As temperatures drop drastically in winter, a lot of pests will try to use your house as shelter from the cold. Ants, mice, rats, silverfish, and roaches may invade your home during the coldest months of the year. Sadly, if these unwanted guests find your house an ideal habitat, they may claim it for good. To reduce your risk of dealing with a pest infestation, you should invest in professional Tumwater Pest Control. Pest control experts can provide you with tips to pest-proof your home, especially in winter. These tips can include the following:
Seal Entry Points
Pests can infiltrate your house through cracks, gaps, and holes along the exterior of your home. While bugs can slip through tiny openings, rodents like mice and rats can easily squeeze their bodies through small holes. To protect your home against these invaders, you must identify cracks and holes on the exterior of your house and seal them up.
While you are outside, pay attention to debris and overgrown shrubbery against the exterior of your house where pests can nest in. Do not store firewood near your house as it can attract some pests. Also, other nesting places like mulch should be placed away from your home’s foundation.
Clean Your Indoor Areas
To make your Tumwater house less attractive for pests, keep all areas inside clean. This means removing spills and crumbs, cleaning surfaces, storing food properly, and reducing clutter around your home. Remember to clean and declutter places you do not visit frequently like the attic. Also, pests may hide in closets and cabinets, so ensure they are clean. After using the food prep areas, sanitize them right away. Clean the dining tables after each meal and do not leave dirty dishes sitting for a long time. Other best practices include mopping and vacuuming the floor regularly. Leftover food should be kept in secured glass or plastic containers so that pests cannot access them. Lastly, ensure you use trash cans with tight lids and take the trash out regularly.
Limit Moisture
Just like pests are always looking for dependable sources of food, they also find moisture sources. Because of this, you should identify places that can collect moisture and keep them dry. Pests are attracted to even small pools of water. Particularly, the gutter system in your house retains lots of moisture and can be an ideal breeding ground for a lot of pests. Thus, you should clear the gutters frequently to ensure pests will not nest there over the winter. In addition, make sure the downspouts are properly draining away water from the foundation of your house.
Schedule a Professional Pest Inspection
As it gets colder outside, you should take preventative measures against any type of pests. These include scheduling pest inspections from skilled technicians. If your pest control team spots signs of pest infestations, they will devise a customized treatment plan to address the issue effectively. These professionals have access to tools, equipment, and products to safely and effectively pest-proof your house in winter.
