As the snow melts, birds begin to sing, and flowers start to peek through the thawing ground, it’s clear spring is just around the corner. With the changing season comes the perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and tackle a deep spring cleaning. But while you're scrubbing and organizing, don't forget to prepare your home for the unwelcome guests that come with warmer weather. Follow these simple tips to keep your home pest-free.
The Kitchen and Pantry
The kitchen is often the most demanding area when it comes to spring cleaning, making it a great place to start. It’s also the perfect time to tackle pantry pests, which thrive in the warmer months. A common culprit is the Indian meal moth, which can infest your dry goods. These moths are attracted to grains and broken kernels that often accumulate in pantries after winter. As temperatures rise, the air, and stored grains become more appealing to these pests. To prevent an infestation, thoroughly clean every nook and cranny of your pantry, vacuuming up any crumbs and wiping down all surfaces. Store dry foods in airtight containers to keep pests at bay.
Storage and Bedroom Closets
As the weather warms, the ant population starts to grow. Spring cleaning your closets and storage areas can help keep them at bay. These ants are often drawn inside by moisture, mold, or food sources, so take extra care to eliminate any water leaks or damp spots. Keep your storage areas tidy and dry to prevent ants from seeking refuge in your home. Regular cleaning will ensure you stay ahead of an ant invasion.
Living Areas
With spring comes the arrival of stinging pests like bees and wasps. As temperatures rise, these insects often swarm searching for new nesting spots, sometimes resting on trees or the sides of houses. As you clean your living areas, be sure to inspect doors, windows, and screens for any damage. Even small holes or torn screens can invite these pests inside. Seal any cracks, replace broken screens, and cover holes now to avoid letting bees or wasps find their way into your home later this spring.
By giving your home a thorough spring cleaning and addressing potential pest entry points, you can enjoy the season without the hassle of unwanted visitors.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
Ants can be a real pain, especially in months with higher temperatures. They literally get into everything, whether it's an outdoor picnic, a party or even just lunch outside. It seems like these little creatures are everywhere and can quickly make a good time go bad. One of their favorite spots is near a barbecue grill, so they can dig into every meal you make. So what's a homeowner to do? Consider these tips to keep ants out if you don't want grilled ant for dinner.
