It’s always best to prevent pest problems before they happen in your home. Once they invade your yard or house, they can be difficult to get rid of and can cause health concerns like asthma. Pest prevention measures are simple, from regular cleaning of your house to removing breeding areas for these pests.
Keep in mind that these pests want food, water, and shelter. The key is to not let them feel at home by sealing up openings, avoiding exposure of food, and eliminating any dark and damp areas where they can breed. These simple tips can reduce their number and eventually keep them out.
Here’s a quick guide to prevent pests on your property:
6 DIY Tips For a Pest-Free Home
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Keep your house clean. Maintaining a clean house is one of the best ways to keep pests out. Always wipe down surfaces to keep ants away and remove dark holes that can be a breeding ground for spiders. Use natural cleaning products to clean and repel insects at the same time.
Dirty and damp places in the kitchen are where pests usually thrive. Keep your racks, counters, and drawers clean by wiping them down with a disinfectant cleaner. Always clean food particles to avoid attracting more insects.
Keep your bathroom clean and dry as well. Prevent moss growth by keeping the shower curtain dry, and make sure the drain is not clogged. These simple practices will keep your home pest-free and hygienic for a long time.
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Remove breeding areas. Your house serves as an entry point for bugs and other pests. Avoid having piles of grass clippings, leaves, or mulch away from your home as they can also serve as breeding grounds. Firewood stacks also serve as pests’ hiding places, so keep them stored away properly.
Other potential breeding areas especially for mosquitoes are birdbaths, boats, plants, buckets, and gutters. Clean them regularly and ensure the water drains well to keep mosquitoes from breeding.
You can also declutter your area to evict pests. Put away old car parts, shelves, grills, and other stuff that can serve as breeding areas for pests and other small animals.
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Do not allow water to stand. For effective mosquito control, make sure that there’s no dirty or stagnant water lying around. It can make mosquitoes breed that can cause diseases like dengue and malaria.
Keep your buckets and kitchen utensils dry especially when not in use. If you have a container under the air conditioner that catches water, ensure that it’s regularly cleaned, or you can also use a pipe to help carry water out as soon as it comes out.
You can also check your drains for any signs of damage or blockage. Contact a professional if you encounter any overflows, reflux from pipes, bad smells from the drain, or a gurgling plughole.
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Don’t let fruits and vegetables be exposed. Exposed or overripe fruits and vegetables can attract flies and other insects. Rotting fruits can also attract other pests like ants, flies, rodents, and cockroaches that can be difficult to get rid of.
Keep open food properly stored in bags or air-tight containers to avoid pests. When you go grocery shopping, you can opt for unripened produce as they’re unlikely to attract fruit flies. Also, check for any damages on packaged food that can allow pests to come through.
When your fruits and vegetables begin to ripen, consume them immediately or store them in the refrigerator for future use.
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Maintain your garden. Prune your plants regularly to prevent them from becoming too bushy. If you have a pond or water fountain nearby, clean it on a daily basis to avoid unwanted pests. You can also eliminate pests’ hiding places by cleaning up dead plants, weeds and other garden debris.
You can also use beneficial bugs in your garden. They feed on other bugs that destroy your plants and vegetables. You can purchase them and release them in the garden, or you can plant flowers that attract them like marigold, goldenrod and coneflower.
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Avoid having damp areas in your home. Pests and bugs like silverfish and centipedes prefer damp places. Fix any faulty pipes or faucets, and ensure appliances like air conditioners and washing machines are working properly.
These control measures are simple ways to avoid pests from entering your home. When left undetected, they can cause health issues to your family and pets. Bug and insect prevention is very important to avoid serious pest infestation that can contaminate your environment in the long run.