Summers are for pool parties, backyard cookouts, water sports, and heading to vacation destinations. Unfortunately it is also the peak season for pesky, crawly, squirmy pests to enter your home in search for food, water, and shade. To ensure a pest-free and enjoyable summer season, it's essential to take proactive measures to keep unwanted critters at bay.
Let’s take a look at some valuable pest control tips to help you prepare your home and protect it from the invasion of pests.
Seal Entry Points
Inspect your home thoroughly for any potential entry points that pests might use to get inside. Common access areas include gaps around doors and windows, cracks in the foundation, and openings around utility pipes. Seal these gaps using caulk (a waterproof filler and sealant), weather-stripping (material in the form of a strip that is put around doors and windows ), or mesh screens to prevent pests from entering your living spaces.
Keep a Clean Kitchen
Pests are often attracted to the kitchen due to the abundance of food sources. Ensure that all food items are stored in airtight containers, and clean up spills and crumbs immediately. Regularly clean kitchen appliances, such as stovetops, ovens, and microwaves, to eliminate food residues that can attract pests. Also, a trash can filled with food scraps is a goldmine for pests. Empty your kitchen trash regularly and use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid to keep pests out. If possible, store the trash can away from the kitchen, preferably in a sealed outdoor bin.
Declutter and Organize
Piles of clutter, whether it's stacks of paper, cardboard boxes, or unused items, offer pests the perfect place to nest and breed. Rodents, insects, and other pests seek shelter in dark, undisturbed areas, making cluttered spaces like basements, attics, and storage rooms ideal environments for them to thrive unnoticed. When your living spaces are cluttered and disorganized, it becomes harder to identify signs of a pest infestation. Pests can remain hidden among the mess, making it challenging to spot their droppings, chewed wires, or damaged belongings. Early detection of pests is crucial for timely intervention and preventing infestations from spreading.
Regular Pest Inspections
The most important way to protect your home from pests this summer is to have pest inspections conducted by a professional pest control service. Professional pest services take a proactive and effective approach to pest management. These inspections involve trained experts thoroughly assessing your property for any signs of pest activity and potential vulnerabilities. One of the primary advantages of regular pest inspections is early detection. Trained pest control technicians know where to look for signs of infestation, even in hidden or hard-to-reach areas. By identifying pests at the early stages, you can address the issue before it becomes a full-blown infestation, saving you time, money, and potential damage to your property.
During inspections, pest control professionals can accurately identify the type of pests present on your property. Different pests require specific treatment approaches, and by knowing precisely what you're dealing with, the pest control experts can apply targeted solutions that are safe and effective for the specific pests in question. Professional pest inspections provide a comprehensive assessment of your property's pest vulnerabilities. The technicians will inspect both the interior and exterior of your home, including crawl spaces, attics, basements, foundations, and other potential entry points. They will look for gaps, cracks, and any structural issues that could allow pests to access your home.
One such expert at dealing with pests is Ridaway. They use biologically friendly pesticides that leave your home safe to return to. The best part? They are state licensed and industry certified.