Tips On Controlling Household Pests

Pests and rodents aren’t simply a nuisance. Apart from the fact that they are irritating and yucky to have around the home, they can severely affect your health and the health of your family.

Here are some general tips to prevent household pests and rodents from entering and staying in your home:

STEP 1:Make Sure Your House Is Clean and Dry

– Many insects and rodents are attracted to food and water, so start off by making your home less enticing to pests.

– Wipe up spills immediately with soap and water.

– Take out garbage daily and keep garbage cans clean of food residue.

– Keep ripe fruit in the fridge.

– Wash dishes daily, or at least submerge them in soapy water until you can get to them.

– Make sure all food and beverage containers outside the fridge or freezer are tightly sealed. Glass jars with rubber seals or plastic containers with tight snap-on lids are better than screw-top jars.

– Sweep and vacuum your floors regularly.

– Keep bathroom and kitchen areas as dry as possible. Fix leaky faucets and don’t let standing water accumulate.

– If you have a pet, comb it regularly with a flea comb and wash its bedding frequently. Be sure to vacuum floors, rugs and upholstery your pet comes in contact with regularly. (Click here for more information on pesticides and pets.)

STEP 2: Seal Entryways

– Deny access to new invaders by making sure potential entry points are sealed off.

– Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks and crevices in baseboards, moldings, cupboards, pipes, ducts, sinks, toilets and electrical outlets.

– Place screens in front of heating and cooling vents, and repair holes in any existing screens. The average mouse found in homes can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime!

– Keep vegetation, stacked firewood and other debris away from the exterior of your house so pests can’t climb up and in.

STEP 3: Try Chemical-Free Strategies

Now that you’re denying pests food, shelter and access, it’s time to put the squeeze on any lingering intruders. To solve your pest problems without using chemical pesticides, you can:

– Vacuum for individual bugs or nests (bugs will usually suffocate in the bag)

– Lay traps (flytraps, jar traps, pheromone traps, light traps, etc.)

Source: nrdc.org