Follow Us For Our Latest Posts, Tips, & Exclusive Facebook Giveaways
This post was contributed by Eden Advanced Pest Control, the leading integrated pest management company in Western Washington and Oregon and serves both residential and commercial customers.
Pest Control Tips for Preventing Infestations in your Home this Winter
Pests infest millions of U.S. homes during the winter, according to Portland pest control service providers. Consequently, homeowners spend billions of dollars to get rid of the critters. The best way to prevent an infestation (and save your cash) is to practice natural pest control techniques.
Natural Pest Prevention Tips for the Home
Seal your house. Home weatherization is something you may already do to keep your heating bills low during the winter. In addition to helping the earth and your bank account, sealing your home helps keep out pests. Insects can crawl through cracks as small as a 1/8 inch, so get out your caulking gun, spackle and weather stripping, and seal the exterior of your home. Keep in mind that if air can get through a hole or crack, so can an insect or rodent. Portland pest control experts remind you to also replace broken screens and install them over openings such as vents or chimneys.
Maintain your landscape. Your yard makes a statement about your home to humans and pests alike. When the cold weather arrives, get rid of rotten fruits and vegetables from your garden; don’t let fallen leaves pile up; prune the bushes and trees on your property; and weed. Pests like to hide in yard debris, so keeping your lawn manicured will prompt them to look elsewhere.
Keep your wood pile high and dry. A good wood pile is located at least 20 feet away from your house, 5 feet off the ground and covered. To practice natural pest control, bring wood into your home only as you need it.
Don’t feed the pests. Avoid leaving food out in the open. If you don’t have to refrigerate it, store food in lidded containers such as those made of tough glass or plastic. Because hungry pests get desperate in the winter, they may gnaw through plastic bags and cardboard to get to the food in your pantry. To prevent such food contamination, keep your dry grains, cereals, crackers, pasta and other stored food items in strong, lidded containers.
Keep a clean home. Cleaning the house can be a pain, but it’s better than dealing with a pest infestation. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink; wipe away crumbs; and vacuum regularly. When storing your seasonal clothes, use plastic bins with tight-fitting lids instead of cardboard boxes to prevent nesting.
Use natural repellants. Plant pest-repelling plants, like mint or spearmint, around the exterior of your home to make it smell bad to unwanted guests. A local landscaper can tell you which plants grow best in your area. Because some of these plants may not grow during the winter, you can make a spray repellant with safe, natural ingredients. For example, mix mashed garlic or essential spearmint oil with water and spray the mixture around the exterior of your home.
When to Call a Professional
While natural pest control techniques are effective, they won’t make your home impenetrable. In some instances, you may find yourself with an infestation you shouldn’t handle alone, including:
Bed bug infestations. Portland pest control service experts report that bed bugs are nearly impossible to kill with insecticides. Instead of filling your home with toxic chemicals, natural pest control professionals use a special heating system to kill bed bugs.
Rodent infestations. Mice carry the lethal Hanta virus. As soon as you see signs of an infestation, such as droppings, call a pest control service so they can safely clean the waste and conduct an inspection. Cleaning rodent waste and nests by yourself without taking the proper safety precautions increases your risk of exposure to the Hanta virus and other diseases rodents carry.
Many pest control service providers provide free inspections, so if you think you might have a pest problem, don’t hesitate to give the experts a call.
What kind of pest problems have you had? What steps did you take? What worked and what didn’t?