Spring is the season of life and awakening. Unfortunately, that means mosquitoes, ants, mice and other pests are waking up as well. To keep your home pest-free there are several steps you should follow – preferably in the early spring when you can correct issues and prevent infestations. Today we’ve gathered up our top pest control tips for spring that will help you prevent pest issues all year long.
INDOOR PEST CONTROL TIPS
Keep Food Sealed
You don’t want to give pests any reasons to want to come inside your house. Ants can detect something as small as a few grains of sugar in minutes, so an important part of pest control is having all of your food sealed in air tight containers. This includes food in your pantry, pet food, bird seed and other dry food items stored inside the home.
Use a Dehumidifier in the Basement
Many pests like cool moist environments and basements are a usual suspect. A damp basement will draw in pests such as centipedes, silverfish, and other insects. The dehumidifier will pull excess moisture from the air, keeping your basement drier and less appealing to these pests.
Clean the Kitchen
We’ve already mentioned the important pest control tip of keeping your food in air-tight sealed containers. However, a dirty kitchen is also a magnet for pests who will be able to smell the grease and food that is left behind on surfaces. Wipe down all counters, clean out the cabinets and make sure the floor stays clean as well.
Reduce Clutter
Clutter inside your home gives pests places to hide, including spiders and silverfish who love to create nests in cluttered areas and inside cardboard boxes. Ditch the cardboard and use plastic totes with tight lids. Keep your garage, attic and basement clean and organized so pests don’t have safe hiding spots inside your home.
OUTDOOR PEST CONTROL TIPS
Seal Entry Points
The first thing you should do is examine your home for any points of entry. Keeping your home sealed will keep the pests out, and even the smallest cracks can contribute to a pest problem.
Walk around the outside of your home, checking for any cracks along the windows and the doors or for holes in window screens. Seal cracks and replace broken screens to keep your house secure and prevent pests from entering.
If you have an open area under the porch or deck, you may also want to seal that off too. Adding a wooden or mesh barrier will prevent four-legged pests like raccoons and skunks from making the space their home.
Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes are a common spring and summertime pest and one of the most effective mosquito control solutions is to eliminate any standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so this will keep the adults away and the overall population down.
To eliminate standing water, first remove anything from your yard that may collect rainwater and doesn’t need to be out – tires, cans, and other receptacles. Drill holes in the bottom of garbage and recycling containers so rain can drain out. Clean out the gutters so water flows properly and does not pool.
Keep Wood and Debris Away from the Home
Wood and brush can lure pests like termites and wood-boring beetles. While they are feasting on the wood you have left out, they may naturally progress to your home. Wood and brush piles can also attract bees and wasps. Keep all of these unwanted pests out by clearing out your firewood and other brush and moving it a safe distance away from your home.
Keep Mulch and Vegetation Away from the Home
Trees and shrubs act as a bridge from the outdoors to your home while sweet flowers and moist mulch attract a range of insects to the area. These are all nice decorations that add curb appeal, but there should be a clear plant-free zone adjacent to your home’s exterior that will keep the pests away.
Trash Can Lids
When it comes to four-legged pest control, the best thing you can do is to keep your trash secure. An open container or a trash can with an easy-to-pry lid will attract raccoons and other critters looking for a meal. Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. You can also invest in a bin liner that will keep the trash can clean and keep other insects and pests away.
Backyard Mosquito Control System
Eliminating standing water is a good mosquito control tip, but it won’t eliminate all of the mosquitoes from your backyard. Many homeowners are so burdened by their mosquito problem that they avoid the outdoors completely. With a mosquito control system, you can reclaim your backyard from these unwanted pests.
Systems like Barefoot Mosquito use an organic, natural mosquito control solution to attack all life stages of mosquitoes, from larvae to the adult stage, to eliminate 90 percent or more of the mosquitoes from your backyard. Although eliminating standing water will help the problem, if you really want to rid your yard of mosquitoes, you need a professional and safe mosquito control system.
The spring season will always bring out a number of unwanted pests to your home. Depending on where you live, you could see ants, mosquitoes, mice, raccoons, centipedes and a variety of other pests and critters. However, by following the proper pest control and mosquito control steps you can fix the issues that are drawing the pests to your area. Follow our pest control tips this spring, and you can say goodbye to these unwanted pests all year long.
