Pest Control Tips for Madison Home Owners
Pests are a natural part of life in Madison, AL. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it seems like they just won’t go away.
Spotting a line of ants in your kitchen or a cockroach in your bathroom can really ruin a day — and induce panic about where all their pesky little friends are hiding in your home.
Ants, bed bugs, termites, and fleas and more are common pests in Madison and can be difficult to get under control if you don’t take the right precautions. While pest infestations sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with the maintenance or cleanliness of your home, there are still steps you can take to ensure your home stays as pest free as possible. Keep in mind that this is not a replacement to pest control services. These tips help reduce the likelihood of infestations. Pest Control Service should be viewed as a partnership between you and your pest control company.
Make it Difficult for Pests to Get Inside
Your first line of defense is to make sure it’s as difficult as possible for pests to find a way into your home. Ensure proper maintenance of both doors and windows by checking for holes and gaps. Fix any holes you find in screens and replace worn weather stripping around windows and doors, when necessary. Little gaps and holes in your doors and windows are the easiest places for pests to enter your home, so make sure everything is sealed up tight.
Keep it Clean, Pests Like Messes
While your house can be spotless and still allow pests to get inside, keeping everything neat and tidy definitely helps. Crumbs in the kitchen or something sticky on the floor is always going to attract unwanted pests. Wipe down counters thoroughly, keep the floor swept and mopped, and try not to leave food sitting out. Letting full garbage cans sit around will also encourage outside critters to venture inside. The less treasure and treats you leave around for them, the less likely they are to want to come inside at all.
Another mess to consider is outside debris. Bags, piles of mulch, and leaves are hotels for bugs. Remove potential hotspots and keep the lawn tidy and the grass cut low.
You might also try moving your outdoor garbage can away from any doors that lead inside; this will lower the temptation for pests to come near your house.
Keep An Eye on Indoor and Outdoor Maintenance
Keeping your lawn and landscaping maintained helps deter pests from breeding, as it limits where they can build their nests. Trim bushes, rake up leaves and debris, and regularly weed your yard. Check your outdoor furniture for places where spiders or other insects could build nests, webs, or lay eggs. Regularly clean any furniture or outdoor areas where you might accidentally pick up pests on clothes or shoes and bring them inside. Look for pots, bird baths, and other sources of standing water and empty and if needed refill them daily. This eliminates a major breeding site for mosquitoes and other pests.
Bushes and trees that brush against your siding or roof provide a bridge for ants to reach your house. If you trim these back and keep some clearance around your house, you can better avoid pests entering your home. We recommend trimming bushes at least eighteen inches away from contacting the home, and we recommend all trees are trimmed to six feet or more away from your home.
Dispose of Food Properly
Eat any produce you might leave sitting out on your counter before it gets overly ripe. Rotting fruit attracts pests whether it’s sitting on your counter or sitting in your garbage can. The same goes for meat scraps and other foods. Try to refrain from throwing these items away until it’s nearly time for your trash to be collected. This keeps the food from sitting in your garbage can (either indoors or outdoors) for too long.
Store Your Firewood Properly
Keep your firewood as far away as possible from your house or shed. If possible, store it in racks above the ground, as this will deter termites from inviting themselves inside. We have seen termites get started in a firewood pile and then work their way into your home because the wood pile is too close to the house.
Check Your Crawl Spaces for Signs of Pests
Regularly inspect your crawl space and/or basement to keep an eye out for obvious rodent nests, lines of ants, or other signs of pest infestation. Make sure moisture, mold or moss are not showing up as this is a way this space becomes more hospitable for pests. Your crawlspace should be clean and dry. Checking regularly will allow you to catch the problem before it gets worse — or, call for backup if the problem is already bad enough that you need professional help.
Hire a Pest Control Professional
While there’s plenty you can do on your own to prevent pests, this usually isn’t enough to totally stop all pests. A local pest control service can come to your home in order to regularly spray for bugs and rodents common to Madison, AL. You’ll not only receive long lasting protection, but guaranteed peace of mind. A professional service will have access to equipment and remedies that you just can’t do on your own, so calling in the heavy lifting can be a real asset when you’re tired of dealing with the problem by yourself.
Whatever you choose, the best plan is to stay ahead of the game. Pest infestations are much easier to prevent than to remedy. The sooner you spot the problem, the sooner you can begin to eliminate it, ensuring that a small pest problem doesn’t become a major source of stress in your life.
