The Best Ways to Control Pests in Your Home

Pests like ants, cockroaches, mice, and flies can be nuisances in any home. Not only are they unpleasant to deal with, but they can also cause damage to your belongings and spread diseases. Controlling pests in your home through effective pest control is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. Here are some of the best ways to eliminate common household pests.

Keep Your Home Clean

One of the most effective ways to control pests is to clean your home, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. Sweep and mop floors regularly, vacuum carpets and furniture, and immediately clean up any spilled food or liquids. Dirty dishes left in the sink and food particles on countertops invite pests to enter. Take out the garbage frequently and use tight-fitting lids on trash cans.

Seal Cracks and Crevices 

Cockroaches, ants, and mice can enter your home through tiny cracks and crevices. Inspect walls, floors, cabinets, doors, windows, and pipes for any openings. Use caulk or weatherstripping to shut these areas so pests can’t escape. Pay close attention to the spaces around sinks, stoves, under appliances, and near utility pipes.

Store Food Properly

Pantry pests like moths, weevils, and flour beetles can infest packaged foods. Transfer dried goods like flour, oats, pasta, rice, cereal, etc., into airtight containers. Check these foods periodically for signs of insects. Keep fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator and immediately wipe up any spills in the fridge or pantry. Garbage cans should have tight-fitting lids.

Install Door Sweeps and Weatherstripping

Gaps underneath doors are large enough for mice and rats to enter. Install door sweeps or weatherstripping at the base of exterior doors to seal the opening. Make sure windows shut tightly as well. Replace any torn or ripped screens. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a nickel.

Set Out Traps and Baits

For managing rodent problems, traps and baits are very effective solutions. Snap traps or glue boards can be placed along baseboards and other areas with mice or rats signs. For ongoing control, rat or mouse poison baits are helpful. Be sure to put them out of reach of children and pets.

Use Natural Repellents 

Specific strong scents are natural repellents for ants, cockroaches, and other pests. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint or eucalyptus oils in the problem areas. Grow herbs like mint, garlic, and thyme indoors and outdoors to deter pests. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled in entryways kills soft-bodied insects like silverfish and earwigs through dehydration.

Call a Pest Control Professional 

For severe pest infestations, call a professional exterminator. They have access to powerful chemical treatments and fumigation methods that aren’t available to the general public. A professional can also identify the species of pest you’re dealing with and its access points, making control measures more targeted and effective.

Controlling pests takes some diligence and effort. But these methods will help keep unwanted critters out of your home and prevent future infestations. A clean, pest-free home provides a healthier and more comfortable living place.