Spring is just around the corner, which means you’re probably starting to feel that itch to do some spring cleaning. As satisfying as it is to spruce up your home after a long winter, spring pest control is equally important.
The warm, damp spring weather brings with it a host of pests who would love nothing more than to move into the cracks and crannies of your home.
Spring pests aren’t just irritating and inconvenient. They can create major problems for the home, exacerbate allergies, and even carry disease.
Check out our most effective pest control tips to implement in your home this season.
Outdoor Spring Cleaning Pest Control
Getting rid of pests begins with fortifying the exterior of your home and the outdoor environment. After all, spring pests gain entry to the home from the outside.
When you take the time to do some spring cleaning around the outside of your home, you will find it much easier to eliminate pests on the inside. Here’s what you need to do.
Trim Shrubs and Trees
Start by cutting back any shrubs and trees that surround your home. Spring pests use these plants as bridges to gain entry into your home. Keeping your trees and shrubs pruned reduces the chance of pests getting in.
Do you have grass that goes right up to the side of your home? Insects love to nest in these types of grasses. The proximity to your home can pose a major problem.
Consider installing a perimeter of gravel, stone, or pavers around the exterior of your home. This will act as a barrier between the grass and the exterior to keep pests from getting in.
If creating a barrier isn’t an option, keep your grass trimmed low.
Rotting tree stumps, mulch, and fallen branches are highly attractive to termites. Make sure to remove any dead or rotting wood from your property. Keep any mulch at least 15 inches away from the foundation of your home.
Make trimming the foliage around your home an annual ritual when spring arrives and you can avoid severe infestation.
Unclog Gutters
Once you’ve secured the ground level and perimeter of your home, it’s time to secure the roof. The first thing to do is to check your gutters.
Clogged gutters attract pests. Leaving clumps of dead leaves and moisture in your gutters is like sending a personal invitation for pests to move in.
It is very important to clean and unclog your gutters before the spring rains arrive.
Check Roof Shingles
As previously mentioned, insects like termites are especially attracted to rotting wood. In addition to rotting tree stumps and fallen branches, shingles are another type of wood that is prone to rotting.
If you can access your roof safely, check for shingles that have signs of deterioration. If you find any rotting roof shingles, contact a professional roofer to remove and replace them.
Make Necessary Repairs
The last of our outdoor pest control tips are far from the least amount of work. When it comes time for spring cleaning, factor in time to make any necessary repairs around your home.
Check the exterior of your home for holes, foundation cracks, and window gaps. If you notice places where ants and other spring pests can enter, seal them up immediately.
Replace any torn window screens you come across. If needed, replace any loose mortar and weather-stripping.The more often you examine and repair the exterior of your home, the better you will be able to prevent infestation. These pest control trends for the upcoming year can help.
Indoor Spring Cleaning Pest Control
Once you’ve fortified the exterior of your home, it’s time to tackle the interior. Fortunately, this is much easier to accomplish once you’ve handled your business outdoors.
Remove Sources of Water
Spring pests like cockroaches and silverfish are especially attracted to moisture. You’ll often find these insects hiding out in the bathroom and under sinks where moisture is likely to accumulate.
Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful about cockroach infestations. Read more about the connection between cockroaches and asthma here. For the rest of us, they are just plain old gross.
To keep these pests out, remove any sources of dripping and standing water in your bathrooms and kitchen areas. This is an effective strategy because these types of springs pests can’t survive over a week without water.
Address leaky pipes and faucets first. Then make sure to clean and dry your shower curtain. If you have a bathtub or glass shower, make a habit of wiping it down after each use.
Clean Up Traces of Food
Let’s talk about how to prevent pest infestation in the kitchen. The key here is to remove any traces of food residue, crumbs, etc. Ants and other spring pests are attracted to kitchens because they are sources of food and water.
Want to get ants out of your house? Start by wiping down all of your surfaces to remove any traces of food.
Next, tackle the cupboards and pantry. Remove old food and clean up any leftover crumbs. Avoid leaving fruit and other food sitting out on your countertops and tables.
Pull all of your appliances away from the wall and vacuum or sweep behind them. It is amazing how quickly crumbs and food residue build up behind toasters, crackpots, blenders, and other appliances.
Make a habit of cleaning your kitchen on a daily basis. Keeping food in airtight containers and cleaning up spills as soon as they occur will put you on a path to preventing pest infestation.
Sweep and vacuum the kitchen floor regularly. Keep your trash can lids sealed tightly. You can even go a step further and use trash can liners on your outdoor garbage bins as an added defense.
Tackle the Dust
Dust reduces the air quality in your home, but it also attracts spring pests. The more dust you have in your home, the more likely you are to attract dust mites.
If anyone in your home suffers from allergies, it is especially important to dust your home on a regular basis. Pay special attention to carpets, rugs, mattresses, and air ducts.
Eliminate Junk
The last tip for how to do pest control at home is to get rid of any old junk you have lying around. Rodents, spiders, and all kinds of spring pests love to make their homes in junk-filled basements.
Take the time to go through your clutter and eliminate as much as possible. If you notice cracks and places where pests can get in while you’re down there, go ahead and seal up those points of entry.
Protect Your Home From Pest
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to tackle pest control in and around your home. The first step is to fortify the exterior by trimming shrubs and trees, making repairs, and removing rotting wood.
Indoors, make sure to remove sources of food and water, dust often, and get rid of junk and clutter. For the best results when it comes to getting rid of pests, the Cryonite System can’t be beaten. Learn more about this fast and effective non-toxic method for pest elimination today.