According to the Canadian government, there are more than one dozen bugs or critters that commonly infest homes in Canada.
No matter what time of year, bedbugs, ants, and other insects could be living in your home without your knowledge. When it gets out of control, it becomes a pest infestation.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What is the best way to prevent a pest infestation?” — you’re in luck. We’ve got the best tips and tricks to keep pests out of your home, any time of year.
what is the best way to prevent a pest infestation?
Pest control can be an expensive endeavor if it’s not mitigated as soon as possible. When you start to see pests in your home regularly, you definitely have an infestation.
in the kitchen
store food properly in airtight containers
Jars that have lids or rubber seals are good ways to store food year-round, but rubber Tupperware or Ziploc bags are also useful ways to ward off pests.
Ants especially love to get into kitchens. Small ants, called sugar ants, don’t typically bite humans but will create trails along your kitchen’s perimeter and near pipelines. Prevent their infestation by keeping your kitchen sink and food storage areas clean.
use a trash can with a lid
Fruit flies can be incredibly difficult to remove from a home, especially if your trash is just out in the open. Make sure that you keep the lid on your trash at all times, and move the trash outside as soon as it is full.
To avoid household pest and critter infestations around the perimeter of your home, make sure your outdoor cans or dumpster close all the way. It’s no fun to avoid ants in your home, just to have squirrels or raccoons outside!
keep dry food dry
Watch out for moisture, weevils, or other things that aren’t supposed to be in your dry foods like oatmeal and other cereals. Weevils are notoriously hard to remove from food supplies, so it’s best to head them off at the pass.
If you’ve been on a picnic recently, make sure to thoroughly clean all utensils and containers before reusing them in your kitchen. They can contain weevils or other pests that multiply quickly.
around the house
minimize the clutter
The less you can see (because of piles or messes), the less you have control over what critter could be living in your house.
check for cracks and leaks
Check for cracks in baseboards, walls, windows, or vents. You can prevent spiders, roaches, termites, and other pests from infiltrating your abode by caulking or installing weather stripping.
Check for leaky faucets, pipes, and appliances. This goes for the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Any time you have standing water in your home, you are at risk for attracting mosquitoes and other pests.
Anything that likes to live where it is damp and cool, including ants, can infiltrate your home to make a nest nearby wet spots.
keep it clean
Clean counters, tables, and dusty spots. Cobwebs amass, which can be an easy home for spiders or other bugs. Making sure your floors and surfaces are clean will eliminate habitats and prevent food from building up.
outdoors
landscaping
Get rid of unwanted plants, weeds, and keep grass trimmed. Don’t give pests a perfect place to get indoors, or to live outdoors.
Especially during inclement weather, pests will infest a home if there are bushes or trees that make entry into nooks and crannies easy.
use screen doors and windows
Make sure you have fine mesh for your screen doors and windows, and if you don’t have any — install some. One of the most common ways pests come into the home is right through the front door.
watch for wood
Termites love to snack on wood, and beetles and other pests can make their homes there, too. Quickly rid yourself of any any scrap wood, and monitor fire wood piles — including those inside, near your fireplace.
use citronella
Not only does it ward off mosquitoes, but citronella repels some other pests, too. Especially during summer months, keep your home pest free by burning citronella in outside areas where there might be food or humans.
Citronella spray can also be used indoors or outdoors.
don’t use mulch
Try instead to use rock or pea gravel. Wood mulching is ground zero for outdoor pests that love to come inside, including termites.
other infestation control tips
In addition to our evergreen methods, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has some other methods to best prevent pest infestation. And, there are a few other little things you can do to keep pests out of the home:
check pets for fleas
Make sure that your pets have flea collars and take flea repellent medications from their vet.
Also, use pest control products like sticky paper, bug zappers, and other products to prevent problems that have already started from spreading to other areas of the home.
check for bed bugs
Monthly, do a visual check for bed bugs. Keep your home clean and always check for evidence of the pests in hotels or other homes you’re staying at.
If you’re renting an apartment, make sure you ask around or check with the super to make sure there is no known bed bug infestation in your building. Make sure there is a clause in your lease in case of infestation.
minimize threats of rodents
To minimize the threat of vermin in your home, do visual and other checks throughout the year to make it difficult for rodents and other vermin to get inside your walls, attics, or basement. If you need to call a specialist, make sure they are a licensed technician that will do a thorough check.
preventing infestations begins with nature
Natura Pest Control has licensed technicians that are well-versed in pest control and preventing infestations. We come to you and meet with you on your schedule, and will come back if you see a pest between service times.
Check out our many services, including mouse, ant, roach, termite, and other pest control. And be sure to read our blog for more pest infestation prevention tips!
