Now that spring has finally decided to grace us with its presence we can put away our sweaters and snow boots, while our thoughts turn to warm weather fun. Spring did not arrive alone, though, along with the April showers and May flowers, it bring a host of pests to invade your home, pester your family, and bother your pets. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, you can start now to prepare for these unwanted visitors and take away the welcome mat for household pests.

Points of Access

Pests can get into your home in a variety of ways. Roaches can get in through the tiniest holes and mice can come in under doors or through cracks as small as a half an inch. Use 20 mesh screens on your windows and doors as well as on ventilation openings. Make sure that screens don’t get any holes or rips. Keep in mind, though, that some tiny pests can get through the mesh.

Check all of your exterior entry doors and repair the thresholds as well as install door sweeps. You don’t want light or a breeze to be able to penetrate the base of your exterior doors. Cracks (even small ones) around doors, windows, and fascia boards should be repaired. Also make sure that any entry points for wires, pipes, laundry vents, gas meters, and outdoor faucets are sealed.

Sanitation and Cleanliness

Inside the home, make sure that you do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight and don’t leave standing water. Thoroughly clean all food preparation areas, including under the kitchen appliances and behind them. Vacuum or sweep all food particles or crumbs. Also keep your pet food dishes clean. Take out your garbage frequently and store it outside in a sealed container with a lid until trash pick-up.

Outside your home, you want to eliminate and heavy vegetation that butts up against the house. Dense plants, ivy, bushes, or trees that are right up against the house might look pretty, but they are a haven for insects. Mosquitos will tend to congregate in heavy vegetation so move it away from the house, thin it out, or remove id completely. Birds are natural pest control experts so if you can attract some into your yard you could have fewer pests.

Call a Pest Professional

Don’t wait until pests get out of hand before calling in the professional. If you have eliminated the points of access, cleaned up well, and removed insect attractants from outside and you are still seeing pests in your home, call a pest professional. They can help you find things around you home that you may have missed and they have access to pesticides that are safer but more potent than what you can get on the shelves (many insects, especially roaches, develop immunity to many store bought pesticides). Just call a pest professional and they will get the job done, ridding your home of those creepy, crawly, unwelcome guests.

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