6 Ways to Protect Your Home From Pests

by Kevin Smith Author

Having unwanted pests and animals in your home can become a huge problem. You might have to deal with annoying chirping, squeaking, and other sounds in your walls and attic. Of course, the smells from animal feces and urine as well as the smell of decaying animals in your home isn’t something you want to deal with, either.

Many of these critters spread diseases and parasites through their skin cells, saliva, urine, and feces that could put the health of your family and pets at risk. Having animals gnawing on your electrical wires can create the risk of a house fire.

You could also end up with significant property damage that may not be covered under your homeowners’ insurance—you might have to dish out thousands of dollars to repair the damage these unwanted pests do to your home. Having unwanted animals and pests in your home can even affect the resale value of your property.

Knowing all of these negative consequences that come from infestations, it’s only natural that you’d want to protect your home against them and avoid these problems before they start.

Here are some tips you can use to keep these pests at bay:

1. Organize your trash

Not only because it is a misery to clean up the garbage left by raccoons in your front yard, but the way you handle your garbage applies to a lot of sanitary concerns. The trash attracts insects as this provides them a source of food and shelter even. Keep them out of reach from the insects and follow these tips:

Regularly throw away your garbage and don’t let it sit in the house for days.
Food waste should be handled well and be put in a separate bin.
Put your garbage cans in your garage or shed so animals can’t get into them.
Secure your garbage bins with a lid to avoid them to topple over it
You can apply petroleum jelly on the lip of your trash bin to keep out insects.

2. Tidy Out

Of course, to clear out any possible mess or pest hiding spots that can be the next nesting place for rodents or other crawly critters. By cleaning up and tidying out, make less space for the pests to take shelter and invade. Simply, by cleaning you can make it clear to pests that they are not welcome in your home.

Moreover, this also especially goes to rooms in your house that are less likely to be occupied by people. Hence, regularly clean up the cobwebs, dust, and clutter in your attics, basements, or the untouched area in the garage. Pests tend to live within spaces with lesser threat of human interaction or clash, so creep them out by cleaning up their favorite spots in your house.

3. Get a Dehumidifier or Maintain Your HVAC Units

Since most of the insects and pests like to live in humid, damp, and warm environments, use a dehumidifier in the most humid rooms of your home, like your basement, crawl space, or attic. This way, you can deter these creatures from infesting your home.

4. Keep your food properly

You wouldn’t expect pests like cockroaches, ants, and rodents to conquer the odds just to get their hands on the cereal box you left on the counter, the unfinished sushi meal you had, or even the trail food that you left on your ziplock after the hike. They can eat up through boxes, paper, or plastic packets as long as the food is present.

Hence, make sure to clean up leftover food and place it in a sealed container or in the fridge. Don’t forget to wash the dishes right away and clear out the kitchen from food crumbs and food particles. If you have pets at home, make sure to seal their food in a container as well, and look after their bowls since most crawling critters are attracted to food on the floor.

5. Maintain Your Home

Of course, in order for pests to not gain access to enter your home, regularly maintain your house and even do renovations as much as possible if you need to. Another thing to consider is the materials that you use for the infrastructure. For example, if you use wood in some areas of your house, make sure it is termite-resistant. Moreover, here are more tips to make sure your house is ready and sturdy from the incoming pests over the seasons.

Seal up any entry points.
Inspect and fill up small holes.
Make sure your walls, foundation, or basement openings should be inspected regularly.
Ensure that your chimney cap doesn’t open entry points for pests to fly or creep in.
Cover vents with metal-grill work or screening.

Make it a habit!

After all these considerations, the only way to keep your house as pest-free as possible is also through the way you live and inhabit your house. Being responsible enough to even take out the garbage regularly or just cleaning the kitchen right after cooking are habits that can go a long way—even in keeping up your home value if you may wish to sell in the future. Most especially, a healthy and guilt-free home life free from pests where you can sleep sound at night.