10 Ways to Pest-Proof Your Home

INTRODUCTION 

Although pests are more likely to become a problem in warmer weather, any time of the year can be an opportunity for unwelcome creatures to set up shop in your apartment, home, or place of work.  Some of these critters may be only mildly irritating but, in general, insects, rodents, and mammals that invade your abode can pose unexpected dangers to you, family members, pets, and, in some cases, your plants. 

Some of them, like cockroaches, ticks, bed bugs, and rats, are vectors for a number of dangerous diseases.  Because of this, you need to do what you can to prevent pest infestations.  This may require resorting to creative strategies which, if possible, may prevent the problem or, short of that, eradicate it for good. 

ANTI-PEST STEPS LIKELY TO WORK IN MOST SETTINGS

1.  Install ultrasound equipment throughout the premises. These devices, though inaudible to humans, will greatly disrupt the regular routines of most insects and small animals.  They are not necessarily lethal but do work to keep pests away, in most instances. 

2.  Spread moth balls around. Keeping in mind that moth balls can be harmful to humans (which is why they need to be placed only in areas that humans will not generally constantly inhabit), feel free to use these irritating-to-many-pests poison-balls in places like attics, closets, basements, cellars, sheds, and other areas where things like bats, raccoons, rodents, and some insects may set up shop. 

3.  Keep your house neat and clean at all times. This means not leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight, regularly vacuuming rugs, mopping floors, picking up litter, sweeping dust and dirt away, and not letting garbage (especially if it contains food) accumulate for too long inside or near the premises.  Many pests are primarily attracted to dirt, debris, and the attractive scent of food; they are, conversely, not as likely to set up shop in homes that are kept clean and uncluttered.

4.  Regularly spray chemicals, preferably those that are least harmful to humans, plants, and pets. Some pests, like cockroaches and ants, are always looking for places to visit and move into, if you let them.  Even if you wipe out a whole colony of them, another colony is waiting to take its place. 

Such pests can only be controlled by regularly spraying chemicals they have, hopefully, not adjusted to yet--in fact, in consideration of this, alternate types of chemicals chosen. 

5.  Set out traps and sticky boards. These are best for cockroaches and rodents, but they have been known to be helpful for other types of pests.  You should preferably set these up in out-of-the-way places, like under refrigerators and other appliances, under beds, all around kitchens and bathrooms (the two most likely places to attract most pests), and near holes, pipes, and vents (likely entry points for many pests).

6.  Put out a variety of poisons, depending on your location, type of residence, and the types of critters found where you live. If you live out in the woods, for example, you might consider putting out Snake-away, which, as the name suggests, helps to fend off reptiles.  

7.  Employ electricity-zapping lamps, citronella-candles, Tiki torches, mosquito nets and screens, and sprays containing Deet, Picaridin or Permethrin to control and keep away flying insects. Although they can be the most difficult to defend yourself from (since they are so prevalent, especially in hot weather, near bodies of water, and in the woods), they are also relatively easy to keep out of the house, especially if you have screened doors and windows and limit how often you open such, especially when these bugs are most likely to be out looking for excitement.

8.  Keep your area well-lit. Most pests prefer the cover of darkness.  Some, like cockroaches and rodents, will actually run and hide when the lights come on.  For that reason, always leave lights on in the house. 

The only exception to this rule is in reference to flying insects found outside--which are likely to be attracted to lights left on. 

9.  Avoid having indoor pets. Pets generally attract pests.  Dogs and cats, for example, will always attract ticks and fleas.  You can temporarily and/or imperfectly manage this problem by never letting your pets go outside or having contact with other pets and by getting them effective anti-flea medicines and devices. 

Cats can be of some use in controlling rodents, but this creates a trade-off situation (e.g., increasing the chances of fleas coming for a visit) that may or may not be worth it for your particular situation. 

10.  Institute a long-term pest control plan for the pests that concern you most or which you fear may require a confrontation of some kind. Spiders, for example, may require the regular, physical removal of webs (when seen) and the spraying of infected areas to make sure they are kept under control. For some pests (like bats, raccoons, opossums, snakes, skunks, etc.), it may simply be a matter of denying them access to your premises.  

This includes regularly checking on the integrity of louvers in attics, putting screens on all vents and accessible pipes, covering up any holes, cracks & crevices, and securing your premises in other ways. 

CONCLUSION

While you can’t completely protect yourself against all pests at all times, you can find ways to greatly reduce the chances of certain pests invading your premises.  In some cases, you may even completely remove the chances of certain pests ever finding their way into your abode.  The point is that certain pests do pose dangers that you shouldn’t just arbitrarily ignore. 

In fact, your health and the health of people around you may depend on how proactive you remain regarding pests.  By following a few basic strategies, in fact, you can prevent problems that, at best, can lead to damaged property and, at worst, to physical harm.

Copyright, 2018.  Fred Fletcher.  All rights reserved. 

REFERENCES & RESOURCES 

http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1320/

https://www.houzzmag.com/6-best-ways-to-pest-proof-your-home-without-any-cost/

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/list-pests-significant-public-health-importance

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef641

https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1677-2015.pdf