We all know the importance of a clean, dry home for maintaining good family health. Pests like rodents, fleas, and insects are nasty creatures that spread disease, and nobody wants an infestation. The health risks posed by these common pests are also far more serious than most people realize; therefore, here are four tips to help prevent an infestation in your home and avoid the potentially deadly diseases pests carry.
Store your food properly
Insects and rodents love to munch on bits of food that have spilled out of packets in the pantry. You can rid them by storing everything in sealed jars and containers, and keeping your pantry cleaned and wiped free of crumbs. Rats have teeth strong enough to chew through some plastics, so if you have a rat problem in your area, use glass jars or containers made of metal. Carpenter ants will invade your kitchen in search of food and destroy any wood that they are nesting in, so it would be wise to contact a pest control company such as Pestkilled to remove them quickly’
Throw out leftovers straight away
It can be tempting to leave dirty dishes in the sink or on the bench at the end of a long day, but this congealing food is the perfect food source for flies, cockroaches, and mice. Flies, in particular, can spread bacteria in just a few seconds after landing on a food source, so don’t give them a reason to hang around. Rinse your plates as soon as you’ve finished a meal, and throw out leftovers in a bin with a lid and move them to an outside dumpster as soon as you can.
Keep your home clean
One of the most popular food sources for insects, particularly mice, are the little crumbs of food dropped on carpets, spilled on tabletops or left behind in that sink full of dirty dishes. Get into a routine of wiping down the table every time you’ve finished eating, and mop your kitchen floors regularly. Even if you allow family members to eat while sitting on the floor, vacuuming is one way to eliminate pests by destroying the insects and the eggs. If you’re particularly concerned, then steam your carpets once a week to kill eggs and larvae that may be lurking in the wool fibers.
Look out for cracks and holes
Pests may be coming into your home through gaps in the window or floorboards, or a broken air-conditioning vent. Conduct a thorough inspection of your house and block any possible entrance points you find with a sealant which rats can’t easily chew through. If you like to leave the windows and doors open to let fresh air in, then consider getting screens, so insects aren’t creeping in and undoing all your hard work.
While these can prevent an infection, if you’ve got pests in your home, they can be hard to eradicate. It’s not worth risking your family’s health, so locate an exterminator as soon as you can. Whether you’re after pest control in Massachusetts because the humidity is bringing in unwanted house guests, or you live in a warmer southern state, your local pest controller will have the solution to whatever insect or rodent is giving your home grief.
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