage important structural properties, contaminate food and water sources, and spread diseases such as salmonella.
In this article, we will discuss ten methods you can apply to ensure the health of you and your family and prevent any infestation from occurring in the first place.
1. Maintain Cleanliness to Prevent Pest Infestations
Having a clean kitchen and proper waste management techniques are important when it comes to pest prevention. Ensure that your dishes are properly cleaned, whether it be cleaning them by hand or using the dishwasher, plates, cups, and silverware should not be left dirty for long durations. It is also important to wipe down surfaces in the kitchen itself whether it be the counter-top or the kitchen floor.
Proper waste management techniques are also important. Taking out the trash regularly, recycling what can be recycled, reducing waste in general by reusing materials are some of the techniques you can use (DoE).
2. Seal Entry Points: Protecting Your Home from Pests
Many pests such as ants and rodents enter your homes through gaps and cracks on the periphery of your home. These entrances can be your door, windows, or anywhere on the outside of your house. Sealing these entrances can be crucial for preventing certain pests from entering and causing damage.
You must first inspect the house to search for any potential entry points. Next, you must apply appropriate blocking material depending on the size of the entry point. For smaller cracks and gaps, caulk is useful, for larger cracks and gaps, foam or cement is recommended.
3. Proper Food Storage: Keeping Pests Away
Where you store your food is also very important. Pests often enter people’s homes foraging for food. This often leads to contamination of food in your house. For example, if snacks or ingredients are stored in cardboard containers, some pests can break through the cardboard and contaminate them.
Using airtight containers is an effective way to prevent food contamination. Flour, rice, and other dried food should be stored in these containers. It is also preferable if these containers are glass or metal containers as they would be impossible for pests to chew through.
4. Regular Home Inspections for Early Pest Detection
Having regular home inspections by pest control services can be of great help to homeowners. It can give them peace of mind by knowing that professional services are inspecting the house routinely to search for any signs of an infestation.
Having professional services ensures that if there is an infestation it will be identified early, thereby preventing critical damage to the property. It also helps prevent any health issues by preventing any disease spreading pests such as rats from entering or causing harm.
5. Utilize Natural Pest Repellents for a Safer Home
Natural pest repellants are also useful for repelling pests and are eco-friendly. They reduce exposure to harmful chemicals and are more effective when it comes to preventing insect-borne illnesses .
Some examples of natural pest repellants that can be used by homeowners are: citronella oil, water and vinegar, basil plants, etc.
6. Implement Physical Pest Control Methods
Physical methods can be useful for eliminating pests as well as preventing them from entering your house. Traps are a common method used—they can be used for certain pests such as mice and rats. Setting up mice traps is an effective way to get rid of them.
Barriers are also a useful method. An example of a barrier is screens placed on windows and doors that prevent pests from entering the house.
Physical methods are sometimes seen as more preferable compared to chemical methods as they are safer for the environment, can be more targeted and therefore reduce risk of harm to other organisms, and help avoid the risk of pests developing resistance to certain chemicals.
7. Chemical Pest Control: Safe Application Tips
If you decide to use chemicals, there are important safety precautions you must be aware of before proceeding to use them.
- Always read the label of each pesticide. Do not use the product for pests that are not indicated on the label and do not use more than the amount stated by the label.
- Make sure to wear protective gear, such as long sleeves and long pants, and impermeable gloves.
- Make sure to wash hands immediately after use.
- Remove children and pets away from the area until the pesticide has dried or as recommended on the label (EPA).
8. Manage Moisture Levels to Deter Pests
People may not realize this, but there is a connection between pest activity and humidity levels in the house. While there are external factors for high humidity such as climate and weather, there exists internal factors as well. Such factors include poor ventilation systems, activities such as cooking and showering using hot water, and indoor plants. Indoor plants specifically can cause increased humidity due to them releasing moisture through a process known as transpiration.
This impacts pest activity. Many pests such as insects, ants, and rodents, proliferate in high humidity since moisture is essential for their survival and reproduction. High humidity means high moisture, making the environment ideal for many types of pests (Eco Shield).
9. Landscaping Tips to Prevent Outdoor Pest Problems
There are also methods involving landscaping that can help with pest control.
Mowing your lawn and trimming bushes are effective methods as they can eliminate hiding spots and prevent easy access to your house.
Eliminating standing water such as empty containers and bird baths are also important since pests such as mosquitoes thrive in standing water (Lawn and Leisure).
10. When to Call Professional Pest Control Services
If pest infestation occurs and it becomes too intense beyond the point of DIY preventative measures, it is then advisable to call a professional service. This can be done by looking up “emergency pest control near me” and finding pest control services in your town or general area.
A pest infestation can cause serious damage to your health and property. Taking these preventative measures helps ensure that this issue never arises in the first place and if it does, you can eliminate it before it becomes more serious. However, in the case that it does become serious, it is important then to call a professional pest control service to solve the issue for you.
As residents of Aurora, it is important to be aware of these types of pests and rodents that can cause harm to your property and to your health. If an infestation has already occurred or you are generally worried about one, feel free to contact Yosemite Pest & Rodent Solutions. We offer services for pest control in Aurora and other surrounding cities in the Chicagoland area. Our phone number is (630) 779-7674.