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Residential Pest Control Tips

YOUR PATIO

Wasps and bees like to build their nests within voids and protected sites such as under BBQ grill lids, electrical outlet boxes and even hose reels. Be especially careful opening these sorts of spaces after months of non-use.

Cockroaches, ants, spiders, and other pests live and breed in landscaping mulch, leaf litter and any moist vegetation. Be sure your mulch is less than two inches thick and at least 12 inches away from your home’s foundation.

Spiders, ants and earwigs are often attracted to your plants and flowers. Be very careful to inspect any cut flowers or foliage before bringing inside the house from outside. Pests love to hitchhike their way into your home this way.

Old buckets, wash tubs, even table umbrella stands can be ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes when filled with standing rain water. Be sure to empty out any water you find to eliminate this problem.

Flying insects are naturally drawn to your porch lights or any outdoor lighting. The use of yellow “bug” type of lighting in exterior fixtures can reduce the number of flying insects around your yard at night. Also, do not use sweet smelling candles outdoors. Insects in search of flowers are often attracted to candles.

Be sure to check around your home’s gutter downspouts for termites. These very destructive pests thrive in the moisture often found around downspouts. Direct water away from your home’s foundation and walls by making sure downspouts empty out away from the house.

Unattended piles of firewood or lumber attract spiders, ants and cockroaches. These areas offer the perfect moisture levels for these types of pests. Be careful when picking up pieces of wood from this area as these types of pests like to hide in small cracks and crevices.

YOUR KITCHEN

Start at the top of your kitchen and work your way down. Up top, beetles can hide in your cupboards and pantry by chewing through cardboard boxes and paper bags such as cereal or flour containers. Store all foodstuffs in glass
or plastic containers with sealed lids.

Move everything on your kitchen countertops to look for ants that are feasting on spilled sugar, crumbs, and other food. Be sure to clean up any spilled foods and wipe down counters to remove any invitations for insects to eat in your kitchen.

Cover open trash cans with a lid and be sure to use a plastic bag inside each can. Not only with these steps reduce odors, but will also keep flies away.

Finally, thoroughly check your bottom kitchen cabinets – a favorite place for cockroaches to hide. These pests just love leaky pipes anywhere in your home since they thrive in warm, damp environments.

YOUR LIVING ROOM

What could be living in your living room? Pests like ants or spiders that come in on potted plants. Wipe or wash the leaves and inspect for any insect before bringing any plant inside your home.
Check your pets regularly for fleas and vacuum or even wash their bedding frequently.
Also, be sure to install a weather strip along the bottom of all doors so that mice and rats can’t squeeze in. It’s hard to believe, but some of these rodents are able to enter a home through a hole as small as a pencil can fit through.
Check for spider webs behind bookcases and in out of the way corners, etc. By regularly removing any webs you find, you can prevent breeding from occurring. Also, by keeping small insects out of your home, you’re eliminating a food source for spiders.

YOUR BEDROOM

Incidents of bed bug infestations are on the rise throughout the country. To guard against these bothersome pests finding their way into your bedroom from other locations, vacuum out your suitcase when returning from vacations or business trips to hotels. And be sure to throw out your vacuum bag when done.

Check for spider webs behind nightstands and chests of drawers, etc. By regularly removing any webs you find, you can prevent breeding from occurring. Also, by keeping small insects out of your home, you’re eliminating a food source for spiders.

Finally, there’s one more reason to have your kids pick their piles of clothes up off the floor – crickets. These common pests actually like to feed on and can damage dirty clothing left on the floor. Simply storing clothes in a basket or hamper can help keep crickets away.

YOUR BATHROOM

Moisture is a pests best friend – which makes your bathroom an ideal place for finding whatever’s bugging you. You can help eliminate pests by getting rid of sources of moisture, like piles of damp towels or laundry that attract silverfish.
Cockroaches can often be found in sinks or tubs, having been attracted to moisture. Make sure your faucets aren’t leaking and ensure that there is a good seal around the water pipes from the wall.
Use a drain cleaner frequently to rid your drains of common flies that like to breed in the debris trapped in drains.

YOUR CLOSET

Closets are great places to store things. Unfortunately, they also make great places for pests to hide – such as fabric pests that like hiding in cardboard boxes in your closet. Use plastic bags or large plastic bins to keep clothes in storage pest-free.
Moths are notorious for their appetite for wool fabrics. Check hanging clothes often for signs of moth infestation and keep a fresh supply of “moth ball” type repellant on hand.

YOUR GARAGE

Moisture is a pests best friend – which makes your garage an ideal place for finding whatever’s bugging you. You can help eliminate pests by getting rid of sources of moisture, like leaky pipes around water heaters that attract ants.
Check for spider webs behind rarely used items and in out of the way corners, etc. By regularly removing any webs you find, you can prevent breeding from occurring. Also, by keeping small insects out of your home, you’re eliminating a food source for spiders.
If you have a drain in the garage use a drain cleaner frequently to rid your drains of common flies that like to breed in the debris trapped in drains.
Paper and cardboard are common areas where cockroaches and silverfish like to hide and breed. These 2 pests often like to supplement their diet with the cellulose from paper and cardboard products.