Clean Up
A clean home is the first step to avoiding pest infestations. This is true because many types of pests are attracted to food, dirt, clutter, and crumbs. Make it a point to keep clutter to a minimum and wash your dishes every day. It’s also important to vacuum and sweep your floors and wipe up any spills immediately to keep pests away.
Keep Food in the Kitchen
Food could also be a source of common household pests. Eating food anywhere in your home could lead to attracting rodents and insects. As much as possible, all of the eating should be done in the kitchen where you can immediately wash your dishes.
Store Food Properly
Keeping food in the kitchen also means storing it in air-tight, sealed containers. Open food packages make for really good bait for household pests. Not to mention pet food, too! To keep pests out, be sure to use sealable bags or plastic storage containers for all food, whether in the pantry, cupboard, or fridge.
Keep Recycling and Garbage Under Control
Rodents and insects love garbage. Recyclables, especially empty food containers, attract a lot of these pests. Garbage and recycling bins should always be emptied out to avoid inviting pests. Try to have your trash pick-up scheduled on a weekly basis.
Put a Lid on It
Most pests will always be drawn to an open bin of garbage. If you have outdoor garbage or recycling bins, keep pests away by ensuring that your bins have a tight-fitting lid. Keep those pests at bay by always keeping the lid on the bin!
Prune Foliage Near the House
It’s not just food sources that you have to keep an eye on; plants can also attract pests! If you have any trees or shrubs that are touching the sides or any part of your house, it’s best to prune them. This is to leave some space between your foliage and the house so that you can prevent pests from using branches and leaves to find their way inside.
Eliminate Standing Water
Be wary of any puddles, or areas or containers that might collect water — these can be potential breeding grounds for insects, so they need to be dried out. Puddles can be filled with topsoil, and you can adjust sprinklers so that they don’t create other puddles in other areas. In doing this, you can keep the mosquitos and other pests to a minimum, too.
Good Property Maintenance
Lastly, an excellent way to keep your house pest-free is good old regular property maintenance. Inform your landlord of any issues regarding clogs in gutters, holes in window screens, or even leaks in water pipes. Addressing these issues is vital to maintaining a home that is free of pests.
Is your landlord ignoring basic property maintenance? Perhaps it’s time for a new property manager! Both tenants and owners alike know they can trust Real Property Management Commonwealth for comprehensive property maintenance. Contact us online or call 617-299-2342 for more information.