Pest Prevention: 12 Easy Tips This Spring

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to get rid of household clutter you no longer need — and to make sure your home is completely pest-proof. Bugs and rodents tend to come out of hiding when the weather starts warming up, so make sure to follow the pest prevention suggestions below to keep insects, pests and rodents out of your house.

Identify

Look closely to identify tiny cracks in the walls, windows, doors, and around plumbing and electrical wires. Seal them with caulking or weatherstrip so pests can’t get in.

Wash

Wash or dry-clean winter sweaters before storing them to remove moth eggs and prevent infestations.

Clean

Clean up areas where traces of pet food may be present to eliminate attractants that can lure pantry moths, ants and mice into the space. This is a great habit to learn for key pest prevention.

Fix

Fix any leaks. A leaky faucet or water seeping indoors will encourage critters like spiders, ants and cockroaches to come in and stay awhile.

Remove

Remove spider webs and prevent new ones. Vacuum them up and spray the area with half a cup of water, half a cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of dish soap, and 20 drops of thyme oil.

Transfer

Transfer dry food into airtight glass, metal, or plastic containers to protect it from moths, weevils and small beetles.

Move

Move all furniture to thoroughly vacuum for crumbs, and wash windows with treatments according to their labels. Pests are drawn to all the dirt, clutter, and crumbs that accumulate where you spend the most time.

Blast

Blast music while you clean. Spiders love quiet, undisturbed places. The music’s vibrations will interfere with spiders’ ability to detect their next meal, and they’ll quickly leave in search of a quieter spot.

Spray

Spray the insides of your dresser or wardrobe with a vinegar-based cleaner. Then wash it with a warm soap solution. Remove any drawers before you begin cleaning, the gap between the wall of the wardrobe and the shelves is a moth’s favorite place to hide.

Steam

Steam your carpets to remove moth eggs and larvae. For sofas and armchairs, use a hair dryer on the highest heat setting and slowly move it over the fabric. The hot air will quickly take care of unseen eggs to prevent a pest problem.

Leave

Leave out lemon, lime and orange peels in the kitchen. Citrus peels are toxic to the fungi that ants feed on and act as a natural repellent.

Ditch

Ditch the cardboard boxes. Store winter items in air-tight storage bags to protect them from pests that are attracted to cardboard, like cockroaches, silverfish and moths.

Pest prevention is key when spring cleaning your home. It is important to keep in mind the little things you can do to help prevent pests invading your home this season. Keep spring pest control tips in mind and you will be sure to have a great summer. If you do find any ants, spiders, mice or other pests in your home, be sure to call a trusted, local pest control company like Pestcheck Pest Control.

Our Burnaby pest control technicians, Richmond pest control technicians, Coquitlam pest control technicians and North Shore pest control technicians are trained and certified to perform all kinds of pest removal service for our clients!