As we head into the cooler months, pests are likely to become more frequent due to the warmth that your home provides. Depending on how well you look after your home will influence how likely or unlikely pests will find their way into it. For any household, having to deal with pests is a nightmare. I have a number of personal experiences that included a mouse and an infestation of small critters that got everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE.
So, to avoid the nightmares that I experienced, you should be doing everything possible to keep those pests out of your home. Here’s everything you can do to keep your home free from pests this winter.
*This is a collaborative post. Image Source
*This is a collaborative post. Seal up any entry points
I did this fairly recently around my own home. There are quite a few cracks and small entry points through which little bugs and spiders were getting in. This is something I wanted to sort out, not just for the prevention of pests, but because caulking can create a clean look in the home’s appearance as a result.
Keep your home clean
Keeping your home clean is probably the best way to avoid any type of pests. From bleaching your floors with floor cleaner to scrubbing work surfaces and spraying essential oils and fresheners around the home. Many pests hate certain smells and chemical cleaners, so they’re going to stay clear of your home as a result.
When you start to fail on the cleaning front, that’s when pests will start to make their way into the home. Try to keep on top of a daily or weekly cleaning schedule where you can. That’s going to make the biggest difference in avoiding pests in the home.
Store away food properly
Food should be properly stored away, especially as it can lead to pests bringing all their buddies into the home and cause an infestation as a result. Any food that you have needs to be stored away in plastic storage boxes and ideally in cupboards that pests can’t get into.
If you’re leaving out food in paper packaging or cling film, then it’s going to get eaten by the pests. That will also encourage more of them to come back, so you want to prevent that by keeping your perishable foods under lock and key – or in the fridge.
Fence off your boundaries
Fencing off boundaries is definitely a good way to make sure your exterior surroundings are protected. For those who have livestock on their property, this type of fencing can be helpful in keeping them safe and secure. For those whose animals are just the household dog or cat, this fencing can also be helpful to keep them safe.
It can also be helpful for pest control and keeping out any of the larger animals that you don’t want coming onto your property.
Declutter your outdoor space
Finally, it’s a good idea to declutter your outdoor space as often as possible so that you’re keeping any potential nesting or shelter spaces removed from the area. This is important because this will be a go-to spot for any pests that are looking to make your outdoor space their own home.
Tidy up your outdoor space, even in the cooler months of the year, to stay on top of the potential pests that would otherwise gather.
Do you have a personal experience with pests and the tips that helped you prevent them from getting into your home? Let me know in the comments below.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. All words are my own.
