Keeping your home free of insects should be a priority for most home owners. Once you have allowed the bugs to invade your living space, you will likely have a difficult time removing them. Different pests will, of course, predominate in various climates. If you live in hotter weather, you should be on the lookout for roaches and fire ants. Roaches are known for quickly building up a network of hiding places within the house. Ultimately, following some tried-and-true guidelines from www.blueskypest.com should keep you free of problems going forward.
1. Clean Up Food Scraps
Though you may love to cook a range of gourmet meals for friends and family members, you should ensure that all food scraps are carefully thrown away or stored in a sealable container. To be extra safe, you may want to put your fruit rinds and vegetable stems into the garbage disposal in the sink. This will flush away the scraps quickly and efficiently. Juicy foods that are left out overnight will usually be found by ants.
2. Wash Your Floors Regularly
No matter how clean you keep your kitchen, you’ll inevitably find yourself dealing with a few spills from time to time. If liquids are spilled under the larger appliances, this can attract bugs. In the best cases, people should probably sweep and mop their floors once every week or so. This should remove most food particles from the various nooks and crannies within the room. Sugary drink spills, of course, should be cleaned up immediately before an insect colony has the chance to find them.
3. Seal Up Cracks
Most species of insects are quite resourceful and can usually find their way into a house from many different locations. If you notice a hole in a baseboard or some other fundamental fixture, you should patch it as soon as possible. During the fall and winter, when many insects are looking for warm areas, this will prevent them from accessing the inside of the residence. You should begin by checking areas in the house that are not visited as frequently, such as basements and attics.
4. Examine Objects Brought from Outside
If you and your family make a habit of bringing in interesting objects from the outdoors, you should examine them well beforehand. Firewood, which is usually kept outside, can have a range of critters hiding in it. Likewise, your children may find an array of intriguing things in the woods and fields behind the house. Inspecting these new possessions may keep out bees, termites, roaches, and even worms. Firewood that is found to be infested with certain insects can be hosed off so that most of the critters are driven away.
5. Watch Your Dogs and Cats
Though your furry pets may be members of the family, they will often unwittingly bring in insects from outside. Cats, in particular, are known for catching various bugs and presenting them to their owners as gifts. Some bugs, such as crickets, are relatively harmless and perhaps even cute. Roaches, however, can quickly become ensconced within the walls and floorboards of the home. Breeding populations will explode soon after. Lone insects that have been brought in by the family pet should be quickly disposed of.
6. Deal with Water Damage Quickly
In some unfortunate situations, you may find yourself dealing with water damage, usually in the basement. Water attracts many different kinds of animals, many of which are insects. Mosquitoes will often use this standing water to breed in. If at all possible, you should call your insurance company to get your residence cleaned at the earliest opportunity.
There are many steps to follow to assist in preventing insect infestations. Blue Sky Pest Control can help prevent future insect invasions from occurring and help get rid of current insects living in your home. Check out their website for more information.
