As winter arrives, pests, particularly ants, cockroaches and a wide variety of rodents will be looking for somewhere warm to settle down, preferably with a good supply of food. Your home is the perfect option for them. There will be areas where they can move virtually undetected and the potential for a plentiful food supply.
This is the time of year when exterminators are busiest but essential. There is little worse than finally sitting down after a long day to listen to the pitter-patter of tiny, unwelcome, feet!
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help minimize the risk of a winter pest invasion:
Keep it Clean
The first thing you need to do is to make sure your home is clean. Crumbs and food debris are guaranteed to attract a wide array of unwelcome visitors.
You need to wipe down all food surfaces at least once every day. All opened packets should be put in sealed containers. Ideally, these should be kept inside cupboards with no means of access for these pests.
You also need to minimize the clutter on your work surfaces; this will prevent the pests from being able to hide from you.
Check and Double Check
As well as keeping everything clean it is advisable to visually check every day. This will allow you to sot the telltale signs of a pest problem; such as mice droppings.
There are probably several places in your home that you only look in occasionally, such as the drawers in your spare room. Make sure you open and close these at least once a week to ensure no pests are getting comfortable.
Sealing
While no home is airtight and it shouldn’t be, there are several areas where pests can get in which can be avoided. Any visible damage to your property should be repaired as soon as possible. This may be rotting frames, a hole in a door screen or a gap/crack in your walls.
Visually check everywhere and seal any place which has the potential to let a pest in.
Check The Garden
The pests will probably be first attracted to your home because of your garden. If you have fallen branches or a large pile of mulching leaves animals will see them as attractive sleeping or eating places. From there it is a short hop to your kitchen.
Keep your garden clear and tidy to minimize this attraction. If you need to store items they should be off the ground and at least 5 or 6 meters from your home. Firewood is particularly attractive to pests; it’s worth keeping it well away from your home.
The quicker you spot pests the better; you can head off an invasion before it starts properly. To do this you will need to have rodent traps ready, ant poison and the number of a good exterminator. After all, these pests are not paying the bills on your home and they will not make it more pleasant to live in your home!