Homeowner's Guide to Organic Pest Prevention
Maintaining a pest-free environment without use of harsh pesticides requires some effort on the part of homeowners. Following these simple, practical suggestion will go a long way toward preventing pest infestation.
Indoor Pest Prevention Tips
- Seal all cracks around and under exteriors door. Insects and rodents can enter your home if light can be seen through the cracks.
- Make sure that all air conditioners and thermostats are properly adjusted. Mold and Mildew will attract tiny insects.
- Seal any plumbing leaks that can harbor and attract insects into your home.
- Check grout around toilets, bathtubs, and shower stalls. A good seal of caulk is necessary so ants and other insects don't hide there.
- Keep all stored boxes sealed to prevent insects and rodents from nesting there.
- Don't leave pet food or water out overnight.
- Store all open food containers in tightly sealed containers or in refrigerator.
- Seal all cracks around windows to prevent pests from hiding there.
- Regularly discard old newspapers and other items saved for recycling.
- Avoid leaving wet mops and rags from lying around.
- Keep kitchen trash in a sealed container and clean the trash can on a regular basis.
- Vacuum carpets and furniture regularly, especially if you have cats and dogs that pick up fleas outdoors.
- Inspect your pantry and spice cabinet regularly for meal moths, flour beetles, and other pantry pests that can enter your home in boxed grain products from the store.
- Dry clean woolens and store in boxes or other tightly sealed containers to prevent fabric pests.
Outdoor pest prevention tips
- Remove piles of wood from around or under your home (crawl spaces). This will help prevent termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-destroying insects from infesting your home.
- Promptly dispose of garbage and other debris which can attract rodents and insects.
- Keep all pet food properly stored. Open containers invite rodents and insects.
- Keep all trees and other items such as shrubs, ivy and other vegetation from touching the house. Carpenter ants and other insects often enter homes this way.
- Keep all gutters and downspouts clean and free of leaves and other debris.
- Check your window screens and repair them as necessary.
- Remove standing water from the property near your home. Standing water provides breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects.
- Make sure your home's downspouts funnel water away from the house. Moisture around a house is conducive to termites and many other insects.
- Seal around all windows, doors, and soffit areas to prevent insects from entering.
- Check your sprinkler system to make sure they do not disburse water directly onto your home. This can eventually cause mold and wood rot in your exterior walls, and attract termites and other moisture-loving pests.
- Keep mulch away from foundation and keep level of mulch no more than 2-3 inches.
- Turn mulch over periodically to prevent insects from harboring. Be careful when you turn mulch over because it puts out artillery spores into the area and may cause little specks to siding and paint surfaces ("artillery fungus").
And remember, when you do need environmentally-friendly pest control, contact Z-Best Pest Control for the highest-quality exterminating services in Dayton and the Miami Valley area.