When the temperatures drop outside, pests like spiders, palmetto bugs, cockroaches, and more start searching for a warm, inviting place to escape. If you’re not careful, that place could be your home. Here, our pest control experts have some tips on how to winterize it for pest prevention:
On the Inside
There are several things you can do to keep your home pest-free for the winter:
- Don’t leave food out.
- Whether it’s crumbs on the floor or cookies on the table, make sure food is stored in airtight containers and kept off of the floor.
- Fix any leaks to prevent giving pests a clean water source.
- Hose down your plants.
- If you’re bringing your outdoor plants inside, hose them down before you do to get rid of any pests.
- Vacuum frequently and take your trash out regularly.
- Store items in plastic boxes instead of cardboard boxes.
- Cardboard provides a food source for termites.
- Use a foam sealant to seal up any holes or cracks in your floors or walls.
- Keep overall clean living habits.
- Pests will be less likely to invade and set up shop in a home that’s clutter-free and taken care of well.
On the Outside
Pest prevention doesn’t just mean sticking to the inside of your home. There are also things you can do on the outside to deter an infestation of bugs.
- Install tight-fitting sweeps or thresholds on your doors and windows.
- Cut back tree limbs, bushes, or shrubs to prevent points of entry into your home.
- Clean your gutters.
- Pests can build homes for themselves in leaves and debris.
- Replace weather stripping to seal any cracks or crevices.
- Cover your fireplace wood and keep it at least 20 feet away from your home.
- Use a foam sealant to seal up any holes that lead to the inside.
- For example: gas lines, electric lines, clothes dryer vents, TV wires, outdoor faucets, etc.
If you do end up with a pest infestation, don’t hesitate to call our professional pest control company. We’ve been keeping homes pest-free since 1965. We’ll get it taken care of quickly and easily.
