5 ways your home is attractive to pests

Are you getting unwanted pests in your home?  By avoiding these pitfalls, you can have a pest free home and help maintain a safer home for you and your family. Here are 5 ways your home is attractive to pests and preventative tips you can use to stop these bugs from entering your home:

Moisture

The one thing we don’t typically consider when facing a pest problem is the fact that these bugs need water just as much as we do. Excessive humidity, leaky pipes, and overall dampness in the home can bring about a continuous pest problem. Make sure you take care of leaks as quickly as possible so you don’t provide water for a variety of pests. Cockroaches and rats are especially attracted to damp areas. Termites eat wood that’s been damaged by moisture. Even small amounts dripping from an air conditioner unit may attract wasps that are foraging for water.

Any standing water that is undisturbed for more than a week can be a major breeding spot for mosquitoes. Keep your lawn and garden free of debris, and be sure to remove standing water. Unused drains create a slimy film that creates an ideal breeding spot for drain flies. Repair any leaking pipes, drains, and fixtures.

Food and Dirty dishes

Keep your home clean of any crumbs and spillages. Insects and rodents are attracted to a good supply of food. Make sure you dispose of the leftovers and keep the food areas clean. Even a clean house can still have tidbits here and there that attract unwanted guests. Sweet foods like sugar in paper packaging, and crackers in cardboard packages will always be a point of attraction for rodents, who can easily nibble through paper and cardboard to find themselves a sweet treat. Even the smallest crumbs will continue to attract pests to your home.

Not many people like cleaning the dishes so we leave them in the sink. Unfortunately, when we do that, we leave food for insects and other critters. Make sure you keep the sink empty and clean. Make sure to also wipe down counters surfaces in the kitchen and store away open food into sealed plastic or glass containers.

Trash and recycling

Get rid of any trash lying around as this can attract pests. The smell can draw in pests from far and wide to provide them a source of food. Avoid infestations by properly bagging and sealing garbage and storing it in closed containers. Keeping the trash can lid shut can help, but it would be even better to take the trash outside as soon as it’s full.

Clutter

Clutter does not need to contain food for it to be attractive to pests. Disorganized messes are difficult to keep dust-free and clean and pests like spiders, rodents, and cockroaches live in dark, cluttered spaces like boxes lying around. They can hide out while staying warm and dry. Termites will feast on the glue that binds cardboard boxes, and cockroaches and silverfish love paper products too. If you have objects you don’t use every day, store them in seal containers or containers. If the objects aren’t important or don’t bring you joy, it may be time to throw them away altogether.

Cracks and holes

Tiny cracks and holes around your home can give pests an open door to get inside. A mouse only needs a quarter-inch opening to get inside your home. Holes in your siding or gaps under the door are easy entry points. Plug cracks with silicone caulk, steel wool, or expandable foam sealant. Seal up gaps under doors, holes where wires and pipes come through, and cracks in your baseboards. Since the space inside the hole cannot normally be reached by you, pests will hide in that space. These cracks are often used by insects as their home. And if these spaces are larger, they can also be used by rodents. Make sure you fill all the holes and cracks so that pests don’t find adequate space to hide.

Damaged window screens are a great way for pests to enter your home. Inspect your screens and repair any tears or gaps regularly to prevent pests from coming in. If you want to keep tiny insects out, you must ensure that your window and door screens don’t have any holes. Even a fully functional screen that has not been completely closed will pose the same threat as damaged screens. So when opening and closing door screens and window screens, ensure they are fully closed. Replacing the rubbery bottom of exterior entrances can stop ants, cockroaches, and crickets in their tracks.

Contact a professional pest control company

If your home is attractive to pests and you’re still having trouble getting rid of them even after using the above tips then call a pest control company like competitive pest services.

With our expertise, we are trained to provide you with the best service and most efficient solutions to your pest problems. Call us at 1300 766 614 to help you today.