10 Pest Control Tips for Every Homeowner

Pests can be quite the handful. They appear out of nowhere, and in many cases, they won’t seem to go away. Insects and rodents are frustrating, and they often cause a lot of stress. Pest control is ultimately a lot more complicated than it seems.

Here are some tips for keeping pests out of the home and under control. If you need help, reach out to the professionals for pest control Toronto.

1. Keep the house clean

Keeping the house clean is not only good for appearances. It helps to reduce the smell of food in your home, making it less attractive to pests. Vacuum the floors every week and mop on a regular basis. Do the dishes every night and wipe down your countertops at the end of the day. You should also reduce clutter and get rid of the things you don’t need. The tidier the home, the fewer places there are for pests to hide.

2. Put food away properly

Don’t leave any food lying around, especially at night after you are done with your party on your patio. This includes dirty dishes, pet food, garbage, and pantry goods. Store pet food in a sealed container and do the dishes at the end of the day. If you have a dishwasher, make sure that its door is well sealed. Store spices, noodles, flours, sugar, and any other pantry food in airtight containers. Keeping food out of reach will make your home less attractive and force pests to consume bait.

3. Add weatherstripping to doors

Weatherstripping is excellent for getting rid of drafts, but it’s also useful for keeping pests out even from your underground room. Add some door sweeps or weatherstripping to the bottoms of your doors to the outside and the garage door, as well. Mice, ants, and other little pests won’t be able to crawl there anymore.

4. Plug holes in the wall

Many homes have cracks in their foundations and little holes in the wall that let in pests. Seal these off with caulking, epoxy, mesh, or steel wool. Check between the panels of your siding and check for gaps surrounding your utility lines. Don’t forget to look under the deck, too.

5. Cover wall vents and weep holes

Wall vents can be chewed by rodents. Cover these with a thick steel mesh, with gaps that are no more than a quarter inch wide. As for weep holes, the little gaps between the bricks in the wall, you can block them out with steel covers. Weep holes are important for ventilation, but they can be wide enough to fit mice.

6. Keep garbage out of reach

Garbage smells bad to us, but it smells delicious to pests. Use lidded garbage cans and take out the garbage every night. Store bins in a shed or closed off area and tie them down with bungee cords. Disinfect your garbage cans every now and then to reduce odours.

7. Fix leaks and humidity problems

Insects and rodents love humid environments. Loosen the humidity in your home by fixing leaky faucets and ventilating the bathroom whenever you take a shower. If your basement is very humid, consider having a dehumidifier installed. Homes should sit between 40 and 60% humidity.

8. Watch out for bed bugs

Inspect your belongings carefully when returning home from a stay in a hotel. You should also be wary of shared laundry services. Don’t let your clothing sit in the machine for long – bring it home right away. You should also be careful when buying used pieces of furniture. Inspect everything before bringing them into the house.

9. Use the right pest control products

Every pest has its own set of resistances and characteristics. Make sure that you use products that are designed specifically for the pest you are eliminating. A spray for ants, for example, won’t work against cockroaches. Follow the instructions on the product carefully and don’t mix things together.

10. Hire a pest control technician

Contact a pest control company if you need help. Technicians can not only get rid of pests very effectively, but pest-proof the home so that they never get inside. They can inspect your home for openings and seal them shut, keeping pests out for good.