It's almost spring. With warmer weather on the way and longer days in anticipation, now is the ideal time to pay attention to the oft-overlooked storage areas in and around your home that can attract pests and cause health problems as the season changes. And since the coronavirus (COVID-19) is rapidly declining, freshening up your non-residential spaces couldn't be more timely.
Our lives have changed in the past two years. We've all stocked up and stocked up on household items and cooked more meals at home than ever before. Maybe you've even got a pet – and have a stash of dog food, or there's a pile of empty cardboard boxes in the garage from all the online orders that have been delivered; both make you even more susceptible to a pest infestation.
All of these things unfortunately create the ideal habitat for destructive rodents and asthma-causing pests to reproduce. To make matters worse, once they've lived in your house, it can be nearly impossible to get rid of them without calling in an expensive exterminator.
Therefore, you should purify with a purpose to deter pests. Just throwing garbage on the sidewalk is not enough. A more proactive approach is required to prevent an infestation and keep the health of your home in check. Spring is the ideal time to use an infestation checklist to freshen up and protect the pest-prone areas of your home. Consider the following tips to avoid stressful, messy and often expensive spring infestations:
Clear out storage and feeding areas where traces of pet food may be present. This eliminates attractants that can lure moths, ants and mice into space. Dog food is the #1 rodent attractant.
Transfer dry food to airtight glass, metal or plastic containers to protect it from moths, weevils and spring moisture that contributes to the hatching of the larvae
Look closely to identify small cracks in walls, windows, doors, and around plumbing and electrical wires. Seal them with silicone sealant or draft strip so that rodents and vermin cannot get in.
Fix any leaks. A leaky faucet or water seeping under a sink can encourage critters like ants, mice and cockroaches to get in and reproduce quickly before you know it.
Spray the inside of your dresser or wardrobe with a vinegar-based cleaner. Then wash it with a warm soapy solution. Remove any drawers before cleaning. The gap between the cabinet wall and the shelves is a moth's favorite place to hide.
Move the furniture and appliances - these are common nesting areas as we often miss them with our weekly vacuuming or swiffering. This is especially important if someone in the house has asthma, as dust and dander are common causes of asthma.
Clear all areas high, below, behind and below all areas to remove cobwebs and dust. Vermin often travels through these areas to move unseen.
Clean out the gazebo, crawl space, or garage where barbecue grills, patio furniture, toys, and spring seeds can be stored. Mice especially like these areas if there are threads to gnaw on, pillows to use for bedding and seeds or food scraps for feeding.
