Choosing Ideal Pest Control

The damp and warmer weather of spring provides the perfect conditions for a wide range of pests. There are, however, some simple spring tips that can make certain types of pests less comfortable and encourage them to move on.

Are you making pests feel welcome in your home? Consider these spring pest control tips:

Watch Potential Puddles

Remember that any standing water can be an inviting sight for pests like flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. Take time in the spring to fix leaks and improve irrigation as needed to maintain a relatively dry environment that is less likely to be appealing to these insects.  

Clean Up Food

Food crumbs and particles are particularly welcoming to mice and rodents. This extends to your pets' food dishes, so keep them tightly covered between feedings. Cover trash cans, clean up loose birdseed around feeders, and keep your kitchen tidy, especially as warmer weather approaches.

Dispose of Debris

Lawn clipping and debris make a delightful haven for insects and rodents, alike. Foliage and limbs can attract ticks, while damp, wet debris under a porch or in the basement can become home to a bevy of pests, including mice, rats, and raccoons.

Seal the Gaps

Another way that pests find their way in is through gaps or cracks in your home's exterior. Make spring the time that you caulk or fill in any noticeable holes and points of entry for rodents and bugs. Be wary of leaving windows or doors open when the weather turns mild; it is not uncommon for squirrels, snakes, or other pests to take advantage of the opportunity to gain entry to your home.

Choose a Home-Remedy

Try a few home remedies to get rid of pests in your home before resorting to traps or chemicals:

• Sprinkling Boric acid can help get rid of pests like ants, fleas, and roaches, but use care around children or pets.
• Clean your home, particularly the floors, with diluted vinegar. This covers up the scents and paths left by pests, so they will leave.
• Sprinkle Diatomaceous earth inside and outside the home to get rid of insects, like fleas, bedbugs, and spiders.  
• Essential oils can work wonders at deterring pests from invading. Tea tree oil is offensive to ants, while swabs soaked in peppermint oil can make mice leave your home; plant mint by doors and windows to prevent rodents from entering. Cedar is effective at repelling moths and fleas, too.

Start preparing for pests in spring and keep them from taking over your home. Are you putting out the welcome mat for pests? Use these tips to control and rid pests from your home. Contact a pest control company for more information.