Pest Control is more effective and sustains longer when it starts with you. Whether its commercial or residential area, all the pests have three things in common; they need food, water and harbourage.
Cleanliness is indeed godliness:
The cleaner your home, the less attraction it has for pests; the less chance a pest will have to live and breed.
1. All the leftover food and beverage containers should be tightly sealed.
2. Keep ripe fruits and perishable food in the fridge.
3. Keep your floors clean by sweeping and vacuuming your floors regularly.
4. Wash the used dishes daily or immerse them in soapy water till you are free to clean it.
5. Sink and floor drains often accumulate slime and waste which tend to attract some pests. This also serves as an ideal breeding site for them.
6. Inspect and keep all sink and bathroom floor drains clean and covered.
7. The food should be kept in a reseal bag or plastic container to keep from attracting pests that invade the kitchen.
8. It is advisable to keep recyclables outside and away from your home. All recycling and trash containers should have a tight-fitting lid and cleaned frequently.
Dry is better and clever:
The drier your home, the less appealing it is for pests; the less chance a pest will have to live.
1. Wipe up the spills immediately with soap and water.
2. Keep bathroom and kitchen areas as dry as possible. Fix leaky faucets and don’t let water accumulate.
3. If you have a pet, ensure that its flea free and wash its bedding regularly. Vacuum floors, rugs and upholstery your pet comes in contact with regularly.
4. Don’t allow water to gather in unused pots, containers, boxes. Take the old tires to the dump.
House Structure:
Pests can wriggle through tiny cracks and gaps. Hence, it’s very important to seal all the possible entry points for them.
a) Inspect and repair any misshapen or broken doors and windows and those that don’t fit well. Repair any rips or tears in screens.
b) Check for foundation cracks, loose siding, cracks in the roof, and gaps around incoming service lines, including pipes, electric and cable wiring.
c) Seal any openings with copper mesh, coarse steel wool, sheet metal or mortar.
d) To reduce flying insects around doors and windows, replace standard mercury vapor lights with high pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights.
e) Check in, under and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, and stoves, as well as between the floor and wall juncture and around pipes, floor for any cracks.
f) You can also contact any pest control services for such inspection and they will guide you on how to seal the entry points.
Around the house:
a) Do not stack building materials and other items against your building. This will provide food for wood destroying insects, capture water and provide harbourage for all types of pests.
b) Make sure that there is no standing water collecting in or adjacent to your building.
c) Snip all the branches of the tree back at least several feet from your terrace or building walls to avoid entry to pests.
d) Trim your bushes at the bottom to allow air circulation around your home or business adjacent to your foundation.
e) You can contact pest control professionals for an inspection as prevention is anytime less cheaper than cure.