Having bugs and pests in your home is dangerous. These pests can make you sick and bedridden for days. You should do your best to make sure that they don’t enter your home.
When you’re ready to call in the pros to get rid of your disease-bearing pests, all it takes is a quick local search. Plug something like “pest control in Stafford VA” into Google, then find the company with the best reviews and have someone come out to your house for an in-person assessment and quote.
Ticks
Check Clothes and Hair
The only way that ticks can get into your home is if somebody brings them. Ticks are notorious for hiding on your clothes and hair. When you go for a hike in the woods, wear clothes that cover your body. Then, check yourself before going back to the house. Inspect your clothes, shoes, and hair.
Cover Cracks
Since ticks are tiny, they can enter your home through cracks and gaps on the walls. Inspect your home and identify possible points of entry. Then, seal the gaps using cement or an industrial sealant. You should also check the cracks for eggs or anything that might be out of the ordinary.
Mosquitoes
Destroy Breeding Grounds
Mosquitoes lay their eggs on water. Check your yard and drain stagnant water. If there’s a hole in the ground, cover it. If there are open containers, throw them away because rainwater can collect in them. If you have a pool, treat it with chlorine to keep the mosquitoes away.
Use Natural Mosquito Repellents
There some plants mosquitoes hate because of their smell. Use natural mosquito repellents in your yard to discourage mosquitoes from using your yard as a breeding ground. Examples of natural repellents are marigold and lavender. Marigolds have beautiful flowers that will make your yard look good.
Fleas
Mow the Lawn
Fleas love tall grass and shrubs because it provides the perfect breeding ground. Make sure that you mow the lawn often and keep the grass short to keep the fleas away. The other reason why you should cut grass is to prevent raccoons from visiting your yard and bringing fleas.
Spray your Pets
Pets love to go outside and wander. Unfortunately, fleas are fond of pets and can hitch a ride on them. The pet could unknowingly bring fleas to your home.
To prevent this from happening, spray your pets with flea repellents. The product will prevent fleas from clinging onto your pet.
Cockroaches
Clean Thoroughly
Cockroaches will come to your house looking for food. Dirty dishes and spills on the floor attract cockroaches. To stop them from entering your home, clean it thoroughly, especially the kitchen area. Wipe off any spills and grease that builds on the stovetop immediately.
Avoid Clutter
Avoid clutter in your home if you want to keep cockroaches away. Cockroaches love old newspapers and cardboards because they can hide in them. These bugs use clutter to hide during the day and come out at night when everybody is asleep. Therefore, get rid of clutter and old magazines.
Rats and Mice
Cover your Food
Mice and rats have a high sense of smell. To keep them away from your home, cover your garbage bins all the time. When the bin is full, throw away the garbage instead of letting it pile up. You should also use airtight food containers to prevent mice from getting into your kitchen cabinets.
Get a Cat
Every animal has a natural predator that maintains the eco-balance. Rats and mice hate cats because they can hunt and kill them. Therefore, it would be a good idea to have cats in your compound to prevent mice and rats from entering your home.
Use the mentioned strategies to keep disease-bearing pests out of your home. Cleaning and mowing the lawn should be a routine activity. Using the above tips will also help you save money instead of using it on pest control services.
