No homeowner wants insects or rodents in their living spaces. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can carry diseases and cause damage to your property. Here are tips to help keep pests out of your home. Let’s take a look at a few of the most effective methods.
Seal Entry Points to Keep Pests Out of Your Home
One of the most important things you can do to keep pests out is to seal entry points they use to get inside. Take a walk around your home and look for cracks, gaps, or holes in the foundation, exterior walls, and around doors and windows. If you find openings, seal them with caulk, foam insulation, or other appropriate material.
Install a Chimney Cap
A chimney cap is a simple yet effective way to keep rodents and bats out of your house. A chimney cap is a metal or plastic cover that fits over the top of your chimney and keeps pests from entering your home from above. Make sure your chimney cap is securely attached and in good condition; if you don’t have one, hire a professional to install one.
Keep the Home Clean
Another effective way to deter pests is to keep your home clean. Take out the trash regularly, sweep and mop floors, wipe down countertops, and declutter the living spaces. Pests are attracted to food and water, so keeping kitchens and bathrooms clean and dry is essential.
Store Food Properly
Another way to discourage pests from moving in is to store food properly. Keep dry goods in sealed, airtight containers, and store fruits and vegetables in the fridge. Don’t leave food on counters or tables overnight, and wipe up spills immediately. These steps will make your home less inviting to pests looking for a meal.
Use Repellants to Keep Pests Out of Your Home
To keep pests away, use repellant products. Natural repellants are inexpensive and effective. Citrus peels repel spiders and ants, and eucalyptus oil is a deterrent for flies. Cayenne pepper and clove oil are two natural products that repel mice. Make fabric sachets or put the oil on a cotton ball and place these around where rodents might enter the house. You can also purchase chemical pesticides to deter insects, mice, squirrels, and other pests from entering your home.
The ideas listed above are just a few effective ways to keep pests out of the house. By sealing off their entry points, keeping your home clean, and storing food properly, you’ll make it much less likely that pests will invade your living spaces.
GeeGuy’s Inspection Service offers inspections to home buyers and sellers in the BC Central Interior. Contact us to schedule our services.