Pests will seek out the protection of your house in the same way that you do. Home improvement projects and basic maintenance tasks can help you keep them out. Get started on these 12 projects today to keep your home free from nuisance insects, spiders, rodents, and snakes this year.
1. Seal Garbage and Recycling Containers
Your trash may be a pests treasure, so keep any containers sealed. Mice, raccoons, flies and yellow jacket wasps will all be attracted to decaying food in household cans. Outside bins are a potential hazard too. Stagnant water in outdoor trash pails can quickly become a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
2. Install Weatherstripping
If you can feel a draft around your windows or doors, then you have a space big enough to let insects and spiders through. Add weatherstripping around these areas to help keep them sealed against the elements and nuisance pests.
3. Fill Foundation Cracks
A common house mouse can get through a hole the size of a dime, so any cracks bigger than about a quarter of an inch are possible entry points. Foundation repair products are available in tubes that can be applied with a caulking gun for small cracks. You may want to hire a contractor to address larger ones.
4. Organize the Pantry
Food is a nearly universal pest attractant. Take a day to organize your pantry, get rid of anything that might be out of date or contaminated, and add sealed, tamper-resistant containers to keep food safe going forward.
5. Wash Your Floors
A sticky spill that is simply wiped up may leave a residue that can attract sugar-loving pests like ants and fruit flies. Try to keep on top of thoroughly washing floors to discourage this sort of behavior.
6. Replace Your Dryer Vent
Your dryer vent can be home to lint, of course. But it may also house mites that like the warm, moist environment. There is also a chance that an unsealed end can allow mice and birds easy access to your house. If you don't know when the vent was installed or last cleaned, just go ahead and replace it with a new one.
7. Cap all Chimneys
Birds, squirrels, and even snakes can climb right down an uncapped chimney. You can find caps ranging from simple metal kits to intricate custom stone designs. Find one that fits your needs and have it added to the top of your chimney.
8. Clean Storage Areas
Boxes of clothes and old papers can be a cozy space to build a nest, which is why mice and other rodents really like your storage areas. Try to use sealed containers for long-term storage areas to help deter pests.
9. Fix Plumbing Leaks
Some insects come inside looking for water. This is especially common during dry periods. FIx any plumbing leaks so there aren't any easy sources of water to encourage these pests.
10. Add Door Sweeps
Adding a simple magnetic or screw-on door sweep at the base of your exterior doors can help you keep small pests like mice and lizards from crossing the threshold.
11. Move Firewood
A towering woodpile is a welcome sight when the weather turns cool, for you and a whole list of critters that want to move in. Snakes, rodents, spiders, and wood-loving insects like termites and carpenter ants will gladly make a home in a woodpile. If it happens to be near your home, well, they just might move there too. Keep woodpiles stacked neatly and away from your home to help.
12. Repair Screens
Window and door screens are an obvious entry place for small bugs, yet they are often overlooked. Regularly inspect the screens around your home and repair or replace any that become damaged or dislodged.
Most of these projects can be done on a regular basis, or you can schedule a seasonal project day to get the whole household involved. However, if you notice signs that you have an established pest problem, it may be best to call in a professional to help you get a fresh start.
